A position

[Jeff C.]

Tonight was my first game of the season and my first varsity game. I was in the A pos., and there was a major league popup to F4. I stood there like a deer in the headlights, I didn't say anything to my partner, and F4 dropped the ball. My partner failed to cover second, but fortunately nothing bad happened. My partner between innings admitted he missed the rotation. I admitted that I failed to communicate. My question is, should I head in to the infield or stay put and make the call? By the time I made up mind to do something, I would have crossed the baserunner which could have caused all sorts of problems. I struggled with this last year too.

[Mike Prince]

With no baserunners that's the PU's catch/no catch call. You have the runner. In that situation I would get in position like you are going to make a call on the runner (if possible) or stay in A. Most likely if the popup is dropped you may have a play on the runner taking a turn at first, but it is unlikely there would be a play beyond that.

[UmpJM]

Jeff C, (and bikerider),

As long as you're not getting in the way of the "protected fielder", I believe the best thing to do in this sitch is to "bust in" to your pivot point (as you would on a "clean" base hit) and be prepared to take the BR around to 2B or be prepared for a play on him back at 1B should the ball drop and he "rounds" 1B. The PU should have no problem making the catch/no catch call.

JM

[JaxRolo]

Just remember Popup means pivot.

As far as your partner saying he missed a rotation he is wrong. PU takes the:

1. Fair/foul

2. Catch/no-catch

[Mike Prince]

Yeah I like JM's answer better as you pretty much everything covered from there.

[mstaylor]

Just remember Popup means pivot.

As far as your partner saying he missed a rotation he is wrong. PU takes the:

1. Fair/foul

2. Catch/no-catch

Jax beat me to it, I would have answered exactly the same including popup means pivot.

[JaxRolo]

Just remember Popup means pivot.

As far as your partner saying he missed a rotation he is wrong. PU takes the:

1. Fair/foul

2. Catch/no-catch

Jax beat me to it, I would have answered exactly the same including popup means pivot.

Tripp Gibson taught me that.

[Jeff C.]

Thanks guys. I like that "Popup means pivot". Easy to remember.

[Guest]

Jeff C, (and bikerider),

As long as you're not getting in the way of the "protected fielder", I believe the best thing to do in this sitch is to "bust in" to your pivot point (as you would on a "clean" base hit) and be prepared to take the BR around to 2B or be prepared for a play on him back at 1B should the ball drop and he "rounds" 1B. The PU should have no problem making the catch/no catch call.

JM

Only thing to add here is match your pace to the pace of the runner.

This is to avoid being caught with your pants down in the event the ball drops, the BR wasn't running out his pop-up, and you now have a play at 1B with you in a horse-excrement angle (or maybe even in the line of the throw) for the play. That's not likely on a pop-up to F4 but it could conceivably happen if it's to the left side of the infield.

[mstaylor]

Evidently it is taught at one of the schools because I learned it at a pro clinic about ten years ago. It is catchy enough to remember. You don't know how many times it's popped in my head during a game.

[mazzamouth]

Evidently it is taught at one of the schools because I learned it at a pro clinic about ten years ago. It is catchy enough to remember. You don't know how many times it's popped in my head during a game.

Both School's and PBUC teach Pop up means pivot.

[UmpTTS43]

if it is a pop up on the left side of the field where there is a possibility of being in the throwing lane if dropped, I will rim the grass line of the outfield. You are still able to stay ahead of the BR if you read him running all out. You can still have an angle at 1st if the play develops there.

[UmpJM]

UmpTT,

I don't think I'd do that. I'd just "come in" and adjust my "pivot point" to stay out of the way.

JM

[mstaylor]

UmpTT,

I don't think I'd do that. I'd just "come in" and adjust my "pivot point" to stay out of the way.

JM

Absolutely, never rim the infield, come in, pivot and pick the ball up. Never came close to that being a problem.

[UmpTTS43]

2 different philosophies none wrong as long as your responsibilities are covered.

[mstaylor]

It is counter to every mechanics book written. I would strongly suggest coming inside and if you think you may be in the throwing lane, go deeper toward the mound.

[UmpTTS43]

It is counter to every mechanics book written. I would strongly suggest coming inside and if you think you may be in the throwing lane, go deeper toward the mound.

You continue to run to your dot in the mechanics manual and I will umpire the play, getting in the best optimum position for the play at hand.

