Time to reposition Ump or get the ball to F1

[umpjim]

1. Some of the guys in my area that have umpiring a long time say to call time in 3 man or 4 man to reposition after a play.

2. Same umps say you give time once the ball is in the infield and the fielder puts his hand up. (Usaully after a base hit).


Do these mechanics come from some earlier mechanics that I'm not aware of?
Do the pros get time as in #2 these days? I haven't seen it on TV but you don't see everything.

I don't do this stuff but it seems to be very prevalent. Am I off base?

[jicecone]

They must like 3 hour ball games or they are all old and really need time to re-position theirselves.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by umpjim

1. Some of the guys in my area that have umpiring a long time say to call time in 3 man or 4 man to reposition after a play.

2. Same umps say you give time once the ball is in the infield and the fielder puts his hand up. (Usaully after a base hit).


Do these mechanics come from some earlier mechanics that I'm not aware of?
Do the pros get time as in #2 these days? I haven't seen it on TV but you don't see everything.

I don't do this stuff but it seems to be very prevalent. Am I off base?

In #2, pro umpires call time after most base hits in order to check the ball.

[umpjim]

I've never seen this on TV or the last game I saw in person. Why after a base hit and not an infield out?

[yawetag]

I've read an article that stated a good umpiring crew can keep the ball alive while repositioning. It requires one umpire to not move until the others are in their position. This allows someone to always watch the ball.

BTW, you get this in two-man as well, just not as much. For instance, R1 with 1 out. Base hit to right field. PU covers 3B, so he's 90' out of position for the next play. BU stays where he is (which is somewhere between 1B and 2B, hopefully near the B position) while PU goes back to the plate. When PU is in position, the BU moves.

[johnnyg08]

I agree...many times umpires should be able to do this and still keep the ball live.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by yawetag

I've read an article that stated a good umpiring crew can keep the ball alive while repositioning. It requires one umpire to not move until the others are in their position. This allows someone to always watch the ball.

BTW, you get this in two-man as well, just not as much. For instance, R1 with 1 out. Base hit to right field. PU covers 3B, so he's 90' out of position for the next play. BU stays where he is (which is somewhere between 1B and 2B, hopefully near the B position) while PU goes back to the plate. When PU is in position, the BU moves.

This is the way we handle this, and teach it as well. The umpire inside stays put, and is responsible for any play that might happen to occur, while his partner is moving inside. At the appropriate signal from the transitioning umpire, the inside umpire relinquishes coverage, and retreats to his new position.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by yawetag

BTW, you get this in two-man as well, just not as much. For instance, R1 with 1 out. Base hit to right field. PU covers 3B, so he's 90' out of position for the next play. BU stays where he is (which is somewhere between 1B and 2B, hopefully near the B position) while PU goes back to the plate. When PU is in position, the BU moves.

This is kind of like calling time to clean the plate with R3. Preventintive measures are sometimes necessary. Normally though, calling time for these situations mentioned in the op, are really not necessary.

[ManInBlue]

There's enough of a lull in action for players to get back in position etc. I see no need to call time for us to reposition ouselves, unless someone just isn't hustling you should be able to get there without holding anything up.

As for #2, I'm not calling time for F4 to throw the ball back to F1 (exceptions may apply). If they can't do that they have bigger problems than me not calling time.