Three umpire mechanics question

[MD Longhorn]

The next slow-pitch game I work with 3 umpires will be my first. Many if not most leagues around here pay for 1 in slow-pitch.

That said, seems relatively easy for U3 to take the front and U1 take the back of this rundown.

The OP asked "who's job is it" - it's definitely U3's job... until someone claims an end of the rundown for him

[Andy]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

The next slow-pitch game I work with 3 umpires will be my first. Many if not most leagues around here pay for 1 in slow-pitch.

That said, seems relatively easy for U3 to take the front and U1 take the back of this rundown.

The OP asked "who's job is it" - it's definitely U3's job... until someone claims an end of the rundown for him

This was in our recent SP National - winner's bracket final game.

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

With R2 hanging right by 2nd base, I see no reason why U1 shouldn't bracket outside the 1st to 2nd base line, communicating with U3 "I'm here", keeping R2 in front of him, and taking the tag out right in front of him. If R2 had stayed near or returned near 1st base, then U1 can't do that.

This is exactly what happened. U1 was our top umpire in the tournament, U3 was in her first national tournament with not a whole lot of experience in the 3 umpire system. My feedback to them was that U3 should have taken the whole rundown, she never moved too far away from third and I heard no communication between U1 and U3.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Andy

This is exactly what happened. U1 was our top umpire in the tournament, U3 was in her first national tournament with not a whole lot of experience in the 3 umpire system. My feedback to them was that U3 should have taken the whole rundown, she never moved too far away from third and I heard no communication between U1 and U3.

I'm a little confused at your feedback. If U1 came over to take that half of the rundown, there's no need for U3 to move (in fact, she is better off staying relatively close to 3rd) U3 has the whole rundown UNTIL someone else can help, and it sounds like U1 was there to help relatively soon.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by Andy

This was in our recent SP National - winner's bracket final game.



This is exactly what happened. U1 was our top umpire in the tournament, U3 was in her first national tournament with not a whole lot of experience in the 3 umpire system. My feedback to them was that U3 should have taken the whole rundown, she never moved too far away from third and I heard no communication between U1 and U3.

IMO there's the problem (red text).

As AtlUmpSteve pointed out earlier.....variation [requires] communication.

Now you were there Andy and I wasn't; and I'm not questioning your feed back to U3, BUT U1 ("your top umpire in the tournament") being more experienced, I feel should have initiated the necessary communication with U3 on the play.
Winners bracket final in a National.....top ump, experience at Nats on the crew....that kind of umpire has to take on some leadership in that sitch....esp. w/ a Nats rookie. JMO

[SRW]

When we're counter-rotated, we don't rotate. U3 should never leave 3B. U1 has all calls at 1B and 2B. The dive back by R1 into 2B is U1's call, and so would have been any call on R2.

2012 ASA Umpire Manual Pages 270-271.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SRW

When we're counter-rotated, we don't rotate. U3 should never leave 3B. U1 has all calls at 1B and 2B. The dive back by R1 into 2B is U1's call, and so would have been any call on R2.

2012 ASA Umpire Manual Pages 270-271.

Absolutely and even without the manual. If U1 is already at 2B, why wouldn't s/he have a call at 2B?

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Andy

This was in our recent SP National - winner's bracket final game.

This is exactly what happened. U1 was our top umpire in the tournament, U3 was in her first national tournament with not a whole lot of experience in the 3 umpire system. My feedback to them was that U3 should have taken the whole rundown, she never moved too far away from third and I heard no communication between U1 and U3.

While perhaps not precedent-setting, is it unusual to have someone with not much 3-umpire system experience working that game?

And while I don't have much 3-umpire system experience myself, I'd side with those that say U3 stays near 3B and U1 would have the call @ 2B. I agree that most run downs don't last very long, but in this case there was an umpire at both ends of the play.

Oh, and I'll also say that I thought U3 was the position in 3-ump that takes the most getting used to. When I first did games there, I felt like a fish out of water. I just never had that view of the field before - it was a bit different.