Straightlined!

[Thunderheads]

...had to have been straightlined ....

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15717723

[Mr Umpire]

Yeah, bad angle. F6's body is between U2 and the tag. Tough break. The only way he would probably have seen it clearly is to be in C position but it was a RH batter so he went the opposite side. Positioning was fine. Just a tough break.

[semper_fi_72]

Why did he drift onto the dirt instead of into the working area on the grass?

I don't think he moved to position himself properly for the play.

He should have been moving up and to his right following the ball and he would have had the proper angle for the call.

[Mr Umpire]

For a 4 man crew, they typically set up deeper toward the base. But, I think he read it bad b/c F6 was coming in for the ball. If he gets into the working area from that position, he runs the risk of being in the middle of the play. He did the best he could given the circumstances. He can't assume F6 won't throw the ball across and he would be in the middle if he moved to the middle of the field. Also, if the play developed differently and F6 came closer in to the mound to field the ball, U2 would have been in his face if he went to the working area.

Can't always get into the best positions b/c of how the play turns out. He can't get an angle on this play no matter how hard he tries. Due to the play development and original set up, he is in the best spot possible. The only other option is to go behind 2B to get an angle and be out of the play. But, that puts him out of position for any follow up play if BR comes to 2B for some reason or R2 does try for 3B and gets in a rundown.

Bad play development no matter how you view it.

[mstaylor]

Well he starts on the edge of the grass by the cutout. He is where he is going to make that call 1000s of times and this is a highly unusual play.

[Guest]

Why did he drift onto the dirt instead of into the working area on the grass?

I don't think he moved to position himself properly for the play.

He should have been moving up and to his right following the ball and he would have had the proper angle for the call.

This would set you up to be picked off by the throw across the infield.

If anything, he should've retreated towards CF here.

You can't always analyze positioning of a 3 / 4 / 6 man system using the fundamentals of how you have been schooled with 2-man.