HP umpire positioning on bunt

[rbmartin]

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Is this what you want HP to do? It looks to me like HP is impeding BR's path to 1st.

[Manny A]

And it looks to me like the BR failed to run it out when he should have. Why fault the PU for doing what he should, and that's get into position to judge fair/foul?

[MD Longhorn]

I see RB's point... you come up the line to get a better look, but I'm not sure that's EVER put me in front of the batter runner. I don't think I'm running directly up the line if I've passed the batter runner. I'm either staying behind him, or getting at least a couple of feet out of the way.

I don't think he ACTUALLY slowed him down any (at least not enough to actually matter), but if this play was a step closer, I can see a few coaches getting upset.

[nopachunts]

If the BR had been running like he should have, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. The PU did his job correctly, followed the bunt up the line. The BR finally woke up and decided to run when the PU was already down the line towards 1B. If a coach was going to be upset, it should be at the BR, not the PU.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by nopachunts

If the BR had been running like he should have, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. The PU did his job correctly, followed the bunt up the line. The BR finally woke up and decided to run when the PU was already down the line towards 1B. If a coach was going to be upset, it should be at the BR, not the PU.

Probably true...

However - I believe one of the tenets of doing our jobs correctly is not affecting the play. Yes, there are mechanics and things we do - and those are designed with the idea in mind that we get the best look possible at what we need to see, without affecting the play. Despite the fact that the batter made a mistake by not running immediately, it's important that we stay out of the play.

Honestly, this is a once in a lifetime thing - but if it happens to me (now that I'm forewarned of the possibility), I hope I remember this and stay out of his way.

[Steven Tyler]

Working two man which is often the case with most, I doubt I would have been following the ball down that far.

Runner never really had a chance to really get out of the box because the bunted ball was high and inside. Batter was mostly trying to protect himself.

[Manny A]

So, if the BR stays in the box because he feels the ball will stay foul, as we sometimes see in amateur play, we're supposed to also stay at home plate and possibly have to make a long-distance call?

I agree we should do our best never to affect play. But when a player gets lazy on us, why should we also become lazy? If a coach gets upset at me, I'll tell him I can't wait for his player to finally wake up.

[MD Longhorn]

Well, 2 things really.
1) You should be able to see this from home plate - you call 90% of your foul/fair balls from either your initial position behind the plate (no time to move at all) or the 1BL or 3BL extended (minimal time to move) - no reason you can't make this call from there.
2) If you DO feel the need to move down the line for a better look, the closer you get the more you can accurately make this call without being exactly on the foul line. 1 yard foul would not have hindered his judgement on this.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Well, 2 things really.
1) You should be able to see this from home plate - you call 90% of your foul/fair balls from either your initial position behind the plate (no time to move at all) or the 1BL or 3BL extended (minimal time to move) - no reason you can't make this call from there.

Until BR blocks your view...

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

2) If you DO feel the need to move down the line for a better look, the closer you get the more you can accurately make this call without being exactly on the foul line. 1 yard foul would not have hindered his judgement on this.

Unless the ball was touched on the edge of the line...

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Matt

Until BR blocks your view...

Or, as was the case in this play, F1 blocks it. F1 trailed the ball up the line, and that would have caused the PU some problems if he's on 1BLX.