Quote:
Originally Posted by ozzy6900
Never point to your partner:
- Looking for a bail out on a call you should be getting.
- Shouting across the diamond for help.
As Steve stated, this is your call so you must get into position or call what you see. If you see the tag call it. If you do not see the tag you must call safe. Now if you are in the C position, all you have to do for this call is take 2 steps toward the 3rd bas foul line and you are in position. Don't try to take this call from C as you will be looking up the a$$ end of the play as Steve stated. I teach umpires to imagine a 45 foot line on the 3rd base side and head for it (2 steps from C) so they are in position to see the tag and/or touch of 3rd. From this position it looks like you are close to the play so you get very little flack from the coaches, also. |
I agree with everything you have posted. I will also add that for any of this to work, one must actually start in the "C". I find too many inexperienced umpires that seem to stand anywhere but in the correct "C" position (or "B" for that matter). They start too deep or too far to one side or the other. I suspect that if the original poster was obstructed by the third baseman as the tag attempt was being made, he was starting too deep. Just a guess.