UMass and 3BL Extended

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by ronald

Can you guys explain how from 3bl extended you can tell if the swipe tag touched the backside of a player. Front side yes. But a tag could miss by an inch and look like a tag. Now you are guessing. This is or almost the exact same position one has at first base on a swipe tag.

What am I missing? I am confused.

The bane of the 3BL is, IMO, a reliance on the play developing is a particular fashion. Unfortunately, adjustments by catcher and/or runner due to an off-target throw can place the umpire in a bad position.

Now, I saw a major league ump go on the first base line, batter's box area, catcher up the 3rd base line blocking side of plate and makes a swipe tag. Draw it on paper and see his line of vision. Sweet! When the tag was made, he was probably quite close to a 90 degree angle to point of tag. Now all four elements of the play are in front of you and you have the angle to see a microscopic tag or miss on the swipe. Can't see that from 3blxtnded. No way on this "green earth"

I believe I mentioned this a month or so ago, but wasn't sure if that was going to become the standard. Since then, I have noticed quite a few umpires moving around the LH BB for plays at home. The other night (think it was a Philadelphia game) there was a play at the plate where the runner was sliding straight into the plate while the catcher was trying to get a handle on the throw. At the 3BL position, the umpire would not see the ball come loose or whether the runner ever touched the plate. Luckily, the umpire did move up the 1BL and got a great view of the play.