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^^^ This. Study the 'wedge' on tag plays. There are 2 wedges on every tag play. Let's see what is known, everywhere, and relate it to that: First, think of yourself getting to 3rd base line extended on a ball coming from the outfield to the plate. You're off the catchers hip, tracking with him, catching the 'back half' of the wedge. The OTHER wedge on this play, is nearly exactly opposite of where you are tracking this play from. It would be up the 3rd base line just a bit. Now, obviously we don't want to be there with a ball coming in from the outfield, but that's the other side of the wedge. It's the 2nd most ideal position. Inside the 'cutout' inside the line just a bit, so you don't get straightlined by the runner. Now flip everything about that play at home plate, and put it at 2nd base. The first, most idea position for U2, is in a 4 man crew, OUTSIDE of the infield, tracking the steal of a runner at 2nd base by essentially being at 2nd baseline extended (I just made that up), the line from 1st to 2nd extended, working off the fielders hip (the one taking the throw from the catcher on a steal). However, in a 2 man, you don't get the luxury of being there. So you take the inside of that B position, to catch the other half of that wedge. If you're in the Deep C, (relate this to a play at the plate), you'd be somewhere like, 6-10 feet up the first base line. Well, that doesn't make any f'ing sense..... So, why on earth would we want to be in Deep C on a steal at 2nd? Flip everything you know about plate positions on plays at the plate, mirror it, apply it to 2nd base, and you'll see it.

Tangent since it came up: There is a longer version covering all 3 bases that I'll try to find in a shareable form but this is great for those plays Plus a real world application

Whenever I see something like this, I wonder if the person thinks that mechanics manuals were written on the back of a napkin after a night out and not something that has evolved over years of experience by umpires. Any mechanics for less than 4 umpires is all about positioning to put the umpires in the best location for the most likely of plays. In this case, with R1 we have: 1. Steal of second (best IP is deep B). 2. Ground ball to the infield, start of a double play (best IP is deep B). 3. Fly ball to right field and U1 goes out (best IP is B for the tag up at 1st). 4. Fly ball to the 'V' (either B or C are about equal as an IP because you will be adjusting to the fielders) 5. Fly ball to left field (best IP is B for the advance on the tag up) 6. Hit to the outfield (best IP is B for the play behind R1 or on the BR) and all the way down here: 7. Check swing appeal for a lefty (best IP would be C) So, this person wants to dictate the inferior IP for 5.5 of the 7 possible plays with R1 to be in the best position for 1 very rare instance of a check swing appeal for a LH batter? I'm just going to ignore that "advice".

Quit barking at the umpires.

You should have restricted him to the dog-out. I'm sorry. I'll let myself out.

So this happened yesterday and has produced quite a bit of discussion My question from all of this is the basepath rule feels pretty straightforward if the base runner is perfectly in-line with the fielder and then moves three feet when the tag is attempted, but in play like this, when he's already moving away from the fielder before the tag happened it seems more murky. So if a tag attempt is made and runner is already standing three feet away, is basically any movement away from the tag totally fine since he's already three feet away? Based on the call here the answer seems to be yes, but am definitely curious if any casebooks/manuals/etc cover this kind of scenario with the runner already moving away before the tag is attempted. I checked the NFHS casebook and didn't find anything, but I know there's plenty of other literature out there.

Here is a better video view. Note the comment that the "tag attempt wasn't good enough" (though that's what the manager said he heard not what was said). And not to cloud the issue but the nature of this call later in the game may be telling. #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmm

Not in FED! 2025 NFHS Interp: SITUATION 16: With the bases empty, B1 swings and misses strike three which rebounds uncaught off the catcher. The catcher secures the baseball and throws to first from a small distance in front of home plate. B1, in the last 30 feet to first base, is running out of the running lane on (a) the foul side of the running lane, or (b) the fair side of the running lane. RULING: In (a), this is no violation of the running lane rule and the play will be how it plays out. In (b), this is a violation of the running lane rule and B1 will be declared out for interference at the moment the catcher throws to first base. (8-4-1g)

In NFHS, I'm getting an out there all day long. MLB(BR) is another animal entirely, so I can see why he may have decided a "real" tag attempt wasn't made by F6 (he just waved meekly at him instead of going straight at him). Then, you also pointed out the runner seemed to be altering his path prior to a tag attempt so more leeway was possible. It's probably a combination of these two, but I haven't heard anything about the play and just saw it here for the first time and I don't have audio here at work.

Doing a windup from the set position is definitely illegal. "Set position" = pivot fool parallel to the pitcher's plate. It's an illegal pitch with nobody on base --- add a ball to the count on the batter. It's a balk with runners on base. In my association we try to catch the pitchers while they are throwing warm up pitches, correcting it then and there. Many have never been taught the correct NFHS set and windup rules.

Correct placement, but it's the first *PLAY* by the infielder, not the first throw. Doesn't matter in this situation, but it can make a difference.

inside and outside moves are both legal done properly.

Advice? This ain't advice. It's an official edict, especially when using the words "mandatory" and "only... acceptable". This reeks of assumed tyranny, justified through a whole bunch of whimsical obfuscation ("in this combination, do it this way, but in this other combination, do it this other way, but if this other component changes, stand on your head... "). I can assure you – MiLBUs don't (over)think this. We teach our guys to set IP in B-deep each time, every time, with a single alteration to "C-deep" if-and-only-if the count goes to 3-2 with 2 outs. And, in all leagues and conferences I've worked, including Arizona High School, we are compelled / obliged to make a check swing appeal, so it doesn't matter a high hill of jalapeños whether U3 is in B-deep or C-deep, or at D, or scaling the fence in left center field... PU allows/makes the appeal, and the U3 gives what he's got (yes/no on swing attempt). (To the guy issuing this edict – ) Stop building paper crutches, and your umpires will be (forced to be) more aware, alert, and focused on their responsibilities, regardless of where they're standing, instead of fretting about where... they're standing.

Allowed in NFHS unless deemed distracting.

My season is over (torn meniscus) but I'm considering leaving the gear for him to sniff out. Also because it hurts (physically and emotionally) to do the stairs and bring it to the basement.

A dumb-headed pitcher stepping on you (and your pricey plate shoes) while backing up a potential play at the plate because he's the one that gave up a multi-base hit with runners on is still far worse of an offense than man's best friend finding a new fetch-toy. At least yer doggo feels ashamed if you scold him. ... whereas that big dumb F1 just says, "Oh, my bad, Blue" and goes right back to pitching like a big dumb animal.