BU - Modifying B or C depending on situation?

[wadeintothem]

I think most umpires just stand in standard B C based on the fact this is what I see. IMO, B or C is the worst ending position for a call. I.e. In many plays, these players are so fast that by the time the play developes, you are still in B or C making your call. I hate to be PU and see a bang bang play at 1b where I'm closer to the call at 1B than the BU hanging out behind the F6.

I'll give a few scenarios where I like to change position of B or C slightly - I'd like to know what you all think.

1. R1@3
Here I think C is much closer to 2nd and in. Why?
Your play is at 1B 90% of the time or POSSIBLY pick off at 3 or help at play with something involving the batter.
We all know what most likely will happen, Def is going to get the out at 1b (check 3 go 1 or with 2 outs just go 1) - but there could be a play at the plate or a run down.. so - a modified C cheating to 2B is better than C, because in just about every conceivable play, the standard C is the worst position with a runner on 3B.

If you are say 6' from 2b on the 3b side, your movement towards 1B gives you a great view of the play at 1b, your primary call in that scenario - from a much closer position than behind the SS.

You cannot move in for a bang bang at 1B, where you are at the start of the play +/- a few feet is where you will be when you make the call at 1B simply because you have 2.4 seconds or so, and thats it. Behind the shortstop in standard C middle, you might as well be a parent eating a hot dog behind the home run fence calling the game, your view is about just as good IMO.

2. Cheating based on players
Example:
I worked a mens tourney where nearly every other pitch or more with runner @ 1b the catcher would shoot down to 1st, and he was darn good at it. Play after play pick off attempts. I had to cheat towards 1 because it was just too many close plays, I knew this catcher was good, he got more than a few in that tourney and I knew he was going to try it. Do you cheat based on what you've learned throughout the game(s) the players will be doing? He would do the same with a R1 at 2b, he would shoot that ball down to 2b after the pitch. So I would cheat for the coming pickoff at 2b. Just an amazing arm, but the point is, if you see something going on with particular plays, will you start to cheat based on that?

3. Cheating towards 2b when you know the steal is coming - R1 @ 1b, BU in B

More common than the above when you are in B where the extreme skill of the catcher/f3 team caused me to cheat to 1B, I cheat towards 2b. Sometimes I dont have the best view of a pick off but its usually safe anyway or obviously out - the play thats coming is the steal at 2 or the double play, play at 2 or something of that sort. B or a cheated B are both bad positions for a pick off at 1B, so it doesnt really mater with that play.

I advocate the getting 90's on play as the best thing - the problem is, youre not going to get that from a standard B / C dictated by ASA. RARE is the umpire who can get a 90 from standard B or C on a steal or bang bang play. Those girls can out run 95% of us all.

On a double play, imo, the best position will be if you were cheating towards 2B and moved in to 2b then a 90 on 1B. So you would end about 4-5 back and towards the 1b line for the call at 1b.


If you want to be stopped and in proper position on a play you need to cheat based on experience and foresight of whats likely to happen so that by taking angles etc you can overcome the speed difference. Admittedly, in some cases, it may mess you up; however, I think the odds are in your favor in many more cases, ESPECIALLY the bang bang call at 1b when the BU is in C.

I think think straight C with runner @ 3B is the worst position ASA advocates.

What are your thoughts or what tricks and techniques have you learned to help you through the B/C positioning - or do you simply stay off in never neverland B C regardless of whats happening and make your calls (I know many do this because I work with them all the time).... and if so, why do you do that?

Personnally, I believe the ASA uses A B C as a training tool to cater to the lowest common denominator of umpire .. ie they know B & C is not best in many cases, but its easy to teach and remember given the wide variety of umpires taking the field.