1-Umpire mechanics question

[shickenbottom]

mb, I believe you have the mechanic I'm describing incorrect. 3BL is 3rd base line extended into foul territory, and 1BL is 1st base line extended into foul territory.

The defense tried the un-orthodox 6-4-5 (Short-Second-Third) tag play DP, instead of the simpler 6-4-3 (Short-Second-First) DP.

If you're 3BL, you're not in a bad position for seeing both, but if you float out 1BL and open up, you're not gonna see both no matter how cross eyed you can make yourself from outside the dirt circle of Home plate. If you can, then your potentially an example of how humans evolved from fish with your eyes on the side of your head instead of on the front.

I know, I've heard the story how a very prominent umpire/instructor met his second or third wife who was Blond, by describing the eyes in the back of his head and how he could see the number of fingers on his hand when he looked the other way.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by shickenbottom

mb, I believe you have the mechanic I'm describing incorrect. 3BL is 3rd base line extended into foul territory, and 1BL is 1st base line extended into foul territory.

The defense tried the un-orthodox 6-4-5 (Short-Second-Third) tag play DP, instead of the simpler 6-4-3 (Short-Second-First) DP.

If you're 3BL, you're not in a bad position for seeing both, but if you float out 1BL and open up, you're not gonna see both no matter how cross eyed you can make yourself from outside the dirt circle of Home plate. If you can, then your potentially an example of how humans evolved from fish with your eyes on the side of your head instead of on the front.

I know, I've heard the story how a very prominent umpire/instructor met his second or third wife who was Blond, by describing the eyes in the back of his head and how he could see the number of fingers on his hand when he looked the other way.

I see. I think, however, I'd stick with moving up the 3BL (not extended... toward 3rd). First, that's our natural first inclination anyway on a hit ball; second - the more likely play here is at 2nd or 3rd; third - moving to 3BL gives you a horrible angle at 1st base, a possible first play and likely 2nd play.

Besides - I don't think sticking with EITHER BLE gives you enough separation from the pitcher to make a call at 2nd base. You need to get up a foul line, then (in this case) back toward the dugout to expand your periphery.

[cbfoulds]

First of all [and no disrespect intended to you], let me put on record that I hold the concept of "1-man mechanics" to be an oxymoronic joke. With only one umpire on a 90-foot field, you are, of necessity, making s#!t up as you go, mechanics-wise. Get where you need to be to see as much of what you need to see as possible, while remaining in a sufficiently flexible position to react to events as they develop. And take ABSOLUTELY NO static from the cheap SOB coaches who won't hire a second set of eyes and legs.

-<[/Rant off]>-

That said, I have the following suggestions:

A] contrary to all your instincts and proper TWO-MAN mechanics, react to this sitch by moving INTO the infield toward the home-side of the mound. From here you have improved your distance toward the likely 1st play at 2d base, and also improved your angle for following plays on either corner. 'Course, if they try to cut down R3 at the plate, you may eat horsehide for supper, but at least you will be looking into the play at the plate [assuming you are not wearing the ball], rather than up its azz - which is where you'll be if you go up 3bl in foul territory. AND, moving in this direction allows you to "open your field of view" more than [realistically] you can in foul territory, increasing the chance that you will see R3 cross the plate, or at least know how far away he was when you turned your attention exclusively to the developing 3d-out play.

B] Rather than not counting the run because you are not SURE R3 scored in time, I would advocate the opposite analysis: score the run unless you are SURE the 3d out came first. By all means, use the techniques and secondary evidence suggested by others to "catch" the R3 who lollygags his way down the baseline; but in most cases, R3 is off like a shot and hauling freight, with a substantial lead-off into the bargain. If R3 DIDN'T score in time, he probably tripped over his shoelace and face-planted short of home plate, where you will find him when you "GLANCE at the Runner(s)" after "watch(ing) the ball". If when you look back at the plate after calling the third out, R3 is halfway to his dugout high-fiveing his teammates, it is very likely he was across the plate before the 3d out was made.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by cbfoulds

in most cases, R3 is off like a shot and hauling freight, with a substantial lead-off into the bargain.

Wouldn't R2 be hauling just as much tail AND with a bigger lead-off? I know he has to slow a bit to slide, but I can't imagine R3 touching the plate is an automatic given in this situation.

[CT1]

Guys:

R3 will ALWAYS (defined as 99 44/100%) score on this play. Just count the run & sleep well.

[MD Longhorn]

Just my 2 cents - moving into the infield during a play on the infield is a horrible idea, and you'll find yourself dodging thrown balls, avoiding players moving to back up somewhere, and having half of the play develop behind you.