[noumpere]

It is counter to every mechanics book written. I would strongly suggest coming inside and if you think you may be in the throwing lane, go deeper toward the mound.

You continue to run to your dot in the mechanics manual and I will umpire the play, getting in the best optimum position for the play at hand.

Thats not what anyone said, as far as I can tell. You need to adjust your route based on the location of the popup and the movement of the fielders but you should always be able to get inside.

[kylejt]

There are times when F4 and F3 will pinch you on a pop down the line. Your PU has to read that, and react. It's rare, but it happened to me twice over the weekend. Luckily, I work with some solid guys.

On one of these, when I got trapped, the ball dropped, and got over thrown at second. The PU picked up the runner, took him to third, and I got the bang-bang at the plate. We got the golf clap from the umpires watching.

So yeah, bust in, but be aware of Plan B if you can't.

[mstaylor]

There is a difference between running to a dot and freelancing mechanics. If your organizations do this on a regular basis then go for it. If it is something you are doing that nobody else in your group does then the PU is not going to know what you are doing or where you are going. Mechanics are taught so everyone does somewhat the same thing in any given stuation. I am not advocating that x spot is the only place you can go, then you move to y spot. For instance, my pivot is much closer to first than most unless I read a sure double then I deepen toward second. I work much closer to the mound than most and am in B more than not. I'm also a scissor guy. I am the rules and mechanics instructor for my area and when I each positions and coverages I tell them they are not cut in stone but instead guidelines to put you in the proper angles to make calls. I tell them that they have to take these and work them to their physical abilities and particular game situation. There are also times when you simply have to use plug a hole umpiring, this is not one of them.

Unfortunately in the non pro ranks there are too many guys out there that teach or evauluate and do want the go to a dot mechanics. The thing I like about baseball is you can do things to an individual taste but you still need to use basic coverages so your partner can cover what you aren't.

[UmpTTS43]

I understand what you are saying however the mechanic books cannot cover every possible situation. There are times when the manual positioning is not the ideal spot to be for various reasons.

The philosophy of staying on the outside on certain pop ups gives the umpire a full view of the action ie touches obs int while at the same time being able to stay ahead of the runner going into second or getting an angle/position for a play at first.

The most common scenario for this mechanic is for the pop up in-between F1 F3 and F4 where you could have multiple fielders converging. By coming in to pivot you quite possibly get in the way.

[mstaylor]

The popup I have had in my head is to F4 or between F4 and F3. On these, get inside. Between F3,F4 and F1 is a whole other game. I am going to stand back in a normal calling position for a throw to first, then be ready to get inside on a play to second. I am not going to ever rim the infield or take a runner to second from outside. How I get to the infield and what I do once I get there depends on the play, but I can think of no reason to ever not be inside going to second. There are times I will get pressured to foul and the PU takes the runner to second from inside. If it works in your area and the other guys know you are going to do it then go for it. Don't do it if it isn't a norm for your area, it could blow up on you.

[Dragon29]

. . . Between F3,F4 and F1 is a whole other game. I am going to stand back in a normal calling position for a throw to first, then be ready to get inside on a play to second. I am not going to ever rim the infield or take a runner to second from outside. How I get to the infield and what I do once I get there depends on the play, but I can think of no reason to ever not be inside going to second. There are times I will get pressured to foul and the PU takes the runner to second from inside. If it works in your area and the other guys know you are going to do it then go for it. Don't do it if it isn't a norm for your area, it could blow up on you.

This is exactly what I've always been taught and it has never failed. The PU has to be able to read that sitch & react.

[mazzamouth]

Pop up means pivot, if you come in on a pivot, and there is a play at 1st your gonna be in position, and if in the event the BR is running fast and it is dropped, you will be ready for a play at 2nd.. it really is easy. even if it is down the line ( unless it is behind the BU) then come in and let the PU call the fair/foul.

[noumpere]

Pop up means pivot, if you come in on a pivot, and there is a play at 1st your gonna be in position, and if in the event the BR is running fast and it is dropped, you will be ready for a play at 2nd.. it really is easy. even if it is down the line ( unless it is behind the BU) then come in and let the PU call the fair/foul.

Agreed. If its F1,F3,F4, then theirs no need to stay in A. No one is covering first anyways.