[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

Mike, these three pieces of information are the crux of the argument.

In ASA, you are not just coming inside the diamond, you have responsibility at first base. Therefore, you can't just "check up" at second.

That is true, but I do not have to be that close to see it. Besides, as I've been told, we are discussing NCAA . BTW, I don't remember saying anything about the umpire checking up at 2B

Again, here is when you and Esq are in AGREEMENT. Reading the play is so very vital, and I will contend that this is a deficiency of ASA's training methodology. However, that is understandable, considering the wide variance in abilities and experience.

Don't you start spreading rumors like that

And here is where the inside falls apart. By your own admission, you have to follow the ball in flight, which means that you do not have the runner in your vision. So you are giving up on the obstruction? And again by YOUR s*** happens, you are giving up on that too because you were too worried about the flight of the ball?

Now this is where you and Esq agree on missing the point I have made. Who says I'm going that far into the middle of the field? I am NOT a "you cannot have a play without the ball" believer. Which means I am watching the runner when near a defender and the ball will still be in front of me with the runner. But still, if there is going to be a play @ 3B, the ball will most likely turn me facing the runner approaching 3B. And if the runner is getting there that far ahead of the ball, I may be moving my priority to the runner when nearing the base or defender. Doesn't mean I do not know where the ball is, it just means I am focusing on the play at hand.

Now I'll step out of my critique and help you out. The solution is to get DEEPER into the infield, and the come "into" a play at either second or third. That way you do keep everything in front of you while staying out of a throwing lane (yes, they do exist). However, the other solution is to 1) allow PU to have the responsibility at first and allow U3 more opportunity to read the play and utilize the best path possible.

Again, a 60' field is SMALL, very SMALL. It doesn't take as much effort as people think. And if some old fart like myself can handle it, someone as young and healthy as you should be able to do it standing on your head.

The umpire must take into consideration more than where s/he is going to stand to view the play. The umpire must be aware of the direction of the throw, the defenders in place to make a play and especially if there is a player in position to cut the throw should a runner check up or stumble and attempts to retreat. No matter how rare it is, if the umpire is not prepared for it......well, I just want to make sure that is not what happens.

All I am saying which seems to be the point missed is that I can (and any umpire should be able to) work the inside from 3B and still keep the ball the runner and defenders involved in front of me without looking over a shoulder and be prepared for the TWP that no one ever expects.

BTW, I can, and have, done this in ASA ball also and with up to 80' bases (Major SP). The advantage there is that the likelihood of a throw to 1B is extremely rare, damn near non-existent, but you still watch the touch along with the PU