Working Alone.. one of those plays

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by snorman75

So working alone modified game. Bases loaded, no outs. Girl hits s sharp single up the middle. Runner from second is coming home to score. So I am holding up the third baseline waiting for a throw to home.
OK, my problem.... The short stop, then the second baseman, standing on second, and the center fielder are in PERFECT alignment. I can not even see the second baseman take the throw.
P.S. I know I am not leaving the runners coming home, so I am never going to get any closer to second.

Working alone sucks, but I would question heading up the third base line on a ball to the OF. Your better angle is going to be up the first base line MOST of the time. Especially for watching multiple bases. From up the 3BL, your peripheral angle to see home and 3rd at the same time is huge. From up the 1BL, it's tiny and you're still in a great spot for a call at home.

That said, you can get straightlined from ANYWHERE. The key is to see it coming and move. You should try to never be in the same line as the throw, first off.

And then ... with THAT said - you could still be straightlined. So to answer that part of your question, I believe you need to take everything you can into account and give it proper weight. I would have been relying on sound on this play if possible - you can usually hear the ball hit the glove and see the runner - and make a call from that. I would heavily discount the reaction of the fielder unless they react as if the runner was safe... and I would discount the reaction of the runner unless they react as if they were out.

[snorman75]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Working alone sucks, but I would question heading up the third base line on a ball to the OF. Your better angle is going to be up the first base line MOST of the time. Especially for watching multiple bases. From up the 3BL, your peripheral angle to see home and 3rd at the same time is huge. From up the 1BL, it's tiny and you're still in a great spot for a call at home.

That said, you can get straightlined from ANYWHERE. The key is to see it coming and move. You should try to never be in the same line as the throw, first off.

And then ... with THAT said - you could still be straightlined. So to answer that part of your question, I believe you need to take everything you can into account and give it proper weight. I would have been relying on sound on this play if possible - you can usually hear the ball hit the glove and see the runner - and make a call from that. I would heavily discount the reaction of the fielder unless they react as if the runner was safe... and I would discount the reaction of the runner unless they react as if they were out.

Love this idea!!! I am going to try this.. being a basketball official also, I will not lie I just can't put players behind me. I think being up the first baseline will greatly lessen the chance of being strait lined. But no way can I put home plate behind me. For me you have to see the run score and now you have turned your back to the whole field and the ball.

As for how this all set up, it was modified, so F6 was not thinking about cutting a throw off, F8 had already gunned one home the last inning in same situation, so my read was no question coming home. Also in that this was the first time F4 covered second all game...

Last point.. I know our schools and leagues are really hurting for money. We better get use to going one man games. Our baseball board does one man games at the JV level. How I do not know, but I feel for those guys.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Working alone sucks, but I would question heading up the third base line on a ball to the OF. Your better angle is going to be up the first base line MOST of the time. Especially for watching multiple bases. From up the 3BL, your peripheral angle to see home and 3rd at the same time is huge. From up the 1BL, it's tiny and you're still in a great spot for a call at home.
That said, you can get straightlined from ANYWHERE. The key is to see it coming and move. You should try to never be in the same line as the throw, first off.

And then ... with THAT said - you could still be straightlined. So to answer that part of your question, I believe you need to take everything you can into account and give it proper weight. I would have been relying on sound on this play if possible - you can usually hear the ball hit the glove and see the runner - and make a call from that. I would heavily discount the reaction of the fielder unless they react as if the runner was safe... and I would discount the reaction of the runner unless they react as if they were out.

I would tend to disagree... with MULTIPLE runners you are MUCH more likely to have a play at home or third than any other base one a ball to the outfield. WHY would you take yourself away from that by going up the 1st base line. Go to the holding area between 3b and Home... and react from there...

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

I would tend to disagree... with MULTIPLE runners you are MUCH more likely to have a play at home or third than any other base one a ball to the outfield. WHY would you take yourself away from that by going up the 1st base line. Go to the holding area between 3b and Home... and react from there...

Not to mention the importance of the call in prioritized order. I'd rather miss a call at 2B than at the plate, but I'd also rather miss a call at 1B than at 2B.

