Rookie mistake Saturday

[Umpire in Chief]

Saturday I had my 3rd game since coming back from my sergury. I did the bases and decided I was going to go at about 80% as not to over do it.

Top of 4th. Ground ball hit to F5. I come fair, build my angle, and as I start to go hands-on-knees, I realize the throw is going to be off. I adjust and take a jab step and lean towards the line to be in excellent position to see the swipe tag on the BR. At this point I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself and thinking those are the type of calls I need to shake the rust off.

Top of 6th. Grounder to F6. I come fair build my angle, the throw looks pretty good. F3 stretches a little up the 1st base line and I'm getting prepared b/c I'm going to have an off the bag situation. I'm watching the foot, and watching. I hear the smack and the foot is 1-2 inches off the bag. I look up, the BR touches first as he over-runs, and I come up strong with a "Safe, Off the bag!" and give my mechanic. F3 turn's to me and says, "But blue, I tagged him." in a calm voice. At that moment I realized I became so focused on the foot I didn't see the whole play. I had the Homer Simpson D'oh moment.

I nodded my head to F3 and started walking to my partner who was coming up the line and had a great view, apparently it was pretty obvious the tag was made.

Lesson re-learned.

[BigUmp56]

Saturday I had my 3rd game since coming back from my sergury. I did the bases and decided I was going to go at about 80% as not to over do it.

Top of 4th. Ground ball hit to F5. I come fair, build my angle, and as I start to go hands-on-knees, I realize the throw is going to be off. I adjust and take a jab step and lean towards the line to be in excellent position to see the swipe tag on the BR. At this point I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself and thinking those are the type of calls I need to shake the rust off.

Top of 6th. Grounder to F6. I come fair build my angle, the throw looks pretty good. F3 stretches a little up the 1st base line and I'm getting prepared b/c I'm going to have an off the bag situation. I'm watching the foot, and watching. I hear the smack and the foot is 1-2 inches off the bag. I look up, the BR touches first as he over-runs, and I come up strong with a "Safe, Off the bag!" and give my mechanic. F3 turn's to me and says, "But blue, I tagged him." in a calm voice. At that moment I realized I became so focused on the foot I didn't see the whole play. I had the Homer Simpson D'oh moment.

I nodded my head to F3 and started walking to my partner who was coming up the line and had a great view, apparently it was pretty obvious the tag was made.

Lesson re-learned.

Did you take both plays 2SF, or did you work to a 90 degree on the second play. From your description of the second play, I'm envisioning the ball being a slow roller that F6 charged and fielded in "the box."

Tim.

[JaxRolo]

I am normally 99% confident in my abilities. But once in awhile I will make a really stupid mistake that makes me wo der if I should even be on the field. But I shake it off and move on to the next play.

[Umpire in Chief]

Did you take both plays 2SF, or did you work to a 90 degree on the second play. From your description of the second play, I'm envisioning the ball being a slow roller that F6 charged and fielded in "the box."

Tim.

Pretty much a 2SF, I will go b/t 2SF and the back corner of the bag, but I generally don't go fo 90 degrees anymore. On the second I was probably 2SF and I probably would have had a good look at the tag from there (one reason why I don't do 90 anymore) IF I had seen the whole picture rather than zooming in only on the foot.

[1dumbquestion]

Did you take both plays 2SF, or did you work to a 90 degree on the second play. From your description of the second play, I'm envisioning the ball being a slow roller that F6 charged and fielded in "the box."

Tim.

Pretty much a 2SF, I will go b/t 2SF and the back corner of the bag, but I generally don't go fo 90 degrees anymore. On the second I was probably 2SF and I probably would have had a good look at the tag from there (one reason why I don't do 90 anymore) IF I had seen the whole picture rather than zooming in only on the foot.

2SF? sorry to sound like a noob. 1

[Astrosdawg07]

2SF? sorry to sound like a noob. 1

Two steps fair.

[mstaylor]

I am not a fan of 2sf as a basis, fine for some plays but not as a starting point.

[JaxRolo]

I use the 2sf and love it. I find that I see the play better from that position.

[zm1283]

I am not a fan of 2sf as a basis, fine for some plays but not as a starting point.

I agree. I like to start around 90 and adjust.

Tim, I have a hard time seeing F6 fielding a ball in the box and making a throw to first base. That is a looong way to go. Maybe it's just me though.

[BigUmp56]

I am not a fan of 2sf as a basis, fine for some plays but not as a starting point.

I agree. I like to start around 90 and adjust.

Tim, I have a hard time seeing F6 fielding a ball in the box and making a throw to first base. That is a looong way to go. Maybe it's just me though.

The reason I asked if that might have been the case is that he mentioned that F3 was stretched toward the first base side of the bag to field the throw. I agree that it's a long way to go for F6 to field a ball in the box, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility. And with the throw coming to the first base side it probably would have better for Warren to get more toward a 90 degree.

Tim.

[NWA_UMP]

I have been taught to continue towards the fielder until he fields the ball....so my angle in and the # of steps when F4 gloves in very different than when F5 gloves...It was explained to me that it keeps the angle to ball and the bag in a better relationship.