Post season survey

[rngrck]

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.

[kylejt]

The ball thrown to the unexpected base.

[REFANDUMP]

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

[bob jenkins]

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

[JRutledge]

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

Peace

[Matt]

Originally Posted by JJ

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

JJ

The opportunity for the second should never arise.

[MrUmpire]

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

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Matt

The opportunity for the second should never arise.

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.

[PeteBooth]

[

QUOTE=rngrck;796160]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.

[/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

[TussAgee11]

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.

[DG]

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".

[JJ]

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

[JJ]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

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.

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

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by 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

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.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

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.

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.