2 Plays at plate from the infield ... position? Part II

[Thunderheads]

Probably not much time to move anywhere else here, right?

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=27795939

 

 

OR here ??

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=27798921

[Mike Prince]

If you want to look at it critically I'd say on the first one PU should have been a bit more towards 1BLX (move out more from POP) in anticipation of a block play.

 

On the second one Joe West seemed slow getting into position and ended up right on top (IMO) of a swipe tag.  Thought he should have been on 3BLX for that one?

[JHSump]

I had a play just like the first video, the other day.  But it was a two man crew.  I am PU, my partner is in C at the TOP.  R3, but not bases loaded.  In the video I watched the umpire at 3B carefully to see that he called the ground ball fair, despite it not reaching 3B.  This apparently allowed the HP umpire to get into position on 1BLX for the possible block tag at the plate.

 

In my game, I had to get on 3BLX to see if the ball was fair or foul (ball was rolling close to the line), then had no time to move at all on the play at the plate.  R3 slides into the plate while F2 blocks the plate and tags him.  It's a jumble of arms and legs.  I'm looking over the top of the catcher at this point to see what I can see.  I ask him to show me the ball and it appears he is trying to disentangle himself from the runner.  He finally raises his mitt with the ball in it, so I bang the runner out. 

 

Later my partner tells me that F2 had dropped the ball and that was why F2 was unable to show me the ball right away.  I could not see that at all.

 

Is there a better way to get the positioning right on a play like this, with a two-man crew?

[mstaylor]

Probably not but shouldn't your partner come in with a ball on the ground?

[JHSump]

Probably not but shouldn't your partner come in with a ball on the ground?

I did wonder why he didn't.  He said he was waiting for the OM to ask me to get help.

[BigUmpire]

If you want to look at it critically I'd say on the first one PU should have been a bit more towards 1BLX (move out more from POP) in anticipation of a block play.

 

On the second one Joe West seemed slow getting into position and ended up right on top (IMO) of a swipe tag.  Thought he should have been on 3BLX for that one?

"Joe West seemed slow getting into position"

LOL

[Trakes2]

Hold the F'n phone....

 

Did Country Joe actually show the slightest bit of enthusiasm?...    

He probably needed to go and take an ice bath after all of that movement he had going there...

[noumpere]

 

Probably not but shouldn't your partner come in with a ball on the ground?

I did wonder why he didn't.  He said he was waiting for the OM to ask me to get help.

 

And you corrected him and said that's a time to come in regardless of whether someone asks for help?

[noumpere]

Play 1.  Covered in many NCAA clinics.  They want you to drop straight back to point of plate on plays from the infield.  Too many umpires are jumping out to 1BX just as in this video. 

 

Play 2.  Started in a good spot.  Should have taken one step right instead of one step left.

[JHSump]

 

 

Probably not but shouldn't your partner come in with a ball on the ground?

I did wonder why he didn't.  He said he was waiting for the OM to ask me to get help.

 

And you corrected him and said that's a time to come in regardless of whether someone asks for help?

 

Left it at that --- it was between innings.  After the game other events (which are not easily explained) took precedence.  It will be a good topic for the pregame when we next work together.