Calling from the circle

[emaxos]

Local FP Dixie rec league had opening day Saturday which included some unofficial games. All games had one man crews. I saw one blue calling the game from inside the circle. Never saw that before in about eight years. Seemed to be a bit distracting for the pitcher.
A spectator commented that the same blue had called a Fed game from the circle recently until his partner showed up. Claimed he didn't have his equipment with him. He stayed in the circle through 4 different games Saturday. My guess is perhaps he doesn't have any protective equipment. League President told me he wouldn't allow it for an official game.
Can a Fed game be legally called from the circle? Any org allow it in FP?

[Skahtboi]

I know of no organization that allows this. The proper mechanic for a one man crew is for the umpire to take his place behind the catcher, so that he can acurately call balls and strikes, and then, upon a hit, to hustle out to the middle of the diamond and let the play carry him to where he should be. This is true for all associations of which I am aware.

[FUBLUE]

I too, have never seen this done by an umpire. I've worked several dozen games by myself behind the plate...it's a lot of work but if done right, you can get an angle on calls.

[Roger Greene]

I'v never done this, but I have heard it promoted as a viable way to do a one man game.

I have worked with pitchers during practices in which I was observing the pitch location from behind the pitcher, and looking over his/her throwing shoulder. You get an exceptionally good look at the pitch location. I'm not sure that one couldn't be just as consistant, if not more so, than in the normal plate position. The batter never squeezs your slot, and the catcher never "takes the pitch away from" you. In addition, you have a good angle on any plays on the bases.

The negatives are that you cannot see a runner leaving early, and a line shot can get lost on the opposite side of F1 and not give you time to avoid being hit.

I have offered to do one man scrimiages from behind the pitcher or on the plate. The coaches have always given up the good look of the steals at 2nd and asked me to work the plate. I figure it's their dime.

Roger Greene

[Edited by Roger Greene on Mar 30th, 2004 at 08:50 PM]

[WestMichBlue]

For many years IÂ’ve called for a local summer H.S. developmental league. It is fun; low key, and we play with a lot of rec league type rules so the coaches could play all the kids and prepare for next yearÂ’s team. Three 1.5 hour games, one man crew.

A couple years ago we experience a wicked stretch of 90 deg high humidity weather and I knew it would be harmful to my health (considering my age and weight) to work 4.5 hours continuous behind the plate. So I moved out behind the pitcher.

I enjoyed the camaraderie with the pitchers (I knew most of the girls from the local and area schools). I was more relaxed. But I knew that my strike zone was bad. High/low was OK (probably better), but you are looking at the strike zone from an angle and you know you are missing the corners. Fair/foul was impossible to judge. And more than once I was making a safe/out call from the ground, having been put there by a hard throw from F5 or F2 that had my head in its crosshair.

When the weather broke after a couple weeks I was very happy to put all the gear on and get back in the slot again.

WMB

I can't imagine calling from the circle. I'd probably need binoculars just to call the corners!

[Skahtboi]

Originally posted by Ref Ump Welsch
I can't imagine calling from the circle. I'd probably need binoculars just to call the corners!

Not to mention that it appears to all watching that the umpire is lazy.

[Andy]

I did a HS softball game yesterday afternoon. After we finished and were walking out to the car, we passed the baseball field. Lo and behold, the one umpire on this baseball game was calling the game from behind the pitcher' mound!

[FUBLUE]

Nothing against baseball, but I think it is actually easier to call a baseball game solo from behind the plate than it is to call a softball game. The game isn't as fast paced, and you have a little more reaction time to get a good angle on calls.

FUBLUE, I'd have to disagree with you about going solo behind the plate in baseball. The pickoffs by the pitchers can be a ***** from behind the plate.

[Stat-Man]

I've sene it happen twice in NFHS rules JV Softball

Once was at a school where the JV diamond literally had no room between home plate and the backstop. That I could understand.

A few years later, we had a situation where we had a JV and varsity game going on together in adjacent courts. One Varsity Blue was a no show, so the JV PU went to cover. Since the JV BU had no gear and made it clear he wasn't standing behind the plate, he stood along side and behind the pitcher. Needless to say, stealing second base was pretty much a given since stayed right in the way.

[FUBLUE]

Originally posted by Ref Ump Welsch
FUBLUE, I'd have to disagree with you about going solo behind the plate in baseball. The pickoffs by the pitchers can be a ***** from behind the plate.

NOw that I think about it, that would be tough at second and third. Plate umpire can have a good view at first, actually better than plate umpire...I always wanted that call as a plate umpire in baseball, but everyone I ever worked with wanted to take it on the bases. But they sure were willing to defer to me on a pulled foot, even if they were in position to see it...seems like a way out of conflict.

I actually worked a JV baseball game this weekend solo...it wasn't bad at all. Pick offs were tough...got a lot of "But the ball beat him there" from the coaches. THAT'S GREAT BUT IF I DON'T SEE THE OUT, I CAN'T CALL IT!

Same as for softball, it's all about getting an angle on the play.