Very Simple Mechanics Question
 

Nobody on and you're in A.

A fly ball is hit in your jurisdiction (to the right half of the outfield).

Now the very simple question that for some reason i'm having trouble with:

Where do you go to make the call?

Obviously on trouble balls, you're out.

But on the ones where you can't decide or the ones that are routine, do you stay out there and watch the catch (and the PU covers 2nd if something happens- similar if you went running out)? Or do you pivot and make the call from the infield so you can get a jump on the BR if he goes for 2nd?

Thanks!

You either go out or you stay in. It is that simple. It does not matter if it is a trouble ball or a can of corn if you go out you stay out. If you decide to come in, you stay in.

When you do decide to go out, you want to get an angle where you can see the side view of the catch. You do not want to look directly into the catch where you cannot tell if the ball actually hit the ground.

Peace

In three man, if you are 1B umpire in A, and the 3B umpire goes out on a ball from D, I would seriously advise coming in and pivoting, so you can beat that runner to second.

It is not only advised, that is the mechanic.

Peace

Duhhhhhh. Sarcasm is a lost art, I see.

If you used a smiley, it might have helped. ;)

Peace

Correct

Go out.


Come in and pivot. PU takes the catch.

bossman72,

As Bob and Steven pointed out: The key here, and where I think you were having problems, is that when the fly ball is routine and you come in and pivot you have NO responsibility to make a catch/no catch determination. Once you come in and pivot, the catch/no catch call is now the plate umpire's.

In fact, I teach plate umpires to take their eye off the ball to glance at and read the base umpire, because the base umpire's actions dictate the plate umpire's responsibility. If BU goes out, than the PU has the B/R all the way around the bases. If the BU comes in and pivots, then the PU has the catch/no catch.

Good luck.

Bossman, only go out from A in 2 man for a trouble ball. If you do go out, try to get angle on the catch, don't run directly at the fielders. Once you determine that the ball will not be caught and is not heading toward a fence or other trouble area, return to the field and cover home.

If the ball is not a trouble ball, pivot in. PU has catch/no catch.

Take a read step. Read the ball, read the fielders. Go out on a ball that may need a fair/foul call, home run/ground rule double decision, and any others that are requiring special effort by a fielder.

Amen, brotha..Well said. You must take a read step, and not automatically go out.

At the clinic I attended on Sunday, we were given the following guidelines on when to go out (i.e.: what makes a "trouble" ball):

1. Ball takes F9 toward the line
2. F9 is charging in hard for the ball
3. F9 turns his back to the infield to go back for the ball
4. Ball is in the gap and F8 and F9 are charging for it
5. A blooper where three defensive players are converging

Having taken the read step (we were told to turn 90 degrees so that the line is in front of you), we were then told to quickly assess the situation and then be decisive. Above all, once you've decided don't change your mind!

Also, make sure to communicate with the PU!

Andrew

In my shorthand answer, your number 1 is covered by "Go out on a ball that may need a fair/foul call" and you numbers 2-5 are covered by "home run/ground rule double decision, and any others that are requiring special effort by a fielder."

No, I'm not adding anything. You said that in three or four man mechanics, that the first base umpire never comes in and pivots, and I was merely giving an example of this not being a true statement. This had nothing at all to do with the original post, and everything to do with your misleading statement concerning three man mechanics.

The 3-man mechanic for when the 3rd base umpire goes out on a fly ball is for the 1st base umpire to come in and pivot, taking the BR to second, or back to first.

thanks guys