What Should I Have Done Here?

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

As you noted, she was dangerously close, but legally in position, and there is a fine line between umpiring and coaching. In your situation, I would have had a quick conversation with her coach, "Coach, I don't want to be coaching your players, and I certainly understand the advantages of your catcher being as close as possible. I just want to tell you that she is dangerously close, in my judgment, to being hit with a bat, and I'm sure you realize that can risk some serious injury, not just a free base to a batter."

If he moves her back, I would feel free to say something if she eases back up. If he chooses to leave her there, then he accepts the risk to her, not me.

I'm in agreement with letting the defensive coach know his catcher may be at risk. I've done this by calling time and while walking over to the DC taken my lineup card out and expained I didn't have a line-up question, but s/he might want to take a peak at the catcher who is too close to the batter.