Post season survey
 

Fellow comrades. As a base umpire in a 2 -man system, what in your opinion is the hardest call to make? Please be specific with regards to positioning and base involved. :(

The ball thrown to the unexpected base.

The pickoff throw to 1st base from the "B" position.

R1, R2, double steal, throw to third then to second with a swipe tag.

I think a catch made going away from the infield near the ground.

Peace

The opportunity for the second should never arise.

catch/no catch straight away and very deep center at or below the shoetops.

Diving catch with outfielder toward line as PU, or fair/foul on screaming ground ball down LF line over 3rd base as PU.

With two outs and R2, I have seen umpires move from C to B in the belief that the final out will be at first base. Some associations encourage this though I'm not a fan. As has been discussed prior, umpires often do what their assignors, partner(s), league, team or paycheck provider demands.

Topic related, seeing that pitcher get his foot ON the bag from the C position is the nutbuster for me. As we watched in Game 6 last night, the angle makes the difference when a pitcher is covering for a first baseman who dove to grab a liner. I've guessed correctly on every one, at least that's what I tell the coach when confronted. ;)

Good one -- add to it "and when F1 ALSO attempts a swipe tag on BR".

caused a little kerfluffle during a game this year -- and since PU went down to third, per the new mechanic, he wasn't (couldn't be) much help.

I really don't worry about those things. I can only be in one place at a time.

My biggest concern at times is on base hit with multiple runners is not to get between the cut-off man and the base he is thowing to.

Deep fly ball, over the shoulder catch/ no-catch

They're talking about the base ump, Steve.

[[/QUOTE]

In addition to what's been said,

To tell if it's an HR or book rule double when you have those dreaded snow fences to deal with.

Pete Booth

R2 only ground ball to F6's right in the hole and R2 decides to go.

No idea if its going to 3rd or 1st. If the play is at 1st, you're at best between the rubber and 2nd. If the play is at third, the ball is coming in behind the runner and you'll never see when he was tagged.

Just no solution to that one.

HR or ground rule bounce over when fence is low and green background on other side.

Had one this Spring where I called HR on one straightaway CF, that bounced high when it hit the ground. Defensive coach went nuts, kept hollering it bounced over, until finally he yelled out at his F8, "Johnny, did that ball bounce over?". Johnny hollers back "NO".

Pickoff at 1st from the B position and/or steal of 3rd from the C position. Equally as difficult for me to guess correctly.

JJ

Call R2 out at 3rd UNLESS the ball is dropped or he is CLEARLY safe. A defensive coach will seldom squawk about this call because his runner did something REALLY stupid.

JJ

Oh. That's very different. Never mind.

I guess reading really is fundamental.:o

In addition to what's been said,

To tell if it's an HR or book rule double when you have those dreaded snow fences to deal with.

Pete Booth[/QUOTE]

Oh, you mean those wonderful fences where you can see the ball bounce! Yeah, that one is hard. Especially if your caught straight away to it.

Besides the fence, R2, with a low hard hit line drive into left or riight center, with F8 on his horse, lays out and makes a diving catch just off the ground, where you have to watch the catch through completion and catch the tag up at 2B.

I agree with this one. Very hard to see F1 swipe tag - even with PU in position he's often blocked by the F2 or the runner.

Thanks
David

Like you, I do not agree with this. However, I would say that being in B with two out would never result in a stolen base call at third, unless you have a really dumb OM.

In addition to what's been said,

To tell if it's an HR or book rule double when you have those dreaded snow fences to deal with.

Pete Booth[/QUOTE]

Any type of waist high fence for that matter.

I pointed out this thread to a buddy who is busy preparing for late winter clinics. He reminded me of a link I had sent him a year or so ago.

Enjoy this call: Ole Miss - Arkansas baseball...Emmy Nominations - YouTube

Hardest call?
 

The one where I was out of position. It happens, but hopefully, only in a blue moon;)

0 out, ground ball deep in the hole to F6 with a fast R2 with a big secondary. Its a good play to go to 3rd if he can get it.

Not my job to make calls just so somebody doesn't "squawk". Not my job to judge what is a stupid play and what isn't.

Call what ya got and don't worry about what should have or shouldn't have happened.

Did he go? I dunno
 

In B or C,,,"Jeff, did he go?" ...after coin flip..."yes, he went"

You must work youth ball exclusively to make that bold of a statement. I sure JJ works way above that level. You know, with coaches and players that understand what is going on. I'm quite sure the coach will be reaming his player for being stupid, not the other way around.

Actually, I see this play happen when a coach has R2 wheels or a really strong batter at the dish whom he wishes to protect. I assumed the same things as you, don't make the final out at third base. One of the early college games last season had me looking right up the a-- of this play and doing my best to sell a tough call. I don't assume much on the field any more.

Standing in A, home plate umpire comes to you for a check swing on a lefty. :eek:

This isn't unusual or particularly difficult.

Correct. And neither is responding from B or C unusual or particularly difficult.

That's SOP in NCAA 3-person starting now, if the other umpire is in the middle.

I thought the thread was what each person found difficult for them. I didn't get the idea that it was up for debate. I don't find any of the sitches in the whole BU thread difficult, which is why I didn't have anything to add. But, apparently blueump finds it difficult.

The :eek: emoticon made it sound like it was hard for him or that it was just a terrible situation or something.

Why? It's actually quite easy -- if I judge the batter offered, I say so when I'm asked. If I don't think he offered, I say so when I'm asked.

What's worse is the FED umpire who refuses to ask because the book allows him to refuse. Just ask already.

ô!ô
 

Guess you don't understand the rule.

JJ outed me earlier.

The pick-off at first from "B" is an easy call.

It is easy only because the runner has to be really, really out before I call the "OUT!"

T

Thank you. And what's the worst thing that can happen? You get a strike out of it and it's your partner's fault. Always ask.

That was my point. I find it easy, you find it easy, almost all God's children find it easy. However, blueump finds it difficult, and I believe the thread wasn't intended to be a debate about who thinks what is easy or hard, just what each umpire found to be the most difficult to them.

Steve, are you implying that there are rules on an internet umpire forum?

Silly Rabbit.

Exclusively... yup, you know me. Such a bold statement, way more bolder than the one you made :rolleyes:

No, I'm just saying that I could have responded "not that difficult" to every single post in the thread, but thought that would not be in keeping with the spirit of the thread.;)

Dumping someone for ragging on the PU after he's missed three safe/out calls, a fair/foul call, about 10 pitches, and then doesn't himself run the rat who yells "YOU SUCK!" at him.