Three man mechanics

[James Walker]

The game I have tonight is the first time I will work three man. I just need the basics so we can go over it quick in our pregame.

[JaxRolo]

No Basics. Its a different world. I am sure others will chime in but I suggest you google.

Or Visit www.rivercityumps.com and look in the mechanics section.

[Guest]

No runners:

U1 in A, U3 in D. Fly ball coverage priority keys off U1. Anything to RF, U1 goes out. Anything to LF, U3 goes out. If F8 goes to his left, U1. If F8 to his right, U3. If F8 goes straight in or straight back, whichever BU is faster should go out. Again, key off of U1. BU's will go out on ALL fly balls. Once BU goes out, stay out.

If U1 goes out:

U3 comes to 2B cutout and has BR at 2B and 3B. PU comes up the 1B line and has BR at 1B and HP.

If U3 goes out:

U1 comes in and pivots and has BR at 1B, 2B, and 3B. PU stays home.

GB to Infield:

U3 comes to 2B cutout, PU follows up the line and has overthrow responsibility

Base hit:

Option 1) U3 comes to 2B cutout and takes BR to 3B if he attempts a triple

Option 2 - MiLB) U3 comes to 3B cutout, PU goes to 3B, U1 comes home when BR commits to 3B.

U1 always stays in foul territory to watch the touch of 1B by the BR

R1 Only

U1 in A in a comfortable position to rule on pick-off play. U3 in Deep B or Deep C (personal choice)

Fly ball to RF:

U1 goes out. PU reads whether ball will be caught (remains at home and takes overthrow responsibility) or dropped (rotates to 3B). If in doubt, move to 3B. If R1 comes home, PU returns.

Fly ball to LF:

If F7 goes towards the foul line, C / NC belongs to PU. If F7 goes to his left, C / NC belongs to U3. Sounds like your crew is new to 3-Man, so do not have U3 cross the dirt on a trouble ball (MiLB mechanic).

Base hit:

PU moves to 3B. When R1 commits to 3B, U1 releases and comes home. U3 then moves towards 1B to cover the BR, taking him into 2B if necessary. PU does not need to come into the cutout to make his call at 3B if remaining in foul territory would give a better angle.

R1 and R3

Same as R1 only except:

- U3 now assumes a standard C position.

- with a catchable fly ball and R3 tagging, PU (obviously) stays home. If the ball is dropped, PU should try to rotate, but only if he can beat R1 to 3B. If PU cannot rotate, communicate with U1 and U3, who will then "slide" (that's next).

R1 and R2 or R1, R2, and R3

U1 is in A, U3 in C

Fly ball coverage is the same as with R1 only.

Base hit:

PU stays home. U1 will bust in and pivot watching BR's touch of 1B while telling U3 "I'm in" or "I have the BR". U3 will then move to a position splitting the distance between 2B and 3B, and if R1 commits to 3B, U3 can come right over to the cutout to observe the play because U1 will take the BR into 2B if need be.

Alternate mechanic for U1: only a hit to LF ONLY, U1 can observe the BR's touch of 1B from outside of the basepath and take him into 2B from the outside - communication remains the same. This is called "rimming"

Catchable fly ball with R2 (and possibly R1) tagging:

PU communicates "I've got third if he tags" and then begins moving towards 3B, even if the fly ball is his call to make. U3 will line up the tag of R2 and the catch. Once the ball is caught, he will release to 1B to pick up R1 and take him to 2B if necessary. On a ball to RF, be sure to stay out of the throwing lane to 3B. If U1 has gone out on the ball, U3 is also responsible for the tag of R1. If U1 does not go out, he will line up the catch and tag of R1 at 1B. Once R2 commits to 3B, U1 releases to the plate, but must watch over his shoulder for the tag-up of R1 (since R1 will usually be half-way here). If the crew begins this rotation but the ball is dropped, you have the choice of either sticking with the rotation - so U1 at home, PU at 3B and U3 at 1B / 2B, or abandoning it, having PU go back home and going to a slide (from above). This depends on your preference.

R1 and R2 only - Double Steal: U3 is responsible for the first call at either 2B or 3B. If the first throw is to 3B and R1 breaks for 2B, U1 should follow R1 to 2B from the outside to a position that would allow U1 to take the subsequent play at 2B. If the first throw from F2 is to 2B, this call belongs to U3.

R2 / R2 and R3 only (Less than 2 Out)

U1 in B, U3 in D.

Any ball left of CF, U3 goes out. Any ball to RF bringing F9 away from the foul line belongs to U1 (again, staying inside). If F9 is moving to the line, the ball is PU's.

This is pretty simple. U3 stays at 3B, PU stays home, and U1 is responsible for 1B and 2B. If U3 goes out, revert to what your standard 2-Man training has told you in this situation. The only difference is that if U3 does not go out on a fly ball, he takes R3's tag at 3B.

With 2 outs, U1 moves back to A, U3 to C.

R3 only

U1 in A, U3 in D. On all fly balls, a BU goes out, following the principles of fly ball coverage with no runners.

However, since PU cannot come up the line if U1 goes out due to the presence of R3, U3 is responsible for the BR at 1B, 2B, and 3B. U3 should haul ass directly to 1B as soon as he sees U1 going. If U3 goes, U1 comes in and pivots and has the BR at all bases. PU always stays home and has the tag up of R3.

It is a common 3-Man error to see U1 go out, U3 line up the tag, PU staying home, and the BR circling the bases with no umpires.

If you're waiting this late to review this system, I can guarantee you are going to screw it up. Follow this principle: see a hole, fill a hole. And communicate.

[noumpere]

The game I have tonight is the first time I will work three man. I just need the basics so we can go over it quick in our pregame.

If someone goes out, you revert to two man.

Look to your left, if the base is open run toward it.

If U1 is in A and U3 is in the middle then PU stays home and the base umpires reverse rotate.

Those three items will cover 95% of the plays but the other 5% will get you in trouble.

[Jocko]

Got that? Lol

[James Walker]

@ump24 I was supposed to be off tonight. It will not happen again. But since I'm short on time I brought my problems to the best guys I knew. Thanks for the answer and thank jax for the link. Very infomative.

[James Walker]

@trout. It's one of those times you just want to slap somebody. Really hard... With a brick.

[Umpy]

Having worked many 3-man games where at least 2 (sometimes 3) people didn't know 3-man mechanics, I'd say the important thing to remember is after every play check with the other base guy to make sure you're both in the right position.