Excellent positioning at home plate!!

[johnnyg08]

 

[BuckeyeMike]

That was OUTSTANDING positioning, use of eyes, timing, etc.!

R3 must have touched the black with a fingernail though....holy smokes. 

[Sut'n Blue]

 

Good stuff not only on PU but also the ump straddling the line and getting locked low, ready, and rock steady for the catch/no catch and fair/foul.

[HuskerUmp22]

Wow. Great call! It looks like he is right off the catcher's left shoulder which is what all of you say to do. Excellent!

[UmpJeff]

Great movement and positioning!  Yeah, it was a pretty ballsy tag-up, too!  Wow!!!

[kstrunk]

I saw a game recently where the PU was continually (3 times) on the 3rd base side, left of 1BE, on plays at the plate. Is that incorrect? Is it ok? Is positioning determined by the origin of the throw/play? 

[noumpere]

I saw a game recently where the PU was continually (3 times) on the 3rd base side, left of 1BE, on plays at the plate. Is that incorrect? Is it ok? Is positioning determined by the origin of the throw/play?

​It's "dangerous" in that there are many plays that can't really be seen from there.  So, it's not a recommended starting point.  But, if s/he read the play and that took him/her to that spot, and s/he was in a good position to see the play, then sure -- that was the right spot.

 

And, positioning isn't determined by the origin of the throw, but by the end of the throw and the catcher's and runner's movements.

[kstrunk]

Thanks... It seemed to me he was 'straight-lined' on two of them, runner between he and the ball, so it would be difficult to see a tag well in that position. 

[woodiemiller]

Please say WHY this is great positioning? had this umpire been 3b line extended he woulda been able to see this play. Nobody can see for sure one way or the other if the runner actually touched the plate. As a matter of fact, it looks like he coulda  missed the plate.

[grayhawk]

I tend to believe the guy that was right on top of it, looking right at the runner's hand as he slid in...

[maineump]

Please say WHY this is great positioning? had this umpire been 3b line extended he woulda been able to see this play. Nobody can see for sure one way or the other if the runner actually touched the plate. As a matter of fact, it looks like he coulda  missed the plate.

​3B extended would have worked - but it looks like he started there and let the play take him to where he needed to be. By moving to where he was he was kept out of the traffic of the play, the runner sliding very wide etc. The slow motion showed that he leaned to look for the tag and touch, and he was almost looking down at the plate for the touch..

[zm1283]

Please say WHY this is great positioning? had this umpire been 3b line extended he woulda been able to see this play. Nobody can see for sure one way or the other if the runner actually touched the plate. As a matter of fact, it looks like he coulda  missed the plate.

​There is absolutely nothing wrong with his positioning on this play. 3BLX would have worked here too just because the play ended up the way it did, but his positioning was not wrong at all. Stayed on the catcher's glove side hip and moved with the play. 

[woodiemiller]

​3B extended would have worked - but it looks like he started there and let the play take him to where he needed to be. By moving to where he was he was kept out of the traffic of the play, the runner sliding very wide etc. The slow motion showed that he leaned to look for the tag and touch, and he was almost looking down at the plate for the touch..

​Understand....but I have never been taught to go to the INSIDE to take a play at the plate. Sometimes an umpire gets lucky to be in the right place to see a play develop. 

[noumpere]

If the play turns far enough, you will end up inside.  Think about how you might see a tag attempt on the runner's back, for example.

[johnnyg08]

Perfect positioning on this play.  Positioning evolves as it should.  If the ball comes out it's easier to see from this side as well. 

[Umpire in Chief]

I also liked his assertiveness when making the call.

[BillKen]

This is what you live for as an umpire!  Big time call in a big time game...and you give the common taters NOTHING to second guess you with because you nailed it!

[smckin]

NICE!!!!!!!

[UMP45]

​Understand....but I have never been taught to go to the INSIDE to take a play at the plate. Sometimes an umpire gets lucky to be in the right place to see a play develop. 

​Woodie he wasn't lucky he was right where he is supposed to be. The teach, now, Start POP and read the play. If it is a regular tag play you are 3BLX. If you read a swipe tag then you follow the catchers glove hip.

[JaxRolo]

not lucky. perfect.

[lawump]

The only thing he did wrong was let his hat come off with his mask. 

Geez, I can really nit-pick on a play where a guy has a great call with great mechanics, can't I?  LOL

[MObetterBlue]

You can't love umpiring without loving plays at the plate like this.  Awesome!

A somewhat technical hypothetical question however:  Is he safe if he truly only touched the black part of the plate?

I didn't think the black was in play for touching the plate so I'm hoping for some clarification.