Dirt Covered Plate

[njdevs00cup]

R2 & R3 infield in. Batter hits a one hop shot to F3 who makes a terrible throw home. R3 slides in completely covers home plate with dirt. The ball goes to the backstop and F1 does not cover the plate. R2 does not break stride and slides into the dirt covered plate as F2 dives to attempt to tag him out. Naturally it was a bang, bang play. I tried to use the remaining chalk from the left handed batter's box as a point of reference as to the location of the plate, saw a late tag (hip high), walked around to the front of the plate to see R2 on the plate and called him safe. Any feedback?

[johnnyg08]

make your call, sell your call, stick by your call.

[steveshane67]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

R2 & R3 infield in. Batter hits a one hop shot to F3 who makes a terrible throw home. R3 slides in completely covers home plate with dirt. The ball goes to the backstop and F1 does not cover the plate. R2 does not break stride and slides into the dirt covered plate as F2 dives to attempt to tag him out. Naturally it was a bang, bang play. I tried to use the remaining chalk from the left handed batter's box as a point of reference as to the location of the plate, saw a late tag (hip high), walked around to the front of the plate to see R2 on the plate and called him safe. Any feedback?

brush it off between runners?

*sarcasm

[Emperor Ump]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

make your call, sell your call, stick by your call.

These things happen. Use your best judgement and make the call.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

R2 & R3 infield in. Batter hits a one hop shot to F3 who makes a terrible throw home. R3 slides in completely covers home plate with dirt. The ball goes to the backstop and F1 does not cover the plate. R2 does not break stride and slides into the dirt covered plate as F2 dives to attempt to tag him out. Naturally it was a bang, bang play. I tried to use the remaining chalk from the left handed batter's box as a point of reference as to the location of the plate, saw a late tag (hip high), walked around to the front of the plate to see R2 on the plate and called him safe. Any feedback?

In these situations you have to use all the information you can to come up with your decision. Sounds like you did the correct thing.

-Josh

[JJ]

"If I can't see it, it's bigger." That's the line I use with catchers who reach out to brush the dirt off the plate with their glove. Same idea applies to your play - if you think he got there, then he got there.

JJ

...and I've only had ONE catcher in 30 years follow my line by reaching out and pushing MORE dirt on the plate.

[RogersUmp]

Sell, Mortimer, sell!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by RogersUmp

Sell, Mortimer, sell!

Dropping the Trading Places reference...very well played, sir!

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Dropping the Trading Places reference...very well played, sir!

Concur. Good one Rogers!