NVUmp

Ball is plate’s responsibility. Plate moves to 1B line extended to watch f/f, catch/no catch, attempt to have R3 in peripheral vision. U1 moves to 1B side of working area for second set of eyes on ball, if ball is not caught, takes batter-runner around. Once f/f, catch/no catch is determined, PU looks over to R3 for tag (U1 still has to get touch at 1B and possible play back in 1B if fair/not caught), additional info to tell if he tagged based on how far down the line he may be if at all. It’s a limitation of two man system. F/F, catch/no catch, plays with the ball, plays without the ball - lowest of the responsibilities.

And Virginia this year.

The AAA call-ups are incorrect. Wills is full time MLB umpire, starting in 2024 and Rosenberg was released in 2024.

As far as the cursing issue, there’s no way I would ever issue a warning in something like this. In a Fed game, yes, but certainly not Men’s League. They can curse or use whatever language they want, as long as it’s not directed at me - these aren’t kids, these are all adults. The catcher wasn’t cursing at you; he asked for a new ball, and for some reason, you refused. This is a self-inflicted situation.

As far as the cursing issue, there’s no way I would ever issue a warning in something like this. In a Fed game, yes, but certainly not Men’s League. They can curse or use whatever language they want, as long as it’s not directed at me - these aren’t kids, these are all adults. The catcher wasn’t cursing at you; he asked for a new ball, and for some reason, you refused. This is a self-inflicted situation.

Taking two steps off the line is typical for three-man mechanics, where you have another umpire in front of you to take the BR into 2B or 3B. That said, other than looking for a pulled foot, another reason to get ninety degrees to the throw is to get those few extra steps towards the grass in case of an overthrow to 1B. Throws from 3B and the SS are more likely to result in an overthrow and those extra steps will help you get that much ahead of the runner if he/she decides to take an extra base. BTW - I'm pretty sure we're part of the same Association and we teach all new umpires to get in position from A at ninety degrees to the throw. Whoever your evaluator was isn't teaching the approved MAC mechanics.

"Go out, stay out" is taught in Little League, which is OK for a small field. Also, LL teaches umpiring to keep it simple, they aren't big on any sort of advanced mechanic, except a 1-3 rotation (which isn't really advanced). Adding to this conversation, as the plate ump, when my partner goes out from "A," I'm reading he ball and the runner. If they're going to stretch it out into a double, triple, I'm not going out towards 1B, I'm heading closer to second.

What do you mean "getting the coaches to agree to a mercy rule at the plate meeting?" Either your state HS association adopts the mercy rule or not for regular season - how are you making up rules at the plate meeting?