Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp
The message I got from it was: find a spot where you're still on the dirt and not so far out of position, and don't be complacent by just following the book's instructions to plant behind F4. It got me thinking about where I should be when the "by-the-book" spot is so far out of position that you're completely removed from the play.
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I have little doubt that this evolved from an old umpire adage somewhere along the lines of, "the umpire is treated like dirt, so stand on the dirt". And that is fine, as an adage, not as a standard mechanic. In the FP game, it is almost always available. To say the same in the SP game of TODAY, is unrealistic. And guess how much smaller that cut-out becomes when they move the bases to 70'?
I agree an umpire needs to go where s/he needs to be to do the job. And when it is necessary to deviate, you go where you need to go and make every effort to stay out of the area of the play.
BTW, it is a good possibility the folks who told you to stay on the dirt are the same that gigged umpires from my area for not mirroring the plate umpire's "time" call and for going out on a sinking line drives to the OF in a two-umpire system even though the crew pre-gamed it and it was necessary for those plays.