Advice for Base Umping

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Ump Rube

Sorry, this might seem like resurrecting an old post, but I was on vacation and now I am catching up on "un-read" threads.

Unless the PU has identified that he has 3B or the BU is in such a position that it is impractical for him to make a call, BU has 3B.

When a play occurs there, the BU is to make the best call with all information available. If he feels that the PU might have seen something that would affect the call. He should wait until the playing action ends, call time and speak with the PU.

If something was seen, some additional information given, the BU should take that into account and decide upon standing with the call or reversing it. In either case the BU signals the decision and handles any issues stemming from it.

I do echo others thoughts that a clinic will do wonders in this area, this is simply a bare-bones process that can work in the interim. But you need to cover it in the pregame with your partner.

Mechanics dictate that all calls at third belong to the BU until the PU calls off the BU.

Beyond that, there's too much in this post that will cause me grief in my games -- like this Sunday when I worked hard to get in position on a ground ball from the C position and had the defense all ask for me to "get help" when F3 stretched, caught the ball, and then fell forward off the base. I'm sure my eyes were the only ones on the feet when the play happened -- the defense was just umpiring what they saw (well) afterwards. You'd think I shot their puppy when I told them I wasn't about to ask the PU for "help" -- I certainly didn't need "help."

Get in position and get the right angle and get the calls yourself.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Mechanics dictate that all calls at third belong to the BU until the PU calls off the BU.

Beyond that, there's too much in this post that will cause me grief in my games -- like this Sunday when I worked hard to get in position on a ground ball from the C position and had the defense all ask for me to "get help" when F3 stretched, caught the ball, and then fell forward off the base. I'm sure my eyes were the only ones on the feet when the play happened -- the defense was just umpiring what they saw (well) afterwards. You'd think I shot their puppy when I told them I wasn't about to ask the PU for "help" -- I certainly didn't need "help."

Get in position and get the right angle and get the calls yourself.

1+

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A lot of umpiring is selling your call by looking confident. Unfortunately (collint1993), it comes with experience and training. Find a local officiating association and join would be my best advice!

-Josh