1st Base Umpire kneels and gets straight lined

[SanDiegoSteve]

During the marathon 17 inning Padres/Dodgers game yesterday, there was a controversial play at first base.

There was a tough-chance ground ball to Raphael Furcal, the Dodger F6, which he fielded and threw in the general direction of first base.

The throw was to the outfield side of the bag, and when F3 stretched for it, he clearly pulled his foot off the base. While his foot was off the base, Padre Mike Cameron's foot hit the base, and after that, F3's foot rocked back onto the base. Had he not pulled his foot, the correct call would have been "out."

Meanwhile, 1st base umpire Jim Wolf, who loves getting on one knee when working first base anyway, must have gotten locked into his knee stance a bit too early, as he should have been on his feet for this call, so he could have moved to his right to see the pulled foot. He got completely straight lined, and blocked out by F3's body. Wolf gave it a very routine out call at first base.

Bud Black came out to argue, but to no avail. Everyone saw the pulled foot except Wolf apparently.

My question is: what are your thoughts on getting to one knee to make calls on the bases, and if you do this, do you wait to make sure that the throw is on-line before locking in?