You're out, and here's a dagger through your heart too! :)

[Thunderheads]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=27024221&topic_id=9782246&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_27024221&v=3

 

[bam]

That about sums up the red sox over the past two weeks.

[maven]

As usual, MLB mechanics are not a good reference for newer umpires.

 

In 2- and 3-umpire mechanics, we wouldn't be outside the way Jerry Layne is, but he's awfully close to that play. Not the textbook 6–8 feet from a tag play.

 

That mechanic might work OK when your outfielder can throw the ball reliably within 9 inches of the base, as Cabrera did. Otherwise, you need to be ready for this play to blow up on you.

 

I thought he might have hurt his back or something.

[Dannytheman]

Can you hear me now?

[JHSump]

I too think that is a little too close.  Certainly I might have a hard time seeing everything from that close --- the glove, tag, hand/foot on touch the base, etc.

 

But, more interesting perhaps, at the levels I do (not MLB, haha), this close up "dagger to the heart" might look a bit over the top.  Perhaps a bit too "personal."  It might lead to issues that are just completely avoidable by staying back the usual distance.