Two Steps Fair?

[JDavis225]

I've seen this term floating around lately and I'm curious to know exactly what it's used for. Plays at first? I was taught to develop a 90 degree angle but is there a new standard developing? I remember seeing a few MLB guys take plays at what appeared to possibly be "two steps fair." I know there a lot of knowledgeable guys here. Someone inform me please! 

[Texas Manny]

I've seen this term floating around lately and I'm curious to know exactly what it's used for. Plays at first? I was taught to develop a 90 degree angle but is there a new standard developing? I remember seeing a few MLB guys take plays at what appeared to possibly be "two steps fair." I know there a lot of knowledgeable guys here. Someone inform me please! 

What you are seeing is when the 2nd baseman has to move to his left towards the line or the first baseman gets the ball. It's called pressure. You take one or two steps off the line in fair territory, square up, set, call it: "He's out!!" or "Safe!".

 

Unless there is extreme pressure on the line, don't take it in foul territory. If you are pushed by pressure, take only one or two steps foul. This should be the exception, rather than the rule. This type of pressure will only be caused by the first baseman.

 

Pressure also exists when you have to stay on the line to call fair or foul and the ball goes through for a base hit. Instead of pivoting into the infield, you cut the runners arse off and swing behind him in foul territory as he approaches the 1st base bag. You should enter fair territory in front of 1st base the same time he is stepping on it and you follow him. It's a timing move. You stay with the runner. If he goes for second, then work your way towards a point half way between 2nd and the mound, working your angle. If you are ahead of the player, then work to the cutout. If a play, square up, set, call it: "He's Out!" or "Safe!". If no play, and you were trailing the runner, positioned between the mound and 2nd, then move in towards the cutout to guard the area, until things reset.

[MidAmUmp]

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st.

 

Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach).  I think everyone is pretty familiar with that.  The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust.

 

A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle).  Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot.  You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag.  Some people will say it's lazy.  I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle.  I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

 

To each their own, get the call right.

[noumpere]

I agree that its only "new" if you mean "within the past 20 years or so".  lol.  And it can cause some problems in 2-man if the ball gets by F3 and you have to get to second without getting in the runners way.  And you have to remember that it doesn't work real well on D3k or bunts or plays within the box so you cant just always go to the exact same spot.  But overall I too like it better just as MidAm Ump does.

[mstaylor]

It is good on a few plays, lousy on most. What MidAmUmp suggested is extending that concept out to the other positions. So instead of two steps fair for all calls, which some suggest, it's more like 2SF, 4-6SF, 6-8SF, 8-19SF. I haven't tried that so I can't comment. 

[MidAmUmp]

Yes, 2 steps off the line for every call is really bad, and lazy.  

 

Shortening your angle (as I stated above), but keeping good distance from the base will help you be stopped/set for the play in plenty of time.  What it does is it allows you to not have to take that read step to see a pulled foot...you're already where you would have ended up if you had taken a 90-degree angle, then took the read step back to see the foot.  Some will say you have to take the read step for "appearance", but supervisors are always demanding to be stopped/set to see the play.  Shortening my angle on a throw from 3rd that turns to crap allows me to see the pulled foot without having to make a last second adjustment as the play in happening.

 

Again, you still have to adjust for a swipe tag.  And I agree on dropped 3rd strikes, bunts, or plays within the box, you will have to expand your angle to get a good view depending on where the throw is coming from.

[umpstu]

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st.

 

Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach).  I think everyone is pretty familiar with that.  The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust.

 

A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle).  Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot.  You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag.  Some people will say it's lazy.  I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle.  I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

 

To each their own, get the call right.

I feel I get a much better read and look at a play just a few feet off the line. I mean way better. And so does my dog.

[johnnyg08]

 

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st.

 

Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach).  I think everyone is pretty familiar with that.  The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust.

 

A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle).  Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot.  You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag.  Some people will say it's lazy.  I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle.  I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

 

To each their own, get the call right.

I feel I get a much better read and look at a play just a few feet off the line. I mean way better. And so does my dog.

 

 

Good luck w/ that.

