Whatcha got - discussion of umpire mechanics

[topper]

What you said, Slick, as far as initial movement. Though I couldn't see R2 as she approached 3B, it appears by the timing that an earlier read and decision to get home could have been made in order to at least approach one of the calling positions you mentioned.

Looks like he ruled INT on the play. Not sure about that one - although my angle ball/runner position at time of contact isn't great. I'm not too sure his was either.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by topper

What you said, Slick, as far as initial movement. Though I couldn't see R2 as she approached 3B, it appears by the timing that an earlier read and decision to get home could have been made in order to at least approach one of the calling positions you mentioned.

My impression of the initial movement from the plate was (1)lackadaisical/no sense of urgency, and (2) too close to the 3rd base line...which set the stage for (see bolded blue part above) not occurring.

No, we can't see what kind the PU attained on the play, but agree with Slick's assessment that (for me) the far edge of the RHBB would be provide the best calling position to see all the necessary elements of this play.

Regarding what occurred after the conclusion of the play, the comment made by the PU to the coach when he ejected him was highly unprofessional and unnecessary. I have to believe that neither PU's conference coordinator or DA would appreciate seeing that comment in EJ reports.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

My impression of the initial movement from the plate was (1)lackadaisical/no sense of urgency,

What urgency? Just where does he need to get to in a hurry?

and (2) too close to the 3rd base line...which set the stage for (see bolded blue part above) not occurring.

This may be true, didn't see enough of it to know.

No, we can't see what kind the PU attained on the play, but agree with Slick's assessment that (for me) the far edge of the RHBB would be provide the best calling position to see all the necessary elements of this play.

I would probably be a little farther up and back off the line from the batter's box, setting up and then adjusting to the throw and runner's path.

[shagpal]

I like 3blx. that is my preferred default.

[Big Slick]

Originally Posted by shagpal

I like 3blx. that is my preferred default.

Unfortunately, no softball organization supports that.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

Unfortunately, no softball organization supports that.

Wrong.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Wrong.

I was wondering how many posts it would take for someone to catch that.

[shagpal]

I work 3blx for college ball.

Originally Posted by Big Slick

Unfortunately, no softball organization supports that.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by shagpal

I work 3blx for college ball.

I do not believe it is that good a position and, IMO, more difficult from which to recover should a better angle be necessary.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by shagpal

I like 3blx. that is my preferred default.

Originally Posted by Big Slick

Unfortunately, no softball organization supports that.

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Wrong.

Originally Posted by shagpal

I work 3blx for college ball.

While you may use 3blx for college ball, the initial statement in this thread was using it as a preferred default. That (as a default) is NOT supported by the NCAA, and Big Slick is correct in his statement.

The NCAA mechanic is point-of-plate as the standard default, and then adjusting to the play to use whatever positioning allows you to see what is necessary.

As others have noted, there are times when 3blx is clearly NOT the place to be, when the catcher is set up to block the plate and the runner slides straight in; you cannot see if the runner reached the plate, and even have a poor position to judge obstruction (if contact occured before about-to-receive). On the other hand, 1blx is a bad place to be when the throw pulls the catcher deep and the runner then slides to the front side; and is weaker than 3blx when the runner slides to back door.

Each play is different; point-of-plate allows the most adjustments as the play develops.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What urgency? Just where does he need to get to in a hurry?

Just my impression......you've got yours.

I look for certain things in an umpire that I like to see and consider important. On this particular play I simply did not like the PU's reaction to the play in moving out from the behind HP to (I'm assuming/hoping) the holding area. I like to see a sense of purpose in an umpire's movement on the field.....but that's just me.

You're a long time clinician, trainer, evaluator and national tournament UIC and I'm sure that you look for and pickup on aspects of an umpire's game both positive and negative that you personally consider important when observing umpires on the field.

If I were the guy in the stands with the clipboard doing an eval, realtime and watching everything else on the play I may have never noticed it or considered it an issue. My impression came not just from replaying the video numerous times both in the original thread regarding the ruling, and again in this one regarding mechanics.....it caught my attention the first time i played it. But, that's just my impression.....FWIW.







If I were the guy in the stands with a clip board evaluating that would be my comment.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

I look for certain things in an umpire that I like to see and consider important. On this particular play I simply did not like the PU's reaction to the play in moving out from the behind HP to (I'm assuming/hoping) the holding area. I like to see a sense of purpose in an umpire's movement on the field.....but that's just me.

And this is just me, but I feel umpires should strike a balance between hustling to get into positions to make expected calls, and casually moving to preserve stamina when no call is likely, particularly when conditions dictate, like in the Arizona heat.

Considering where the ball was hit--in right center to the fence--the PU had no real reason to move out with any urgency. The likely plays here would either be at home on R2, or on the BR at third base. Why should the PU hustle into the HA to watch touches of third, and then hustle back to prepare for the play at home?

Young pups love to bust everywhere on the field. That gets old fast as we get older.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by Manny A

And this is just me, but I feel umpires should strike a balance between hustling to get into positions to make expected calls, and casually moving to preserve stamina when no call is likely, particularly when conditions dictate, like in the Arizona heat.

Considering where the ball was hit--in right center to the fence--the PU had no real reason to move out with any urgency. The likely plays here would either be at home on R2, or on the BR at third base. Why should the PU hustle into the HA to watch touches of third, and then hustle back to prepare for the play at home?

Young pups love to bust everywhere on the field. That gets old fast as we get older.

That's fairly accurate...it just looks bad...a couple of deliberate steps would have made a better impression. He is usually not that casual moving around....

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

That's fairly accurate...it just looks bad...a couple of deliberate steps would have made a better impression. He is usually not that casual moving around....

Deliberate steps where?

When all of the elements are right in front of you, stay opened up and watch the play.

Once it was obvious that the second runner was coming around, I would have gone back to the point of plate / wedge and adjusted based on the throw.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

That's fairly accurate...it just looks bad...a couple of deliberate steps would have made a better impression. He is usually not that casual moving around....

What I was really trying to/should have said in my post....so thanks for saying it better than I did.
Trust me, any time I'm able to catch a live stream replay of any of my college games I always see myself having had a couple of "WTF were you thinking/doing on that play" 'cringe' moments that make me say to myself, "I've got to work on/not let that happen again." You hate watching yourself at times but that's the beauty of video as a tool to catch your missteps.