Plays at the plate

[goody14]

Generally, I still feel shaky at plays at the plate. It is just hard to get reps since close ones don't really happen all that often. You are lucky to get more than 2 in a game if that.

 

I did have one last night though and still don't feel confident I am in the right spot. Plus, my timing was quick, but that is my own issue and will work on "slowing things down".

 

Regardless, I had R2 and 2 outs. Clean single to center field and runner is coming home.

 

I start point of plate and move to 3BLX as throw comes in. 

 

Throw is a up the 3rd baseline. By the time F2 gloves it the runner is almost even with him - F2 came in front of the plate to field it so no worry about collisions. 

 

As F2 turns to make the tag, the runner has passed him but not quite to the plate. So F2 attempts more of a swinging arm tag and not a swipe tag.

 

I hear nothing. I see no change of direction in the arm. I call safe (of course I should have waited a half second and called safe after he touched the plate...but again, I realize my timing quick). No objections of complaints from anyone.

 

Of course, I did not really "see" the miss as I was straightlined because F2 was trying to tag a runner running by him.

 

Hopefully I described this well. My question - what did I do wrong?

 

Do I hang on point of plate longer and read this throw as one circumstance I try to get 1BLX?

 

Do I need to go from 3BLX more towards fair territory if I read this type of throw?

 

 

[johnnyg08]

I would avoid 1BLX whenever possible.

You can rotate into fair territory and actually have a better look if that's the angle you're going for.

Hang with it. Sometimes increasing your distance can widen your field of vision. Then remember to take your time, by properly using your eyes. You need a tag and you need secure possession of the baseball. It gets really fun when things starts to slow down for you.

Good luck.

[Kevin_K]

Try to follow F2's hips. As they rotate, you can rotate as well.

 

It was described to me this winter as looking for a wedge between F2 and the runner and then making sure that you can see into that wedge. The only way to really ensure this is to put your self in position, regardless of where that may be - 3BLX, LH batters box, in front of HP, or other places that make sense as you read the potential play,

 

As was demonstrated to me, the key is making adjustments as the play develops.

[maven]

1BLX is the place to be for collision plays. Fortunately, collision plays are now illegal at every level of baseball. Hence, there is no reason to be at 1BLX for a play at the plate.

 

That mostly eliminates the need to start from POP. If you're going to end up at 3BLX, why not start there?

 

Once you're at 3BLX, read the throw. As F2 moves up the line to field the throw, go with him. As the runner approaches, start to rotate around into fair: the reason is, as you saw, if the ball arrives with or just after the runner, the tag is going to be a swipe, and you want to be looking between the players. (Basketball officials have some advantage here, as they're trained to "move to improve" and always be looking between players to see fouls — we're not looking for fouls, we're looking for a tag, which you won't see if you're blocked out by a body.)

 

Last night I had 2 plays at the plate, both bang-bang, both outs, one for each team. One was a swipe, the other a tag right in the kisser as the runner started sliding. My only mechanics challenge was clearing the damn ODB from 3BLX!

[Majordave]

Amen @maven on moving those aggressive ODBs. I've had several that required me to push them aside or step in front of this season. Kudos to them and their coaches for actually doing their job. But sometimes they do it a bit overzealously.

[ZebraStripes]

Generally, I still feel shaky at plays at the plate. It is just hard to get reps since close ones don't really happen all that often. You are lucky to get more than 2 in a game if that.

 

I had three in the bottom of the first in my third game behind the plate this season.  My day was jammed pack with bangers on that particular day at the park.

[maven]

 

Generally, I still feel shaky at plays at the plate. It is just hard to get reps since close ones don't really happen all that often. You are lucky to get more than 2 in a game if that.

I had three in the bottom of the first in my third game behind the plate this season.  My day was jammed pack with bangers on that particular day at the park.

 

 

Sounds as if you're not calling enough strikes.

[ZebraStripes]

In that game it wasn't much of a problem, they were swinging at darn near everything.

[MidAmUmp]

This is the problem with plays at the plate. You don't see enough of them and no 2 are alike.

 

You can't be a "spot umpire" on these plays. Everyone wants to preach being stopped/set, but being stopped/set doesn't really work on swipe tags. You have to move, just as you would on a pulled foot/swipe tag at 1st base.

