That was a tough call

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Football guy here but I umpired softball while in college. One thing I recall was a lot of this kind of play relies on sound (glove-bag or bag-glove). Is that an actual mechanic you baseball guys use or was that a lazy mechanic taught to a rec-league softball guy? If that is the right mechanic, did this because a harder call because the "throw" was so short and barehanded by the 1st baseman? There was likely no sound of the catch.

Listening for the pop of the glove is great when you are set for the play and the play is routine. Plays like this one you certainly can't depend on sound. You have to get set far enough from the play to see the runner's foot, and F3 catching the ball at the same time.