Help With a Scoop at First

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by Peruvian

I'm the first base umpire. B1 hits a chopper to F6, who fields and throws a short hop to F3. The play is very, very close and I call him safe.

Nobody argued or anything, but I thought back to that play this morning as I was reading my mechanics manual and was wondering if anyone had any tips for making the call on this play. I couldn't find anything in print about it.

I know we listen for the pop of the glove and the smack of the foot on the bag to aid in our decision on routine plays, but I've always had trouble with this play, and I think it is the toughest call in baseball to make on the bases.

Any thoughts?

There are certain calls that as Papa C says are "coin flip" calls. If that's the case then as the tradition of baseball tells us we give benefit of doubt to a great play.

Let's use your play except F6 had to go deep in the hole made a great play and one hopped the ball to F3. If the call was a "coin flip" as indicated by your terminology Very close play, then I would give benefit of dount to the great play by the defense and call the runner out.

Conversely, let's take a routine play in which B1 is busting it out of the box and F4/F6 bobbles the ball and turns a routine play into a "coin flip". Again reward the effort on the part of B1 for bustimg it out of the box and give the safe call.

Pete Booth

[DG]

So a great play is one where the throw was in the dirt for a one hopper?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by DG

So a great play is one where the throw was in the dirt for a one hopper?

It is if F6 backhands the ball deep in the hole and gets the ball anywhere near the bag on the throw in time to possibly retire the runner.


Tim.

[DG]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

It is if F6 backhands the ball deep in the hole and gets the ball anywhere near the bag on the throw in time to possibly retire the runner.
Tim.

No, that sounds like a good play, but maybe not good enough. A great play is concluded with a great throw to retire the runner without the 1B umpire having to question himself on the call afterwards.

[DIV2ump]

Another aspect of the short hop at first is to position yourself to make sure the first baseman actually makes the grab before banging the runner. I've had first basemen make the big sweep and knock the ball fifteen feet in the air- if you're not paying attention you might bang the runner and then "plop" the ball lands 10 feet away. You look pretty silly giving the safe sign at that point.