Keep your eye on the ball

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by bob jenkins
In baseball, if an umpire always watch the ball, s/he'll miss obstruction, interference and won't be sure if the runners touched the bases. The umpire needs to learn to switch between watching the ball, then watching the players, then picking up the ball again. Learninghow and when to do this will result in a "much less chance of making mistakes."

I agree with obstruction; I agree with runners touching the bases.

I can't think of any interference when the ball is not at the point of interference.

Oh, sorry: In the ALDS David Justice interfered at the time of the throw when he was 80 feet from the ball. My bad!

Of course, the only "real" interference that occurs away from the ball is a coach at first or third assisting a runner during a fly ball.