Fly Ball Coverage SNAFU

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by jr131981

ive never understood the whole walking the line concept.

I believe that the idea is for the umpire to have a little momentum built up, making it easier, or quicker, to move into whatever position you might need to move into depending on where the ball is hit.

Maybe that seems a little redundant on a routine infield ground ball. But before the ball is hit you don't know it's going to be a ground ball! It could very well be a fly ball to the outfield where you're going to be pivoting inside. So it would be impossible to make "walking the line" situational- because you don't know what the situation will be.

Personally, I don't have a problem getting to where I need to be from a set position. Of course, when working games where that is the mechanic, I do it. If there is any advantage for me at all, it does seem to get me into rythym and that might help my mental focus a little bit, compared to just standing in one spot.