3 person mechanic question

[Justme]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

I was 3rd baseumpire, person on 1 so I am in line with 2nd, hit to SS she throws to 2nd for force out, I watch ball till it nears fielder then focus on bag to see slide and fielders feet, I hear ball hit glove.....fielders feet miss bag, fielder comes down like no big deal, runner is getting up like no big deal so I give a safe call. So what is the issue??? Well I didnt' know till I started to move that the ball skipped off her mitt and was in center field!! So I feel stupid as I blew the "no ball-no call" theory. But even worse I start thinking what if she would have landed with her feet on the bag and I banged the out with the ball in the outfield??? Talk about crawlling off the field to hide!!

Sounds like you made the correct call. There was a ball/play at the time you made your call. Regardless of the throw being caught you had the runner safe so the fact that the SS wasn't able to handle the throw in this situation is secondary. Giving the safe signal/call was okay.

Now IF you had 'banged out' the runner with the ball in the field you could have have changed your call. "No, she's safe...balls on the ground." It ain't pretty but sometimes it has to be done.

Best way to avoid this is to take your time with the call. Let the play complete itself before making your call.

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

So I ask you what did I do wrong?? If I watched the ball longer I am afraid I would have missed the foot action, which in this case is meaningless but with a situation of a catch it is important......the only advice I have been given is I might have been too close to the play thus limiting my periferial (spelling) vision to see the ball skip into the outfield. One more thing is to get there, it had to go right over my head and I didn't even know it, now that is scary!!

I only watch the ball long enough to know that I have a good throw. After that I'm setting up to watch the play. Many umpires think (or were taught) that the closer you get to a play the better. Most of us know that's not always true because if you get too close sometimes you don't see the entire picture.

So you might have been too close and/or you might have been made your call too quickly.....that happens.....don't be so hard on yourself. You've learned something from this situation and that will make you a better umpire. Good luck