You are only one umpire and you are NOT going to see every angle of every play. You could be working a 6-umpire game and still not see every angle of every play.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

I would tend to disagree... with MULTIPLE runners you are MUCH more likely to have a play at home or third than any other base one a ball to the outfield. WHY would you take yourself away from that by going up the 1st base line. Go to the holding area between 3b and Home... and react from there...

Several reasons. First off... walking up the first base line a bit instead of third takes you no further from home - your ability to be in position for a play there is at worst identical from the 1st base side as the 3rd base side. Second, if you're up the 3BL in or near the holding area (a great place to be if you have a partner, a horrible place to be alone) - you can't possibly see what's going on at both 3rd base and home. From the 1st base side, that's easy. Third, along the first base line there's no chance of you getting in the way of a runner or a throw, whereas along the 3BL there's a chance of both (more likely the runner, obviously).

The better proximity to third doing what you suggest is not enough to outweigh all of those things. It's been said here multiple times that angle is FAR more important ... doubly so when working alone. You have great angles on all 3 possible bases where plays might happen when you're up the 1BL, and it's far easier to see all touches, all possible OBS's from there than up the 3BL.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Several reasons. First off... walking up the first base line a bit instead of third takes you no further from home - your ability to be in position for a play there is at worst identical from the 1st base side as the 3rd base side.

Distance isn't the issue[/quote]

Second, if you're up the 3BL in or near the holding area (a great place to be if you have a partner, a horrible place to be alone) - you can't possibly see what's going on at both 3rd base and home. From the 1st base side, that's easy

Actually, it isn't as difficult as you think as it all depends on where you are in the holding zone. On 1BL, you are not even going to have a shot to see the runners touch all the bases as I will in the holding zone. Been doing this for 44 years, so I pretty much has this part down. And, yes, some field restraints may force me closer to the line than I want to be and I adjust, but not by going into the field.[quote]

Third, along the first base line there's no chance of you getting in the way of a runner or a throw, whereas along the 3BL there's a chance of both (more likely the runner, obviously).

Really? How is that going to happen in foul territory away from the throw whereas to get into a decent position for a play at home or 3rd, you have no choice to move into a possible conflict if the fielder doesn't go to the obvious play.

The better proximity to third doing what you suggest is not enough to outweigh all of those things. It's been said here multiple times that angle is FAR more important ... doubly so when working alone. You have great angles on all 3 possible bases where plays might happen when you're up the 1BL, and it's far easier to see all touches, all possible OBS's from there than up the 3BL.

And how well does that work on a ball to the right side?

Think I will stay with the manual.

[MD Longhorn]

Where does one find this 1-man mechanic manual?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Where does one find this 1-man mechanic manual?

ASA 2010 Umpire Manual, pages 252-254, but there is an error.

B is for a runner on 1B.
C is with runners on 1B & 2B
D is with bases under the influence.

[DeputyUICHousto]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

I would tend to disagree... with MULTIPLE runners you are MUCH more likely to have a play at home or third than any other base one a ball to the outfield. WHY would you take yourself away from that by going up the 1st base line. Go to the holding area between 3b and Home... and react from there...

of there being a play at the plate with multiple runners on base on a fly ball or ground ball to the outfield? Almost zero! Get out into the middle of the infield because the more likely play with be at 2nd or 3rd base.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

of there being a play at the plate with multiple runners on base on a fly ball or ground ball to the outfield? Almost zero! Get out into the middle of the infield because the more likely play with be at 2nd or 3rd base.

I agree, but the main reason I'm staying foul (or nearly foul) and trying to get my best angle on 2nd and 3rd is so that I can still see the touch of home.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by DeputyUICHousto

of there being a play at the plate with multiple runners on base on a fly ball or ground ball to the outfield? Almost zero! Get out into the middle of the infield because the more likely play with be at 2nd or 3rd base.

I (and others) couldnt disagree with you more... with MULTIPLE runners.. lets say first and second... it is MUCH more likely that youre going to have an issue at third of the plate... and you DONT want to be in a position to where you have to GUESS at either one of those....