Play at First

[Mizzou2016]

I will try to explain this best I can -

I am the Base Umpire in 2-man; 0 Out, No runners, Bottom of 9th, game is tied 6-6

Chopper hit to the third baseman, throw is high. Right handed First baseman leaps straight up, catches the ball. He comes down with his back turned to me, and straddles the base, not touching it. The batter runner then strides over the bag, missing first. 

I was about 90 degrees from the throw, I took a quick double read step to the left, but I still could not see the glove because of the way the first baseman came down on the bag - I tried to listen for a tag but did not hear anything. 

I signaled safe, and was prepared for an appeal that he missed first, but the BR quickly came back to touch first. 

Coach started walking from the dugout, and I knew immediately that I didn't have a good view of the tag so I told him I'd get help - My partner got screened by the catcher. So no help. 

I'm about 50/50 on this play - I think he maybe got the tag on him, but it was such a 3rd world play. The coach in the 1st base dugout had a much better look than me, and he was sure I missed the tag. 

Any thoughts? 

[noumpere]

Go to replay.

 

No replay?  Then you got it right.

 

I am a little confused on how this is not a collision:

 He comes down with his back turned to me, and straddles the base, not touching it. The batter runner then strides over the bag, missing first. 
 

And, I wouldn't just go for help when the coach came out.  Listen to what he says -- maybe he thought F3's feet were on the base, or that BR should "automatically be out" since he didn't touch first, or he's got some other question.

[Mizzou2016]

Somehow they didn't collide - the first baseman kept good body control and the runner did it right, staying on the foul side of the bag. This was an NAIA school was playing a HS prospect team - players were good.

On your 2nd point, it was obvious to everyone he didn't come down on the bag and he said "on the tag?" as he was walking out of the dugout. I just figured I'd save the time since I thought my partner might have some pertinent info for the tag. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

Edited September 17, 2015 by StevenCraze

[maven]

If the crew saw no tag, that's what you have to go with. Shîte happens. You have to make the best of it as a crew.

Getting blocked by F2 is a crap excuse from PU, if you don't mind my saying so. There's only 1 thing to look at there, move yer damn feet. Were they both at the 45'?

[noumpere]

 On your 2nd point, it was obvious to everyone he didn't come down on the bag and he said "on the tag?" as he was walking out of the dugout.

New information.  I withdraw my point.

If the crew saw no tag, that's what you have to go with. Shîte happens. You have to make the best of it as a crew.

Getting blocked by F2 is a crap excuse from PU, if you don't mind my saying so. There's only 1 thing to look at there, move yer damn feet. Were they both at the 45'?

Agreed.  F2 should have been running toward he fence line behind first, and PU should have been about on the foul line at the 45' mark (or as close as he could get).

Edited September 17, 2015 by noumpere

[JaxRolo]

Sounds like PU was a little lazy!

[maineump]

You can only call what you can see. If you get no 'help' from your partner, then you have to stay with your original call.

PU positioning needs to be better - hope that you guys talked about it. The catcher will be way out of the play, especially at that level, so PU needs to do his job and get to the 45' line.

[KenBAZ]

If the crew saw no tag, that's what you have to go with. Shîte happens. You have to make the best of it as a crew.

Getting blocked by F2 is a crap excuse from PU, if you don't mind my saying so. There's only 1 thing to look at there, move yer damn feet. Were they both at the 45'?

I agree with Maven on this. At that level F2 is busting it up the line on that play. As HPU I get my mask off, clear the catcher to the left and get down the line to watch for a pulled foot or a tag like this. I'm not saying I will see it clearly 100% of the time but I'd be in postion to do so and there's no way F2 would be the reason I didn't see it. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Majordave]

@StevenCraze

Where was your partner the PU (double entendre if he was standing around the plate area on this play. Double-double stinky if he still had his mask on) and what was he doing or looking at?

What was his experience level and fitness level? Did or does he have training beyond the annual Missouri HS rules clinic? (If he works HS ball)  Some of my goofy MSHSAA partners around here think that the rules clinic counts as umpire training. Seriously. More than 5 have claimed that to me when discussing umpire mechanics and training. Thus I am no longer a MSHSAA umpire. 

If there is a chance I may be stuck working with this guy in greater KC area in college or summer showcase tourneys for Jason and Mid-America Tournaments please PM me his name so I will at least be warned before I walk into a field with him. 

Unless you think this was a one-time oversight on this play by this PU then disregard all of the above.

That is all. 

[Mizzou2016]

He's a pretty competent umpire, for the most part. Just like 90% of the guys I end up working with, he's not a mechanics guru or anything but he signals, communicates and rotates well. I don't think you'll need any warnings haha but you might work with him in the future. 

It would have been nice to have his help, but I hardly ever go to help on a tag or pulled foot when in the A position. 

Thinking over the play - I would say one thing I would change about my positioning was not be so close. I was really committed to get to 90, but I cut in too close to get there. It caused a bit of tunnel vision. If I had been further away I might have been able to judge where the glove was in relation to the fielders body and runner, and made a more informed call. 

 

[maven]

It would have been nice to have his help, but I hardly ever go to help on a tag or pulled foot when in the A position. 
 

The pulled foot is all yours.

The swipe tag is another story: it's easy to get straightlined, and another set of eyes can save the crew. As you've described it, your PU put himself in a position where he couldn't help, when help would otherwise have been useful and available.