I'd assume it is the infielders who will tell each other "go cutoff on this one" or "I'll be the cutoff here". The other infielders just hope and pray that they are in the proper position. I really don't see the need for a cutoff on the first to third play though. The pitcher should cut it if he thinks the throw won't retire the runner, otherwise nothing wrong with a straight up challenge of the runner.

Okay Canada, now you're just being silly. The pitcher??? He BETTER be backing up your throw to third!!!

Another No-brainer
 

Canada6, you ottawa not umpire, nor even ottawa play, just ottawa watch it on tv.

No, I was just playin'. I think you are dealing with coaches who don't know the difference between a cut and a relay. What they wanted you to do was hit a relay man (who can't throw), instead of pegging the shortstop (who was acting as cut off man in this case) and holding R1 at third base. If you would have thrown to F4, the 3rd base coach would have probably sent R1 home if he knew of F4's weak arm. It sounds like you did the right thing, but got reamed for it.

Now, no more player questions or rants on the umpire board!:rolleyes:

Yeah, like that's gonna stop them.;)

The two most common cutoff men are F3 and F5, depending on the situation and from where the ball is being fielded. F4 or F6 are normally relay man (not cutoff man) on triple/possible inside-the-park homers. The pitcher should have been backing up either 3rd or home, depending on where the throw was likely to go, in this case 3rd.

It sounds like everything worked out okay with F6 cutting off your throw (unless you are convinced you would have had R1 at third), but he is not the traditional cutoff man on these plays.

If I thought this wouldn't lead to an avalanche of "playing" questions, I'd answer the OP (or SDS' post) with:

F3 should be the cut if the throw goes (toward) home on a hit to right.

F6 should be the cut if the throw goes (toward) third. F4 covers second. F1 backs up third. F7 backs up second. F3 moves back to first for a throw behind the runner.

But, I fear that it would lead to many more discussions, so I won't answer it that way, and I'll close the thread.