Too much movement

[Thunderheads]

I know we talk about this a lot but ...this seems like unnecessary movement

http://www.mlb.com/v...493214&c_id=mlb

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=24700101&topic_id=11493214&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_24700101&v=3

[Umpete]

How did he see whether the runner's foot touched the base or not?

[noumpere]

Im not sure the call was right nor am I sure it was wrong nor am I sure where the umpire could of gone to see it better. It seems like almost any spot excpet maybe right over the top would be blocked out.

[Dannytheman]

3rd base extended seems like a good steady place to be here. Not sure why he was moving so much. He moved into a blocked view. Odd. Just had a brain fart, I guess.

[Thunderheads]

Again, ...just to reiterate the 'movement' conversation.........

That's all it is ........these plays at the plate are posted by me for 2 reasons .... 1) I love plays at the plate, ... 2) so we can ALL LEARN from them and talk about them ...

I'm not saying any one position is right or wrong, etc...it's all about the education! :D

[mstaylor]

3rd base extended seems like a good steady place to be here. Not sure why he was moving so much. He moved into a blocked view. Odd. Just had a brain fart, I guess.

He was 3BLE, read it was going to be a block play so he correctly adjusted to 1BLE. However, the runner slid to the inside and made it more of a swipe tag. Then he had to step up to see the ball, then call the out. It was a correct call, catcher blocked his leg off the plate, and it should have been the proper location and the play changed after he had adjusted.

[Haid D' Salaami]

How did he see whether the runner's foot touched the base or not?

He didn't .. but he would have at 3BLX...LOL

[mstaylor]

How did he see whether the runner's foot touched the base or not?

He didn't .. but he would have at 3BLX...LOL

Which is where he started, realized he was going to get blocked, adjusted then couldn't shift back.

[Dannytheman]

3rd base extended seems like a good steady place to be here. Not sure why he was moving so much. He moved into a blocked view. Odd. Just had a brain fart, I guess.

He was 3BLE, read it was going to be a block play so he correctly adjusted to 1BLE. However, the runner slid to the inside and made it more of a swipe tag. Then he had to step up to see the ball, then call the out. It was a correct call, catcher blocked his leg off the plate, and it should have been the proper location and the play changed after he had adjusted.

Looked at it again, I don't see what he was thinking, ball was high coming in, 3BLE is where he should have stayed. I mean, I see what you are saying in watching the video, but there was no initial need for him to move IMHO. But I respect yours, always.

[BRUMP]

He was 3BLE, read it was going to be a block play so he correctly adjusted to 1BLE. However, the runner slid to the inside and made it more of a swipe tag. Then he had to step up to see the ball, then call the out. It was a correct call, catcher blocked his leg off the plate, and it should have been the proper location and the play changed after he had adjusted.

I agree completely.

[Umpire in Chief]

IMO He must have been expecting a collision and adjusted accordingly, but the collision didn't develop.

Watch the play again, and think about what you are seeing as your in 3BLX...

You see a runner coming straight down the line, he's not making the wide angle for the back corner of the plate. In my mind I'm going to be reading this as a potential collision and attempt to make an adjustment. The runner then tries for the inside. As an umpire you are now in no mans land. You adjusted properly based on what your training, intuition and experience tell you to, but then the play develops at the last moment differently.

Think of all the play at the plate videos we have posted here how many is the runner going inside?

[mstaylor]

The only adjustment he could have made was to jab step toward third, that would clear him away from the catcher but it takes the timing of the possible touch away.

[Fittske24]

_{The only adjustment he could have made was to jab step toward third, that would clear him away from the catcher but it takes the timing of the possible touch away.}

_{I think an adjustment into fair territory could also have served him better. From what I could see, he started P.O.P. started to set up 3BLEX, attempted to readjust to 1BLEX. This causes the catcher to be in between him and the tag attempt. If he adjusts from 3BLEX into fair territory, he would be able to see the tag, and the touch without view obstruction by the catcher or runner.}

[mstaylor]

While possibly true, he could have been just as blocked on that side by the runner. He didn't think a slide by, he was thinking a block which he would have been perfect for. 1BL would have given him a good look on the block. Either adjustment, 1BLE or 1BL could have gotten him blocked, catcher on one side, runner on the other. The advantage to 3BLE was it did give him a possible jab left but maybe not.

[dumbdumb]

On 9/13/2012 at 7:17 PM, mstaylor said:

Either adjustment, 1BLE or 1BL could have gotten him blocked, catcher on one side, runner on the other.

So, you can do your best to read the play and then get into position on the correct side, but at the last minute the runner changes sides and you are up the creek trying to jab step back to the other side the best you can?

So, the umpire who busts his butt and to get on the correct side (right side) and the runner does slide that way is a phenom and gets all the glory, whereas the other guy who busts his butt to get in same exact same position (right side) but ends up with the runner sliding the other way at the last second is brutal and goes down as a very poor umpire, just because he is unlucky enough to have the runner change his mind at the last second whereas the other umpire has his runner stay the course without a last second switch??? Interesting.