Three umpires baseball mechanics

[johnnyg08]

I know about the CCA and all of the other mechanics manuals out there.

If any of you have a "Cliff Notes" three umpire powerpoint or handout that you'd be willing to share please send it to me via PM. 

A person I know asked for the "short version" of three umpire mechanics. 

So...without debating the rights or wrongs of that please send it my way. 

[noumpere]

I once had three "guidelines" for umpires that covered 95% of all the situations.  Unfortunately, I can only remember two of the three::

1) If someone goes out, revert to two-person (you can make this happen more my requiring an umpire on the line to go out on a fly ball in his half of the field)

2) Look to your left -- if there's no umpire at that base, run toward it

 

(I might add -- although I don't think this is one of those three -- for the PU, the coverage is the same as with two-person)

[GreyhoundAggie]

@johnnyg08 Shot you a DM.

[SH0102]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

I once had three "guidelines" for umpires that covered 95% of all the situations.  Unfortunately, I can only remember two of the three::

1) If someone goes out, revert to two-person (you can make this happen more my requiring an umpire on the line to go out on a fly ball in his half of the field)

2) Look to your left -- if there's no umpire at that base, run toward it

 

(I might add -- although I don't think this is one of those three -- for the PU, the coverage is the same as with two-person)

Only difference for PU in terms of when to leave the plate, is you do NOT go to third on a 1st/3rd situation, even when U1 goes out and you revert to 2-man

The other big one is when you rotate to third, you do not go back home (when in 3-man…if reverted to two, you do) 

[SH0102]

Just now, SH0102 said:

Only difference for PU in terms of when to leave the plate, is you do NOT go to third on a 1st/3rd situation, even when U1 goes out and you revert to 2-man

The other big one is when you rotate to third, you do not go back home (when in 3-man…if reverted to two, you do) 

Forgot one, cover first when U1 goes out with no one on

[noumpere]

15 hours ago, SH0102 said:

Only difference for PU in terms of when to leave the plate, is you do NOT go to third on a 1st/3rd situation, even when U1 goes out and you revert to 2-man

 

Huh?  I must be mis-reading this, because I would have PUT take third if U1 goes out (or maybe the mechanics have changed)

15 hours ago, SH0102 said:

Forgot one, cover first when U1 goes out with no one on

That's the same as in two-man.

[Tborze]

22 hours ago, noumpere said:

I once had three "guidelines" for umpires that covered 95% of all the situations.  Unfortunately, I can only remember two of the three::

1) If someone goes out, revert to two-person (you can make this happen more my requiring an umpire on the line to go out on a fly ball in his half of the field)

2) Look to your left -- if there's no umpire at that base, run toward it

 

(I might add -- although I don't think this is one of those three -- for the PU, the coverage is the same as with two-person)

Have you ever pre-gamed differently? Ex: U1 goes out but comes back in to help with coverage.  He can get a back pick, help with a rundown, or cover the plate.  

 

[noumpere]

43 minutes ago, Tborze said:

Have you ever pre-gamed differently? Ex: U1 goes out but comes back in to help with coverage.  He can get a back pick, help with a rundown, or cover the plate.  

 

Maybe-- if U1 just turns his back and doesn't move and puts his hand up to PU -- that means, "I'll take subsequent plays at first, so you don't need to run down here; just watch BR touch first from where you are."

 

If u1 actually goes out, though, he stays out.

[Forest Ump]

 The best advice I ever received for three man was communication and to know who you have responsibility for. With runners on, U1 need to tell U3 what he's going to do. Example: U1 - "I got BR to here and rotating home if I need to. " U2- "OK, I'll pick up B1 into second and I got BR if you rotate." or something like that. The more you talk, the more comfortable you will be.

Edited: It's more important to know who you have responsibility for, than what spot you need to move to. Knowing who you're responsible for will take you to the right position.

[MadMax]

6 hours ago, Forest Ump said:

It's more important to know who you have responsibility for, than what spot you need to move to. Knowing who you're responsible for will take you to the right position.

This cannot be emphasized enough. 

And this is where so many clinics and instructors… I won’t say “fail”, but “come up short” – because they don’t infuse (enough, or at all) live-ball practicals and exercises, there is a lack of adhesion between the umpire and his runner or ball responsibility. 

The best, most effective way to learn 3-man mechanics and interactions is to do it. You cannot rely solely on diagrams, classroom instruction, or even “walk throughs”. Diagrams will always just show spots and paths; they cannot account for time, speed, or space. You can discuss the operations of 3-man in a collaborative environment (classroom), but how one reads and reacts to an action cannot be experienced. Actual walk-throughs are beneficial, but if they lack baserunners, at speed, then it’s difficult to convey and understand triggers and timing.