3 Person Mechanics

[johnnyg08]

If you received this mechanics advice regarding three person...what would you think? 

"With R1 only, U3 is to set his initial position in Deep C (Not Deep B). This is mandatory with a LHB and also with a RHP which will be more than 80% of all play situations. The only time being in Deep B is acceptable is with an LHP and RHB (this single combination)."

 

[jimurrayalterego]

18 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

If you received this mechanics advice regarding three person...what would you think? 

"With R1 only, U3 is to set his initial position in Deep C (Not Deep B). This is mandatory with a LHB and also with a RHP which will be more than 80% of all play situations. The only time being in Deep B is acceptable is with an LHP and RHB (this single combination)."

 

I would think they are more concerned with check swings and balks than the steal of 2B.

[Velho]

28 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

I would think they are more concerned with check swings and balks than the steal of 2B.

48 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

his is mandatory with a LHB and also with a RHP which will be more than 80% of all play situations.

And maybe batter sight lines

[grayhawk]

2 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

If you received this mechanics advice regarding three person...what would you think? 

"With R1 only, U3 is to set his initial position in Deep C (Not Deep B). This is mandatory with a LHB and also with a RHP which will be more than 80% of all play situations. The only time being in Deep B is acceptable is with an LHP and RHB (this single combination)."

 

I would think this person doesn't follow CCA mechanics, which would be applicable in NCAA as well as HS (as I understand it).

[MadMax]

2 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

mechanics advice

Advice? This ain't advice. It's an official edict, especially when using the words "mandatory" and "only... acceptable". This reeks of assumed tyranny, justified through a whole bunch of whimsical obfuscation ("in this combination, do it this way, but in this other combination, do it this other way, but if this other component changes, stand on your head... "). I can assure you – MiLBUs don't (over)think this. 

We teach our guys to set IP in B-deep each time, every time, with a single alteration to "C-deep" if-and-only-if the count goes to 3-2 with 2 outs. 

And, in all leagues and conferences I've worked, including Arizona High School, we are compelled / obliged to make a check swing appeal, so it doesn't matter a high hill of jalapeños whether U3 is in B-deep or C-deep, or at D, or scaling the fence in left center field... PU allows/makes the appeal, and the U3 gives what he's got (yes/no on swing attempt). 

(To the guy issuing this edict – ) Stop building paper crutches, and your umpires will be (forced to be) more aware, alert, and focused on their responsibilities, regardless of where they're standing, instead of fretting about where... they're standing. 

[noumpere]

4 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

If you received this mechanics advice regarding three person...what would you think? 
 

I'd think "Well, I hope something goes wrong in some game I'm NOT part of, so this edict will change."

[DevildogUmp]

Whenever I see something like this, I wonder if the person thinks that mechanics manuals were written on the back of a napkin after a night out and not something that has evolved over years of experience by umpires.

Any mechanics for less than 4 umpires is all about positioning to put the umpires in the best location for the most likely of plays.

In this case, with R1 we have:

1. Steal of second (best IP is deep B).

2. Ground ball to the infield, start of a double play (best IP is deep B).

3. Fly ball to right field and U1 goes out (best IP is B for the tag up at 1st).

4. Fly ball to the 'V' (either B or C are about equal as an IP because you will be adjusting to the fielders)

5. Fly ball to left field (best IP is B for the advance on the tag up)

6. Hit to the outfield (best IP is B for the play behind R1 or on the BR)

and all the way down here:

7. Check swing appeal for a lefty (best IP would be C)

So, this person wants to dictate the inferior IP for 5.5 of the 7 possible plays with R1 to be in the best position for 1 very rare instance of a check swing appeal for a LH batter?

I'm just going to ignore that "advice".

[jimurrayalterego]

11 hours ago, DevildogUmp said:

 

So, this person wants to dictate the inferior IP for 5.5 of the 7 possible plays with R1 to be in the best position for 1 very rare instance of a check swing appeal for a LH batter?

 

I think he also is concerned about the pitcher coming to a stop. But he still should be ignored.

[TheLovejoy]

On 6/5/2026 at 3:02 PM, MadMax said:

We teach our guys to set IP in B-deep each time, every time, with a single alteration to "C-deep" if-and-only-if the count goes to 3-2 with 2 outs. 

 

^^^ This.
Study the 'wedge' on tag plays. There are 2 wedges on every tag play.
Let's see what is known, everywhere, and relate it to that:

  First, think of yourself getting to 3rd base line extended on a ball coming from the outfield to the plate. You're off the catchers hip, tracking with him, catching the 'back half' of the wedge.
The OTHER wedge on this play, is nearly exactly opposite of where you are tracking this play from. It would be up the 3rd base line just a bit. Now, obviously we don't want to be there with a ball coming in from the outfield, but that's the other side of the wedge. It's the 2nd most ideal position. Inside the 'cutout' inside the line just a bit, so you don't get straightlined by the runner.

  Now flip everything about that play at home plate, and put it at 2nd base. The first, most idea position for U2, is in a 4 man crew, OUTSIDE of the infield, tracking the steal of a runner at 2nd base by essentially being at 2nd baseline extended (I just made that up), the line from 1st to 2nd extended, working off the fielders hip (the one taking the throw from the catcher on a steal).
  However, in a 2 man, you don't get the luxury of being there. So you take the inside of that B position, to catch the other half of that wedge. If you're in the Deep C, (relate this to a play at the plate), you'd be somewhere like, 6-10 feet up the first base line. Well, that doesn't make any f'ing sense.....
  So, why on earth would we want to be in Deep C on a steal at 2nd?

  Flip everything you know about plate positions on plays at the plate, mirror it, apply it to 2nd base, and you'll see it.

[Velho]

Tangent since it came up:

19 minutes ago, TheLovejoy said:

Study the 'wedge' on tag plays.

There is a longer version covering all 3 bases that I'll try to find in a shareable form but this is great for those plays

Plus a real world application 

 

[Velho]

https://www.facebook.com/unitedumpires/videos/will-little-the-wedge-tracks-adaptation-at-first-base/419921925097698/