pointing at home?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by cookie

Observed a fantastic play/call at home by the plate umpire on Monday evening during the 1st game of a Triple A DH between Syracuse Chiefs and Buffalo Bisons.

Throw coming to F2, runner coming in goes for the back side of the plate, F2's swipe tag misses, R3 misses the plate on the slide - PU from 3XL makes NO CALL. R3 gets partially up on his feet and dives for the plate, F2 (who had fallen off balance, too) does the same and dives toward the runner; PU repositioned himself now toward the 1st base line, then points to the plate as R3 touches home before F2 touches him, and concludes with an emphatic SAFE signal.

Beautiful play I thought. Great positioning, great mechanic, right call...

Sounds like good positioning and movement... but I completely don't understand the pointing here either. Is he saying, "There's the plate everyone!"? A sell safe or sell out is all that's necessary. Pointing usually means something else, like a ball on the ground.

[jwwashburn]

+1

[kylejt]

I like to point, just for a reference, before I make a call of safe or out on some plays. Point at the contact for a tag play, for instance. Or a stretched foot on the base. Type b OBS gets a point. There are good points, if used in the proper places. It's a great way to sell a call.

Point with the left hand, then go to your call, is what I've been taught.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

A sell safe or sell out is all that's necessary. Pointing usually means something else, like a ball on the ground.

"Point" well taken!

On this play, I wouldn't downgrade an umpire who gave a "safe" signal, pointed to the plate, then gave a second "safe" signal to sell his call.