Mechanics Question

[Justme561]

I have a difference of opinion with a fellow umpire that maybe you guys can help with.

We were working a college scrimmage today and had the following play.

Runner on 2B. The batter hits a ground ball to left field. The runner from 2B rounds 3rd and heads for home. The left fielder throws it to the 3rd baseman, who has moved toward the outfield grass, who then throws to home. There's a close sliding play at home.

The question is where should U1 have been positioned to make the call?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Justme561

I have a difference of opinion with a fellow umpire that maybe you guys can help with.

We were working a college scrimmage today and had the following play.

Runner on 2B. The batter hits a ground ball to left field. The runner from 2B rounds 3rd and heads for home. The left fielder throws it to the 3rd baseman, who has moved toward the outfield grass, who then throws to home. There's a close sliding play at home.

The question is where should U1 have been positioned to make the call?

Assuming U1 means the plate umpire, he should be at the point of the plate to read the throw home and adjust accordingly. Usually, the place to be is the 3rd base line extended.

The PU also has R2's touch of 3rd base.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Assuming U1 means the plate umpire, he should be at the point of the plate to read the throw home and adjust accordingly. Usually, the place to be is the 3rd base line extended.

The PU also has R2's touch of 3rd base.

My bad - I assumed the OP meant what he said. Your assumption makes more sense.

I echo the "you were at a college scrimmage and this was a point of contention" question, as this is extremely straightforward.

Does PU have R2's touch in 3-man? (I agree in 2-man, but college scrimmage, I'm thinking it's 3, and doesn't U3 have that touch?)

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Does PU have R2's touch in 3-man? (I agree in 2-man, but college scrimmage, I'm thinking it's 3, and doesn't U3 have that touch?)

PU has R2's touch of 3d with 2 outs or anytime U1 or U3 goes out. Otherwise, R3 has it.

[Justme561]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

My bad - I assumed the OP meant what he said. Your assumption makes more sense.

I echo the "you were at a college scrimmage and this was a point of contention" question, as this is extremely straightforward.

Does PU have R2's touch in 3-man? (I agree in 2-man, but college scrimmage, I'm thinking it's 3, and doesn't U3 have that touch?)

Maybe scrimmage was the wrong word to use, it was an intra-squad scrimmage (red vs blue), working on different situations and letting all of the pitchers get some work. It's good work for the umpires too, most only work FED, JUCO or D3 ball. Only 2 of us showed up. We try to have 3 umpires out there and sometimes 4 but not that day.

[jicecone]

I agree if your talking about the PU, then 3BX is a good starting point.

[JJ]

Third base line extended no matter who is making the call. Get a CCA Manual. Read it.

JJ

[zm1283]

You guys were working a college scrimmage and this was a point of contention?

[egj13]

Originally Posted by zm1283

You guys were working a college scrimmage and this was a point of contention?

+1

Was this 2 umpires I assume?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by JJ

Third base line extended no matter who is making the call. Get a CCA Manual. Read it.

JJ

Maybe he has read it but his partner hasn't. I've had that kind of partner. The one who knows all about positioning but hasn't attended any training or read any manual.

I wouldn't be surprised if his partner really thought U1 should be making the call at home. I've had that kind of partner.

Rita

[bluehair]

I agree with dash that you start off at the point and read/adjust from there. The OP seems to suggest that 3BLX was the place to be on this close sliding play. But some who have "seen the light" of the benefit of 3BLX think that 3BLX is the only place to be on a batted ball/play at HP. If the throw is there in plenty of time and it become a question of what happened first (tag or touch) then 1BLX is sometimes the place to be.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Rita C

I wouldn't be surprised if his partner really thought U1 should be making the call at home. I've had that kind of partner.

Rita, I'm fairly confident that the OP meant the plate umpire by 'U1', with R2 and a safe single to left. Some mechanics manuals (FED for instance) use that designation.

But, for the record, I've had the same partner — the one who thought the base umpire should make the call at home. One guy thought he should take it from the mound...

[Justme561]

My partner, the plate umpire, had just completed a high school clinic (this is his 2nd year working high school ball). He had wanted to come out to a scrimmage to get some experience so we let him. It is very informal so he couldn't screw things up..too bad.

He took the play at home positioned 1BX as described. After the inning I tried to explain where he should have been....He did not believe me. He said that he was just taught the previous weekend to do it the way he did. So I posted the question to the group here.

He will be reading your responses.

I meant PU when I said U1.... another "old guy" moment...they are coming more often these days!

Thank you all

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Justme561

I have a difference of opinion with a fellow umpire that maybe you guys can help with.

We were working a college scrimmage today and had the following play.

Runner on 2B. The batter hits a ground ball to left field. The runner from 2B rounds 3rd and heads for home. The left fielder throws it to the 3rd baseman, who has moved toward the outfield grass, who then throws to home. There's a close sliding play at home.

The question is where should U1 have been positioned to make the call?

U1 should be near 2nd base prepared to make a call on the batter.