New position for BU

[bigsig]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Using the standard Fed 'C' position and working between pitches, you'll have your 90-degree angle on that pickoff at 3B from 10 feet or so. By reading the play, going to 1B and hustling, you should be near the circle for the call at 1B. Your recommended Fed positioning appears to be lazy.

It's not my recommended position, it's our UIC's.
It is NFHS Fastpitch
Here is why I like it: Just My Opinion
If you are in the C psoition and the SS is playing deep, near the outfield grass, your angle to 3B is NOT 90 degrees but it is 90 degrees if you are positioned just off of 2B. In addition, in the C psoition, with a deep SS, you could be more than 100 feet from 1B. If the ball is hit to the left side of the feild there's not much chance of getting inside and therefore you are making a call from a long distance. Positioned near 2B you are less than 60 feet from either 3B or 1B.
There is a difference between being smart and lazy.
IMO it's a good idea.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by bigsig

It's not my recommended position, it's our UIC's.
It is NFHS Fastpitch

It is not the recommended mechanic for NFHS Fastpitch. (See previous replies)

Originally Posted by bigsig

It's not my recommended position, it's our UIC's.
If you are in the C psoition and the SS is playing deep, near the outfield grass, your angle to 3B is NOT 90 degrees 2B you are less than 60 feet from either 3B or 1B.

There is a difference between being smart and lazy.
IMO it's a good idea.

Once the catcher catches the pitch, or more specifically, when the batter doesn't hit the pitch, I'm moving to get into position to make the next probable call, the pick at third. Umpiring isn't about standing around and waiting for a play to happen, it's OK to move to a new position once the situation has changed.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

It is not the recommended mechanic for NFHS Fastpitch. (See previous replies)

Once the catcher catches the pitch, or more specifically, when the batter doesn't hit the pitch, I'm moving to get into position to make the next probable call, the pick at third. Umpiring isn't about standing around and waiting for a play to happen, it's OK to move to a new position once the situation has changed.

Big,
What Mark speaks of here is what I'm calling "working between pitches".
With runners on 1B & 3B, I'm going to be 15-20 feet off of the 3B line and about 8 feet behind the 2B to 3B path. Sometimes, this will put me about even with F6 - several feet away. But I'm still behind the infielders - draw a line from F5 to F6 & I'm behind that. By working between pitches, I am positioning myself for the pick-off at 3B AND/OR the steal at 2B - I have a 90 degree angle on both. With a runner at 3B, you are not at all likely to see a pick-off at 1B. With an infield ground ball, chances are very good that I will get near the circle for the play at 1B. Mark's right - read, react, and hustle - after being prepared.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Big,
What Mark speaks of here is what I'm calling "working between pitches".
With runners on 1B & 3B, I'm going to be 15-20 feet off of the 3B line and about 8 feet behind the 2B to 3B path. Sometimes, this will put me about even with F6 - several feet away. But I'm still behind the infielders - draw a line from F5 to F6 & I'm behind that. By working between pitches, I am positioning myself for the pick-off at 3B AND/OR the steal at 2B - I have a 90 degree angle on both. With a runner at 3B, you are not at all likely to see a pick-off at 1B. With an infield ground ball, chances are very good that I will get near the circle for the play at 1B. Mark's right - read, react, and hustle - after being prepared.

With runners on 1B & 3B and less than two outs, I'm going to assume R2 will go to 2nd and there might be a play; although the fake play to a pick at 3rd is more likely.
I try to get an angle for the pick at 3rd because it can happen quicker.
With IF up, right behind F6 is usually good because I only need a step or two in, even if she covers. With IF back, a little left of F6 and back a few steps allows the same cover. If to the right of F6, I'm more likely to have a bad angle because of F6 covering.
Obviously, any of these require movement after the pitch to get where I would be if there was no possible batted ball.
Either way, seeing a play at 2nd is just a turn following the ball and a play at 1st is the usual hustle from an variation of C.

I feel like I'm being more wordy than clear, but the best I could do right now.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

I feel like I'm being more wordy than clear, but the best I could do right now.

Am I the only one that just saw a HUGE door open?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Am I the only one that just saw a HUGE door open?

I wasn't sure if he tee'd it up, opened the door, or told the skeet handler "pull". It may have been all three!!

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Am I the only one that just saw a HUGE door open?

Yup, he did. And he didn't use the disclaimer that you used back there with "In my mind."

[azbigdawg]

Ive never been a fan of the "C" position in FP because of the look( or lack thereof) you get at plays at first..... but it can be sold fairly easily. I LIKE the "b" position with a runner at third...but I DONT like what the OP said about giving the play at 3rd back to the plate umpire...he has NO angle on that, it should be kept by the base umpire.

ANd I wouldnt use this position without pregaming it with my partner.....and if he/she objected....I wouldnt use it......

[LIIRISHMAN]

Here in NYS girls FP this is the mechanic that is used. The one problem I have is the 3rd baseman can shield your view when looking head on from this position.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by LIIRISHMAN

Here in NYS girls FP this is the mechanic that is used. The one problem I have is the 3rd baseman can shield your view when looking head on from this position.

With a runner on first only, and the BU in 'B' (hopefully), are you giving the PU the pick at first? Pretty much the same thing. Here, we are expecting our BU to get in position to make the call.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

With a runner on first only, and the BU in 'B' (hopefully), are you giving the PU the pick at first? Pretty much the same thing.

Here's as possible difference.

In my mind, (leave that alone, please ), a runner on 3B is most likely going to be in foul territory. Any quick return would most likely be in foul territory. If it is a close call on the outside of 3B, there is no way the BU is going to get even a good guess on the play, and the PU is very likely to be blocked by the runner's body.

An umpire in the C and moving after the pitch has a much better shot of getting some type of look. Even if still blocked, the perception is that the umpire is there for a call. This isn't available from working near 2B.

Secondly, where is a missed call most likely to hurt the defense, at 1B or 3B? Of course, none of us want to not see a play clearly, but it happens and there is no fool-proof set of mechanics to avoid it.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Secondly, where is a missed call most likely to hurt the defense, at 1B or 3B? Of course, none of us want to not see a play clearly, but it happens and there is no fool-proof set of mechanics to avoid it.

That was what I have been thinking throughout reading this thread... What is the priority, here? It may very well be that a play at 1B will happen more often than a pickoff attempt at 3B, but which is more important to get right?

Someone mentioned using B with 2 outs... that I can understand, since the play at 1st will prevent / allow a run to score.

But otherwise, it seems to me the priority should remain the runner at 3B.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by LIIRISHMAN

Here in NYS girls FP this is the mechanic that is used. The one problem I have is the 3rd baseman can shield your view when looking head on from this position.

I'm not opposed to trying something new, if it makes sense. I just don't think this positioning makes sense. What do Jim Craig or Ed Crane think of this? They're both New York state folks.