[afaber12]

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st. Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach). I think everyone is pretty familiar with that. The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust. A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle). Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot. You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag. Some people will say it's lazy. I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle. I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd. To each their own, get the call right.

I feel I get a much better read and look at a play just a few feet off the line. I mean way better. And so does my dog. One bark for out, two for safe, growl for a warning, growl and bite for "you're outta here!"? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

[umpstu]

 

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st.

Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach). I think everyone is pretty familiar with that. The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust.

A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle). Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot. You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag. Some people will say it's lazy. I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle. I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

To each their own, get the call right.

 

I feel I get a much better read and look at a play just a few feet off the line. I mean way better. And so does my dog.

One bark for out, two for safe, growl for a warning, growl and bite for "you're outta here!"?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

At least somebody speaks dog.

[celt62]

I was taught at a college camp to take the two steps off because it gives a better view of a swipe tag and pulled foot.  But if the pitcher fields the ball or a bunt occurs move hard toward the cut out for the best angle and at all costs avoid making a call in foul territory.

[Texas Manny]

I was taught at a college camp to take the two steps off because it gives a better view of a swipe tag and pulled foot.  But if the pitcher fields the ball or a bunt occurs move hard toward the cut out for the best angle and at all costs avoid making a call in foul territory.

When I went to Joe Brinkman's, if a bunt was laid down and the ball was in the square that the pitcher's rubber and home plate anchored opposite corners, then the BU was to bust his ass to an angle 90* to the foul line. If the 1st baseman covered the bag, and the potential of pulling his foot became apparent because of a wide throw, the BU would ask audibly, the PU, immediately: "Was his foot on the bag?" The plate umpire who should be up the line, watching for running lane violation, and should watch for the pulled foot or bobbled ball, would say either: "No, it wasn't" or "Yes it was!". The BU would then call: "He's Out!" or "Safe, safe! His foot was off the bag!"

 

I wonder if this has changed? I will know for sure on Friday when the mail comes and I receive one of the key books I ordered. There is no reference in the PBUC Manual for the Two Umpire System.

[mstaylor]

I was taught at a college camp to take the two steps off because it gives a better view of a swipe tag and pulled foot.  But if the pitcher fields the ball or a bunt occurs move hard toward the cut out for the best angle and at all costs avoid making a call in foul territory.

I hate to be a hater but go to a better college clinic.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[alex7]

For thought, the reason some Pac-12 guys at a clinic were promoting the 2-steps in, aside from the consistency and better look opinion, was the reduced chance of getting straight-lined if a throw pulled the 1B off the bag.  The farther out you go, the more likely it becomes that the 1B is stretching out towards you and you get straight-lined from seeing the pulled foot.  

 

Made sense.  That said, their 2-steps in were like 2 or 3 running steps, so you're looking at about 6-8 feet off the line.

[Scratch Franzeo]

I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle.  I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

This is how I was taught to make calls at first.

[umpstu]

I don't know that it's new, but there are differing opinions on angles for plays at 1st.

 

Obviously the 90-degree from the throw (it's what we teach).  I think everyone is pretty familiar with that.  The problem with it is on a bad throw you have to take a read step and adjust.

 

A different thought is to take less of an angle and stay deep (a lot of guys shorten their distance to 1st when they get their angle).  Then you don't have to take a read step or make an adjustment for a pulled foot.  You will still have to adjust for a swipe tag.  Some people will say it's lazy.  I've tried both and personally like this approach better than the 90-degree angle.  I usually take 2-4 steps on a throw from 2nd, 4-6 on a throw to SS, 6-8 on a throw from 3rd.

 

To each their own, get the call right.

I think less of an angle presents a much better view of the whole play. The only drawback that I can think of is that you might be in the way of the runner on an overthrow if he decides late to turn and go to second. 

[mstaylor]

You are in his direct line for him to advance and you are  behind him. 

[alex7]

On an overthrow?  I've noticed I read the overthrow before the BR does, and by the time he breaks down and turns to 2nd, I'm already headed to my spot.  I have about 70 feet to run, he has 90+.  Certainly easier in 3-man