Crew Chief working the lines
 

I realize rotation looks is standard for the umpires in the playoffs. But seeing Mike Reilly conversing with the foul pole in LF during the non-fight tonight, would it not make more sense to keep him at one of the IF positions for all games except the two he might work behind the plate?

You've contradicted yourself. How exactly would it "make more sense" for him not to rotate, when the umpires rotate positions?

No.

Since you already took my answer Bob....
 

I'll elaborate.

For one thing, it is an honor to be assigned these playoff and WS games. The umpires have worked very hard at their craft in order to be selected. It would be unfair to the other 5 umpires in the crew for Reilly to be kept in the infield and forcing an extra turn on the foul lines for someone.

For another thing, the foul lines often have very controversial calls, which require a keen eye and good judgment to call correctly. Why shouldn't the crew chief have a turn on the lines? It seems to me you can't go wrong with that, having all that experience there for a close call.

For one more thing, the four umpires in the infield area are more than capable of handling any fight situation. Also, it's not all that far from the deep foul lines in case reinforcements are necessary. Reilly stayed out of it because he wasn't needed, but he could have easily sprinted in if he had been needed.

Wasn't it Reilly who blew the Jeter home run call that was actually caught by a kid ( Jeffrey Mayer) I think was the kids name.

~Cripes~
 

No.

It was Rich Garcia.


Regards,

Yup, your right!

It's not like those other 5 guys on the field aren't MLB umpires....

This isn't T-ball

He can use the exercise. Plus, if it's slow he can sneak out and fill up the gas tank for later.

And there are multiple regular-season crew chiefs on any postseason crew. Four guys is plenty to handle a baseball "fight."

What's the big deal if the Crew Chief is not in the infield, anyway?

Tim Tschida once said about MLB playoff umpires, "Imagine a room full of Eagle Scouts. How do you choose which Eagle Scout is the BEST Eagle Scout when they've all met the criteria? That's why every MLB umpire is qualified to work the playoffs."

While I agree that some MLB umpires have more years of experience, with the training and screening process they all go through for years, they indeed all are "Eagle Scouts". That's why it's no big deal that a Crew Chief works an outfield line - the guys in the infield are all qualified to be in the infield.

JJ