Horrible Mechanics

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

I agree that is what the book says...
I disagree its the best way to cover this play. (and you are free to disagree with me)

Okay, I disagree and here is why:

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

I have enough intelligence to in the context of a proper pre-game adjust the mechanics to better cover the play.

This is the problem. You use one set of mechanics, confuse your partner, he tries using it with a different partner. Pretty soon, you have too many different ways of doing what should be STANDARDIZED throughout the baseball world.

The best way to cover the play is the way the mechanics say, and that is to go to the library, read the book, go home if it is not a catch/tag/advance. This is the only time PU has 3rd on this play. He needs to retreat home on a base hit, whether a clean hit or a trapped ball, whatever. This is the best coverage on this play. The only time the PU should have to bust as$ home from the cutout is on an overthrow at 3rd after a tag from R2 at second. Otherwise, the PU shouldn't be anywhere in the vicinity.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Personally, I don't care about evaluations. I don't have people watching me work around here and I know more than the people they'd get anyway.

Amen on that one.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I care more when a plate guy has happy feet and feels like he needs to help in places where it's not called for.

My biggest pet peeve while I'm the BU is to have the PU come up the 3rd base line when he isn't supposed to. Like on a naked triple, and I'm chugging into 3rd, look up and see the PU flying up the line about to enter the cut. That frosts my poptarts, I tell ya! Here I'm busting my butt from A all the way around, well ahead of the runner, and here this guy is assuming I can't run or something. I make sure to give them a look that shoots daggers, then talk to them about it later.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

If a ding would be in order, it would be labeled "false hustle."

Yes, false hustle is exactly what it is. Just like it is false hustle for the PU to run all the way up the 1st base line past the 45ft. line on a ground ball with no runners on. Instead of coming to a set position as the throw approaches F3, the false hustler continues running toward first base to give the appearance that he's a real jackrabbit. All the coaches oooh and aaah about how he hustles, but he isn't set to see the play he's running up there to watch. I see it all too often, especially from the young "fit and trim" umpires trying to show off their speed.