Referee Mag Article-BU Inside Infield w/ Runner on 3rd Only

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

Do you see a lot of Shortstops fielding balls right behind the middle of the circle? That is not a very common play in my experience.

I'm talking about any ball essentially to F6's left. It doesn't have to be directly behind the middle of the circle (which would be a WORSE problem for an Umpire on the inside than any of the ones mentioned above). If you are watching the fielder here, you are facing AWAY from first base, and then have to turn and move toward 1st as the ball is in the air. Messy.

[QUOTE]As for catch/no catch...I thought that Mr Mafia was talking about the outfield. You have a good point that I would not be much help on infield Catch/no catch situations.[QUOTE]
In C, the entire play is in front of you. You can watch F6 or F4 field the ball, react to where the play is going to be going, and essentially get to where your inside mechanic has you starting, before the play is made at 1st. It's all in front of you - no turning around necessary.

As for moving toward first, you don't have to move very much, you are already in a pretty good spot.

Well yeah, it's a good spot... but if you aren't getting closer to first from there, what's the entire point of starting there? You have just lost the advantage of starting there, if the angle/distance for the normal play at first is not better. So now, you're giving up help on a catch/no-catch in the infield, giving up having the play in front of you, adding to the possibility that you interfere with play, and all of the other negatives mentioned... and the only positive is a minor one in that you have a slightly better angle on a pickoff at third. Um... why are you espousing this inferior mechanic again? What is your perceived plus?