Getting straightlined?

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Heading for the working area and just pivoting towards plays are for those who can't move. The goal these days is to get the angle and close in on the first play.

Unless there is no possible way to know where the play will be.

Bases full, ground ball to F6's right.

I'd get to the working area, and just react the best I could to get some angle on any play, whether it be at 3rd, 2nd, or 1st. From the working area on plays like this you are only about 5 or 6 steps away for calling something at 3rd or 1st without getting straightlined. I feel confident I can get 5 or more steps in as soon as I can tell where the ball is going (fields the ball and keeps gliding his feet towards 3rd, its going to 3rd. Turns his chest towards the 3rd/home baseline, its going to 1st. Going to 2nd, those feet are gonna turn pretty quick to turn a potential DP.)

I guess my point is that the working area can be used as a place to work OUT of, not FROM neccessarily.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Unless there is no possible way to know where the play will be.

Only if you're blind or lazy.

I have yet to have a play in which the fielder throwing the ball didn't indicate to where he was throwing it.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I have yet to have a play in which the fielder throwing the ball didn't indicate to where he was throwing it.

Indicate as in "point of shoulder" or "Hey Garthie Ima gonna throw it over there"? I guess I have been more, er, fortunate, having seen the opposite a time or two.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Only if you're blind or lazy.

I have yet to have a play in which the fielder throwing the ball didn't indicate to where he was throwing it.

Garth - if you read my post, I indicated that it was possible to tell where the fielder was throwing it. What I was saying that the situation itself did not give an answer as what the play WOULD be, only what the fielder would do when he got the ball. This is a time I think it would be beneficial to get to the working area to work OUT of, not from. From this area you can quickly a get an angle on any base. That was the point of my post.

The working area is a concept to use on occasion, but I don't reccommend staying there to do your work. Using it as a tool to get close to a position you can see everything, and then adjusting to make a call with 5 steps or so, can be beneficial, which I felt your post left out.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Using it as a tool to get close to a position you can see everything, and then adjusting to make a call with 5 steps or so, can be beneficial, which I felt your post left out.

And I did so intentionally if we are still referring to the first play on the bases.

[Tim C]

I agree with Garth.

We will now teach to stay out of the "working" area, on the first play in the infield, as does the PBUC.

Regards,

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I agree with Garth.

We will now teach to stay out of the "working" area, on the first play in the infield, as does the PBUC.

Regards,

I agree that this has little relevance to 90% of the working umpires in the world. But it does make for good hypothetical conversation.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by GarthB

And I did so intentionally if we are still referring to the first play on the bases.

No worries, I just was confused a bit and thought your OP made it seem like you should never go to the working area, and that it shouldn't be used anymore at all. Just wanted clarification to make sure this isn't what you meant (in all situations). Good post and an interesting concept of space and time I can work into my basework for sure.