Great call at the plate!

[Thunderheads]

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=31038905&topic_id=9782246

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=31038905&topic_id=9782246

 

He actually had 2 this game!

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=31039523&topic_id=9782246

 

http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=31039523&topic_id=9782246

[scrounge]

Phenomenal call on the 1st, only that last angle from centerfield showed it conclusively as a tag. On the 2nd, agree it's a great call - but why did he keep rotating to 1BLX? Seems like 3BLX was perfect, just stay stationary there. Hindsight, of course, but sure seems like there's a lot more movement at the time of call lately.

[ricka56]

Distance vs Angle on close tag/touch plays:

On both of those these, PU was right on top of the play. But being on top of it can cut both ways. If you have (like in both of these plays) the tag and the touch in different places <-tag|touch->, it is difficult (unless you are a Chameleon) to see both events at the same time. On both of these plays PU had to be focused on the tag to see them, because F2 barely got them on. Being as close as he was and as close (in time, not proximity) as the tag/touch occured, I don't know how PU got both of these calls right...that was excellent.

 

I was taught to not be so close (because I am not a chameleon) to better see both tag/touch. But the drawback of being further back is that you can not change/adjust your angle as quickly as when you are closer.

 

What is the current philosophy that is being taught these days (wrt umpire distance on close tag/touch plays like this).

[afaber12]

Phenomenal call on the 1st, only that last angle from centerfield showed it conclusively as a tag. On the 2nd, agree it's a great call - but why did he keep rotating to 1BLX? Seems like 3BLX was perfect, just stay stationary there. Hindsight, of course, but sure seems like there's a lot more movement at the time of call lately.

 

3BLX may have been perfect from the standpoint of making the call, but was somewhat less than perfect from the standpoint of self-preservation.