Play at the plate

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by GPC2

I guess my question was how would the umpire know if the tag was actually made since the tag would be made on the opposite side of the player's body than the ump was positioned on? Is it just a feel thing, where you get used to knowing if the player was tagged? I guess, to me, it would seem like you could see that better from behind the plate (but then you would be obstructed from seeing the plate I guess) - hey man, I don't know - just wondering.

I'm not sure how to answer your question without sounding like a smartass. He gets into a position where he expects to be able to see, and then he looks. Sometimes weird stuff happens and he can't see as well as he might. Based on what he sees he makes a call, since nobody is gonna do it for him.

Standard mechanics never leave the umpire directly behind the plate for these plays, if that's what you're asking, even if on the rare play that would provide the best angle. Positioning for every umpire is always a matter of playing the odds.

Does that help?