1st base or 3rd base extended?

[nickrego]

I firmly believe that 1st Base Line Extended (BLE), and maybe even a couple of steps up toward 3rd base, is the best place to be.

I use 3rd BLE unless the ball is coming in from Right field, then I get to go to my favorite place.

Why do I use 3rd BLE, because I also got dinged on an evaluation for not using it. Not because I got the call wrong, but because I was not where our association 'thinks' we should be.

I have seen more umpires blow home plate calls from 3rd BLE, than from 1st BLE, because they are blocked out by the catcher. They mostly can't see a dropped ball, or the timing of the tag vs. the runner's foot touching the plate between the catcher's legs.

I still don't see why people say you can't see the swipe tag from 1st BLE, I can see the ball, the runner, the catcher, the plate, and the play. What more do you need to see ?