Honesty is the best policy?

[Rich]

This is not right.

Technically, the plate umpire takes all fly balls when the base umpire doesn't go out.

And your guideline for going out is not right either. Second base has nothing to do with it -- any ball taking the centerfielder to his right should belong to the plate umpire. Any ball bringing the centerfielder straight in or to his left AND any ball to the left of it can belong to the BU, but only if he goes out.

If the BU umpire goes out, though, REGARDLESS of the location of the ball, he has the ball and the PU must come up and take the runner around.

Rich