Just a note regarding being more abrupt with coaches regarding what you did or did not see due to there only being 1 of you --- be sure you are positive the reason you are alone is the coaches' fault. Seems to me that the majority of my 1-man games resulted from a flaky partner, and not cheap schools or leagues. Also, don't forget that YOU accepted this game.

[jTheUmp]

Thanks for all the suggestions, it's given me a lot to think about.

Re: why go 6-4-5 instead of 6-4-3: both R1 and R2 "Froze" when the ball was hit, and didn't start running again until the ball was clearly on the ground... BR was sprinting immediately on contact, so by the time F6 recovered the ball and threw to F4, BR was about 2/3 of the way to 1st and R2 was about halfway between 2nd and 3rd... so the easier play was actually on R2.

RE: hiring two... believe me, we've tried. All of these schools claim they don't have the money for it... and I believe about 15% of them, although I don't believe it in the case of either school that was playing in this game.

Hell, last night I had a minor sh-tstorm on the part of a coach in a 1-umpire game after an attempted pickoff play on R3 after a pitch. (talk about having NO angle whatsoever). A quick "Coach, I need a second set of eyes to make that call" didn't necessarily calm him down, but it did get him to shut up and retreat back to his dugout.

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Just my 2 cents - moving into the infield during a play on the infield is a horrible idea, and you'll find yourself dodging thrown balls, avoiding players moving to back up somewhere, and having half of the play develop behind you.

Just a note regarding being more abrupt with coaches regarding what you did or did not see due to there only being 1 of you --- be sure you are positive the reason you are alone is the coaches' fault. Seems to me that the majority of my 1-man games resulted from a flaky partner, and not cheap schools or leagues. Also, don't forget that YOU accepted this game.

Seriously? Where do you have BU go/stand during plays in the infield when you have a full crew? While I agree there is some danger of needing to avoid a throw from 2d to home, there is no other situation I can think of where moving inside TO THE HOME SIDE OF THE MOUND could possibly put you in anyone's [or anything's] way. As for part of the play developing behind you, see "1-man {!!HA!!} mechanics" in my previous post - that is gonna happen, no matter what you do; so at least improve both angle and distance to 3/4 of the places you need to see. Actually, it's more like 4/5 improvement, 'cause if there is a play at the plate and you are halfway up 3bl and wide to "open up" the field of view, you are likely to have no view at all of what happens thru R3's backside.

OP stated this was assigned one-man, so we can forget penance for our worthless no-show partner; and The Game was accepted because the assigner needs/ expects someone to take it, and usually the guy who gets offered this kind of game isn't given much choice. Accepting a one-man assignment does not obligate one to tolerate whinging by the people who decided to forego the expense of a 2d umpire when the natural and predicable consequences of their parsimony bite them in the azz; or to be more tolerant or even appologetic for the limitations of our "One-man {I repeat, !!HA!!} mechanics".
.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by cbfoulds

A] contrary to all your instincts and proper TWO-MAN mechanics, react to this sitch by moving INTO the infield toward the home-side of the mound. From here you have improved your distance toward the likely 1st play at 2d base, and also improved your angle for following plays on either corner. 'Course, if they try to cut down R3 at the plate, you may eat horsehide for supper, but at least you will be looking into the play at the plate [assuming you are not wearing the ball], rather than up its azz - which is where you'll be if you go up 3bl in foul territory.

Then why would you ever go into fair territory with runners in scoring position? I've worked a ton of one man games over the years, and that's not the place you want to be.

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Just my 2 cents - moving into the infield during a play on the infield is a horrible idea, and you'll find yourself dodging thrown balls, avoiding players moving to back up somewhere, and having half of the play develop behind you.

Exactly. You can call everything you need to call from foul territory when runners are in scoring position. On first to 3rd, I'm still at the cutout at 3rd waiting on that runner, but I'm getting out of Dodge if there is going to be action at home plate.

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Wouldn't R2 be hauling just as much tail AND with a bigger lead-off? I know he has to slow a bit to slide, but I can't imagine R3 touching the plate is an automatic given in this situation.

With the ball hit to the right of F6 [OP], I'm guessing the coach's admonition: "Ball hit to this side, make sure it's through" is keeping R2 closer to 2d, at least at first and until the ball is thrown to 2d for the force on R1. And, retreating [or at least pulling up] so that the fielder has to take "a couple steps" toward 2d to make the tag - still more time for an unimpeded R3 to make it home.

So - automatic? No. But a whole lot more likely than not. Score the run unless you are SURE he was tardy.