Watching runners away from the ball.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I will disagree slightly. In those few camps I've attended that spent time on three and four man instruct that just as in two man, nothing happens without the ball. You need to be aware of the ball, whatever position you are working.

True, U2 has responsibility for the runner back into second, but he won't know if a play is coming without being aware of the status of the ball. He needs to be watching both his runner and the ball.

Open up the view by dropping back into the 3B side of the working area AWAY from 2B. Easy to see int/obs & any play back to 2B. (This is why it's easier in 3 man, as U3 would normally be in C to start with).

Working a fair amount of 3/4 umpire games on the big field helps. It IS difficult to get the small things right when we do 2 man 99.955 of the time. This is one of the few times where it's easier on the 60' field ...

[RPatrino]

SoCal is completely correct. We need to utilize the working area to our advantage because it allows us to open our field of vision and let's us see both the play and the area around 2nd.

We need to be able to see that obstruction, particularly in a 3 or 4 man crew.

Also, in 2 man, the PU does not bust down to 3rd with a runner on 1st and the ball STILL in the infield. He should be looking for interference/obstruction at 2b.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Also, in 2 man, the PU does not bust down to 3rd with a runner on 1st and the ball STILL in the infield. He should be looking for interference/obstruction at 2b.

Bob, that is what I meant in my earlier post in case I was misleading. In the 2-man I usually work, I'm tracking the runner copming around 2nd and telling my partner I've got 3rd if the runner comes so BU can move closer to the play at 1B. I don't go all the way down to 3rd unless I see the runner at second take off for the bag though.

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by Fritz

Bob, that is what I meant in my earlier post in case I was misleading. In the 2-man I usually work, I'm tracking the runner copming around 2nd and telling my partner I've got 3rd if the runner comes so BU can move closer to the play at 1B. I don't go all the way down to 3rd unless I see the runner at second take off for the bag though.

With two umpires (using current mechanics), BU has BOTH plays when the ball stays in the infield. PU has pulled foot/swipe tag assist at 1B & obs/int at 2B. The only time PU would normally cover 3B would in a rundown situation btw 2b/3B.