Tag plays at 3B

[ricka56]

For tag play at HP (ball coming from OF), my SOP is to start from POP and adjust (usually towards 3BLX or further), but I'm gonna be working 3/4 man and probably taking plays on the outside and I have no SOP for tags at 2B/3B. The following stills were from a recent game where U3's safe call was reversed by clear video evidence that F5 clearly got the tag in front of 3B, but U3 (IMO) blocked himself out on the play. What should be the SOP for U3 for tag plays at 3B ?

What should be the SOP for U3 for tag plays at 3B ?

[Thunderheads]

at the Southeast Michigan Umpire Camp (SEMUC) this past February, we had a quick 30 minute 4 man session (this is a HS camp so 99% of the time we're doing 2 man) ... well, James Hoye was telling us about utlizing the same 3blx theory as they do at home on 2nd and 3rd also .....    so ..... the best spot for this play would be over the TOP LEFT corner of 3rd....the corner pointing down the left field line ....

I think he over-rotated here....

[maineump]

I work that call from the outfield side - by coming up the line and adjusting on the throw. I am looking for a good view of the front (2B) side of the bag, without having to look through runners. I try to stay in fair territory, or close to it. Think about how you would take the play on a stolen base.

If the ball is coming from LF, then I get around to the cutout (same as 2-man).

I try to keep things simple, it seems to work for me best

[noumpere]

Read the fielder.  If he moves away from the base, then it's likely to be a swipe -- go to 2b-3b X

If he stays at the base, then it's a tag at the base (the equivalent of a "collision" at home) -- go to H-3b X

 

And, it can change in the blink of an eye and we never get enough practice at it.

 

(When in doubt, block the view of the third base coach so he can't complain about the call. )

[maven]

Read the fielder.  If he moves away from the base, then it's likely to be a swipe -- go to 2b-3b X

If he stays at the base, then it's a tag at the base (the equivalent of a "collision" at home) -- go to H-3b X

 

And, it can change in the blink of an eye and we never get enough practice at it.

 

(When in doubt, block the view of the third base coach so he can't complain about the call. )

This is how I was taught (including the last remark, BTW).

Set up for the tag play and take a read step for the swipe, unless you read a bad throw out of the fielder's hand, in which case you get a moment more to adjust.

This mechanic ends up looking a bit like U1 taking plays at 1B, but closer (8-10 feet instead of 15-18 at 1B), and just outside the line instead of just inside. Being closer to the base makes a read step open a wider angle.

Novice U2 should always take plays at 2B from inside, where the look is familiar, and you're not floundering around 270° of angle on the outside.

[Platejob29]

For plays at 3rd and 2nd and even plays back into 1st for that mater when working 4 man or in 3 man when you have back side coverage you can take them just like plays at the plate. Start in a position that if possible puts ball, base, and runner in front of you then rotate around the play as it develops so that you can try to have a view that is perpendicular to the tag. In 3 man when you don't have backside coverage you've got to take it like you take any play from the inside only you may be able to cheat a little closer at 2nd. At 3rd that's a little tricky to get to close because most of the time if you're at 3rd and don't have backside coverage it means your rotated up from the plate and you're responsible to get back to the plate for a play if the ball gets away at 3rd and the runner goes home. In the example you gave in the OP U3 was trying to get perpendicular to the tag which on any tag play is 2 small angles that are directly opposite of each other. His only other option was to go to the outfield side of 3rd base in fair territory which probably wasn't an option given how the play developed. 

[maineump]

For plays at 3rd and 2nd and even plays back into 1st for that mater when working 4 man or in 3 man when you have back side coverage you can take them just like plays at the plate. Start in a position that if possible puts ball, base, and runner in front of you then rotate around the play as it develops so that you can try to have a view that is perpendicular to the tag. In 3 man when you don't have backside coverage you've got to take it like you take any play from the inside only you may be able to cheat a little closer at 2nd. At 3rd that's a little tricky to get to close because most of the time if you're at 3rd and don't have backside coverage it means your rotated up from the plate and you're responsible to get back to the plate for a play if the ball gets away at 3rd and the runner goes home. In the example you gave in the OP U3 was trying to get perpendicular to the tag which on any tag play is 2 small angles that are directly opposite of each other. His only other option was to go to the outfield side of 3rd base in fair territory which probably wasn't an option given how the play developed. 

In a 4-man system, if the plate guy rotes up - then U1 has the plate. He would release when R1 commits or when U2 would be sliding.

[Platejob29]

In a 4-man system, if the plate guy rotes up - then U1 has the plate. He would release when R1 commits or when U2 would be sliding. 

That point about having to go back and cover the plate after coming to third was only for 3 man when U3 goes out and you do not have backside coverage as PU.