base umpire positioning
 

Best way I was ever taught and have used to teach others: from both B slot and C slot, line yourself up behind the baseline with the pitchers plate. It is almost exactly halfway so you can get to base behind for a throwback or base ahead for a steal or force play. If you use this as your home position when in these spots, it helps you not get beat and helps prevent you cheating one way or other

Do not allow the fielder to move you out of position. Within reason, if the fielder is playing deep you cannot play in front of her because that is the best position.

What if the defense put on a shift and with a runner on 1st they move the 2nd baseman between 2nd and 3rd. Would you go with her?

Of course not. The mechanic is about a fielder on the side we are on.

It is my understanding that the "2-3 steps off the shoulder" is where F6 would "normally" play.

If F6 is playing in, or shifted left or right, this would have no bearing on your position. You want to maintain a consistent position.

If F6 is playing deep, you may drop back a bit, but then maybe not. . .using the "straight line theory" (at least I think that is the right term).

Straight Line Theory: imagine a straight line between F6 and F4 (or any two adjacent players for that matter). If you are behind that line, you are considered to be behind both players, even though you may be closer to home plate than one of those players.

No, it is off the fielder, not a general position.

This should be used only if extremely deep, not just a step or two back. You will see that more in SP than in the FP game.

As an umpire, I want to be close to a fielder. Try to avoid a position in the hole, if possible. If you are, you become a target for the batter and that is something you do not want, especially in the SP game. This is more workable up the middle.

The reason you want to be close to a fielder is to avoid them when s/he reacts 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 by you in the first step.

You're slipping, Mike! ;)

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

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

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?"

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.

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.

Mad skills, man.

Didn't say I was good at it :)