Plays at 1st Base
 

Hi Guys:

As an umpire of 15 years, I feel I am a strong official interms of mechanics, judgement, etc., with a very good plate game. I do not feel my base game is as good, and so I'm looking for some advice regarding taking plays at 1st base.

Assume no runners and a ground ball to the infield. As the BU sets up at an ideal 90-degree angle to the throw, and the throw is coming across the infield, tell me as exactly as you can, what you do next...

I ask this VERY basic question because I think I am victim to calling runners out at 1st (who may be safe by a quarter-step).

I need help!

On what looks to be a banger, I dont follow the ball from the infielder to 1st base. After seeing the throw, I use peripherals on the ball but am watching F3...that gives me the view I want- does runner beat the ball or not... at no time have I lost sight of the ball, just focused on the upcoming play. On what looks like routine out at 1st, I will follow the ball there....knees bent, arms in front and low--ready to signal...

Watch the fielder release the ball and then judge the quality of the throw. If you judge it to be a quality throw, snap your head to the bag and watch the runner's foot and listen for the pop of the mitt. If you judge the throw to be of poor quality, you may need to adjust your positioning to view a foot off the bag or a swipe tag. I find the crossover step back towards the foul line works pretty good. Timing timing timing.

Number one sounds like you are doubting yourself way too much - the comment about runners who may be safe.

As to what I do, I watch the ball (throw) as it comes to the glove. Its a timing thing but as the ball gets to the glove, my eyes move quickly to the base which allows me to see the runners foot (assuming its a close play)

Then he's either out or safe.

If I had to guess, you are probably also not getting the right angle for the throws to first. Sometimes the best angle is not 90 degrees. Examples would be throws by F4 or by F2 on a bunt etc.,

Best of luck and finally the biggest mistake that I see by umpires at first is not calling the runner out on a close play.


Thanks
David




GoorwThrows or.

Base Work
 

In higher level ball, the bases can be more challenging to work due to the speed of the game. Things can explode on you in a hurry. Remember the most important mechanic you can use is your timing. Pause, Read, React. Most calls that bring out a coach are a result of calling the play too soon. I get to my spot, get set, focus on the bag, listen for the pop, analyze what I have, and then make the call. It is also important to " sell " your call. Be emphatic on bangers, so you leave no doubt in their minds.

Ok,
 

We've learned tons about base umpiring in the last 5 to 7 years.

You wrote:

"As the BU sets up at an ideal 90-degree angle to the throw,"

We don't worry so much about concentrating on the 90-degree rule any more. Actually there is a school of thought that "2 Steps Fair" gets you in nearly perfect position for 90% of your calls. While it is true that we move in further when a ball comes from the "box" in front of home plate -- 2SF is the more accepted mechanic today.

Most in this thread intone the same basics:

Read the throw (assuming it is a good throw),

Get your eyes on the base and watch for the touch of the runner while listening for the ball to hit the mitt.

THEN slow down and follow the JEA philosophy that "timing is the proper use of eyes" and before you make your call raise your eyes to the fielders mitt . . . make sure he has the ball and them make your call.

Statistics show that, when under pressure, umpires error by calling "safe" more often than "out."

Regards,

Also, make sure you're not too close. I was missing calls a few years ago (based on my own filming of the games, not coach or player reaction), and learned I was about 2-3 steps too close, which caused my head to still be moving when the ball got there. Backing up a bit let me focus in better.

I have heard something that works for me, sort of an addendum to the 2SF principle. You move toward the fielder making the play and STOP when he fields it. Read the throw and move your eyes to the base. Get into some sort of "lock" in (hands on knees, standing set, modified scissor), listen, confirm possession, make the call.

Also, if your initial instinct was to call an out on a banger, you are probably 99% correct.

I booted one this past week simply because I took a bad angle.
Legion Ball, No one on so I am in the A position.
Little blooper over the pitchers head that is eventually fielded by the 2nd baseman. Because the play took so much time to develop, I moved too far into the infield. I watched F4 field the ball and make a good throw toward first base from the area of second base. I switched my view to 1st base and simply missed the call because I was shielded by F3 taking the throw. All I could see was the runners foot but had no idea when he actually arrived at the base. I called him safe, a bad call later confirmed by the 1st base coach.
If I had taken those two steps into fair territory I would have seen the entire play. Fortunately we had done a very good job prior to this and the deefensive team were understanding that I had missed this call, but the point is that losing concentration can cause a normally good umpire to make a bad call. -- Just wanted to get that off my chest.