base umpire positioning

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

...The reason you want to be close to a fielder is to avoid them when s/he reacts they react to a batted ball. Like a PU and a catcher, when the fielder moves back for a ball, you swing one way or the other depending on the direction of fielder and s/he is they are by you in the first step.

You're slipping, Mike!

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by Dakota

You're slipping, Mike!

He IS slipping. I m concerned that his advanced age is catching up to him....

[CecilOne]

At least HE addressed the question!
Maybe because he is instinctively an evaluator and teacher.

[EsqUmp]

It's stupid to use terms like "off the shoulder." Use a distance between the bases as a guide and a distance behind the fielder.

Does every mechanic need an asterisk that reads, "Obviously, if a player is in your way, don't be an idiot; find another nearby reasonable place to set up?"

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

It's stupid to use terms like "off the shoulder."

Not really, unless it is the type of umpire who needs an asterisk as noted below.

Use a distance between the bases as a guide and a distance behind the fielder.

Does every mechanic need an asterisk that reads, "Obviously, if a player is in your way, don't be an idiot; find another nearby reasonable place to set up?"

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not really, unless it is the type of umpire who needs an asterisk as noted below.

It's better to use constant references than it is variables. That's all.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

It's better to use constant references than it is variables. That's all.

Disagree. The entire game is based on variables and the umpire must adjust to the fielders, not the other way around. And for the reasons posted earlier, I would always keep the umpire near a fielder when possible.

As a batter, I loved it when the umpire would position him/herself in a hole. I would use that umpire as a target and try to put the ball right in his/her face and hope s/he would get out of the way as I knew that would be a base hit.