 

I probably would have started working around to my right as soon as the ball was hit. Status of the ball, status of the runner, status of the fielder - R2 & hit to the outfield w/ 2 outs = runner should be scoring. Once I see the the catcher move up the 3rd base line, I would have moved toward the 1st base line. Just stay with him as he moves. 

[Minnz]

Of course, I did not really "see" the miss as I was straightlined because F2 was trying to tag a runner running by him.

 You never see a miss.  The question is did you see a tag.  If you don't see a tag you have safe.  Think of all calls in the vein of did you see a tag or not?

[ricka56]

 

Of course, I did not really "see" the miss as I was straightlined because F2 was trying to tag a runner running by him.

 You never see a miss.  The question is did you see a tag.  If you don't see a tag you have safe.  Think of all calls in the vein of did you see a tag or not?

If you get straight-lined and didn't actually see the tag, safe is not the default call. You should gather as much info that you have to decide what likely did occur. Did the player(s) act like there was a tag...was the runner going out-of-the-basepath to avoid the tag (benefit of the doubt goes to the defense). And if the reason that you didn't see the tag was because you weren't hustling to get into position and then you safe the runner because you didn't see the tag, then there'll be hell to pay.

[Mick]

  I'm with Johnnyg08.  3BX, and a slight rotation into fair territory is the simplest and the best.

 

p.s.  how do you get others' quotes to go on your posting?  I tried using "Quote" and MultiQuote, but I never see them appear 

[Jocko]

Often time, when a throw home results in F2 being pulled up the line, i find myself in front of the plate. Im on his hip and following the play. This seems to open it up for me. It's not something I think about. It's just where I find myself after the play. And I've never once wished I were somewhere else.

[ZebraStripes]

  I'm with Johnnyg08.  3BX, and a slight rotation into fair territory is the simplest and the best.

 

p.s.  how do you get others' quotes to go on your posting?  I tried using "Quote" and MultiQuote, but I never see them appear 

I just hit quote and typed below the box that appears with your name and time stamp and what you said.

[UmpJeff]

I have the same problem, @Mick

 

I can't quote, either.

 

@Thunderheads...any suggestions?

[Jocko]

I have the same problem, @Mick

 

I can't quote, either.

 

@Thunderheads...any suggestions?

works for me

[Cav]

Right-click on "Quote" then left-click on "Open."  (Who would have thought I would ever be giving computer advice.)  Now, someone explain to me how to cut and paste.

[labguy1971]

Often time, when a throw home results in F2 being pulled up the line, i find myself in front of the plate. Im on his hip and following the play. This seems to open it up for me. It's not something I think about. It's just where I find myself after the play. And I've never once wished I were somewhere else.

That is how our association clinic this year showed us how to do it.  So far, so good.  Still a work in progress for me, but getting better.

[labguy1971]

Right-click on "Quote" then left-click on "Open."  (Who would have thought I would ever be giving computer advice.)  Now, someone explain to me how to cut and paste.

Get some scissors and some elmers glue and go to town.

[Cav]

A court order prevents me being in possession of any sharp objects and I'm no longer interested in using any liquid adhesives since that unfortunate airplane glue incident in flight school.  (Think you've been lost?  Try being lost at Mach1.3!)

[ricka56]

When I use M/S Internet Explorer browser, quoting doesn't work.

I have to use Mozilla Firefox browser to get quotes to work.

[Mick]

Right-click on "Quote" then left-click on "Open."  (Who would have thought I would ever be giving computer advice.)  Now, someone explain to me how to cut and paste.

 

Cav!!!!  I owe you a beer!  Do you go to Cooperstown?

[Cav]

I am totally befuddled with the same stuff my nine year-old granddaughter takes with a grain of salt.  I have more technology in my pocket than in any aircraft I ever flew.  Befuddling, indeed.

 

I don't do Cooperstown, but I do do beer.  (There, I said do do.) 

 

Buy me a tall one, drink it while it's cold, then set the bottle near an empty chair.  Perhaps that night's baseball banter will channel through to me.    

[johnnyg08]

Try to keep this on the topic of "Plays at the Plate" guys.  

 

thanks!!!

[BuckeyeMike]

spoil-sport