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With
no runners on base, on a ground ball to the infield the base umpire will move
from his/her position on the foul line and set up for the play at 1st base.
He/she should generally move to a position approximately 10 to 12 feet from
the base and such that he/she will be approximately at a right angle to the
throw from the infielder. Umpires at all levels should strive to take as many
of these plays as possible in fair territory.
When the base umpire comes in to set up for the play at 1st
base, he/she should come off the foul line while facing the batted ball. As
the ball is about to reach the fielder, the umpire should square his/her body
towards 1st base - with proper distance and angle to the base - while
continuing to watch the ball by keeping his/her head turned towards the
fielder. Then, as the fielder releases the ball (and the umpire sees that the
throw is "true"), he/she will come to a set position (hands on
knees as a basic fundamental). Turn his/her head towards the base, and focus
on the bag, while he/she utilizes his/her peripheral vision watching the tag
of the base by the runner and the ball hitting the glove. It is highly
recommended that the base umpire have his/her hands on his/her knees for this
type of play at 1st base.
The base umpire should call the play at 1st base using a crisp,
clear, visible and verbal mechanic. On a routine out call, the base umpire
should make sure that he/she is not overly loud on the call so as to not draw
unnecessary attention to himself/herself or the play. However, the umpire
should vary the intensity of his/her signal and voice based on the closeness
of the play. In other words, the closer the play, the louder the umpire's
voice and the stronger his/her signal, so that he/she is using his/her
loudest voice and strongest signal on "bangers."
After calling the batter-runner out at 1st base, the umpire will
return to his/her original position on the 1st base foul line. He/she may
either jog back to that position or walk briskly; either method is
acceptable.
After calling the batter-runner safe at 1st base, the umpire
will come back down to his/her "set" position .(hands on knees)
watching the batter-runner return to 1st base and watching for any possible
action or play that may occur. By coming back to the set position and keeping
his/her eyes on what has happened since the batter-runner has crossed over
the 1st base bag, the base umpire is stating to all that "I saw the
play, I got it right and I'm here for anything that may happen." After
the batter-runner has returned to 1st base, the base umpire will either jog
or walk briskly to the "B" position.
On a ground ball to the infield with no one on base, the plate
umpire will come out from behind home plate by coming around the left side
and then proceed to jog (not sprint) down the 1st base line (straddling the
foul line to a position no more than two to three feet into foul territory),
going no farther than the 30 foot line. He/she should be completely stopped
when the play occurs at 1st base. There are four reasons for having the plate
umpire come up the line with no one on base:
- The plate umpire will
be watching for interference by the batter runner while out of the
30-foot runner's lane. Should the plate umpire see such an infraction,
he/she should make the call. This is not to say, however, that the base
umpire may never make such a call. For example, if the base umpire
observes the batter-runner interfere with the play at 1st base while
clearly out of the 30-foot runners lane, it is
of course permissible for the base umpire to make this call also.
- The plate umpire will
be ready for any overthrows at 1st base. If the plate umpire sees the
ball being overthrown at I n base, he/she will immediately and rapidly
move with the overthrow and take responsibility for the ball going out
of play.
- The plate umpire is
also in a position to help on swipe tags on the batter-runner at l'
base. Although this is rarely used, it is permissible for the base
umpire to ask for help on a swipe tag on this play if, for some reason,
the base umpire has not had a good look at the play. (Note that the base
umpire should initiate the "appeal" immediately and before a
confrontation with a player or manager occurs.) The terminology by the
base umpire would be, "Sam, did he/she tag him/her!" or
"Sam, do you have a tag?" while pointing to the plate umpire.
The response by the plate umpire would be a very emphatic, "Yes!
He/she's out on the tag!" or "No! He/she missed him/her!"
(While using a strong visual signal). Again, this technique is rarely
used (because, for one thing the base umpire should be in fairly good
position for the play to begin with); and when it is used, the plate
umpire must emphatically sell the call (verbally and with a strong
visual signal).
- The plate umpire is
also in position to help on a pulled foot by the first baseman. It is
highly recommended that if the first basemen has pulled his/her foot off
the bag and the base umpire does not have a good angle or vision on the
play, he/she will ask the plate umpire for help before making a call.
The terminology by the base umpire would be "Sam, did he/she pull
his/her foot?" or "Sam, did he/she have his/her foot on the
base?" while pointing at the home plate umpire. The response would
be a very emphatic "Yes his/her foot was off the bag!" or
"No, he/she had contact all the way!" by the plate umpire.
Once again, on a ground ball hit to the infield, the base umpire should try
to take all plays in fair territory, working for an approximate 90° angle to
the throw. This would include all ground balls hit to 3rd base, shortstop,
back to the pitcher, and to the 2nd baseman's right or directly at the 2nd
baseman.
If the ground ball is tapped in front of the plate, or down
either baseline within the imaginary box area, a unique and different
positioning will be used. The imaginary box area is an area formed by two
lines, one starting at the 30 foot line on the 1st base line, the other
starting at the 30 foot line on the 3rd base line and intersecting at the
pitchers mound. In this area when the catcher, pitcher, first baseman or
third baseman fields the ball, the base umpire will come into fair territory
as far as, but not beyond the 1st to 2nd baseline, and try to establish a 90°
angle to the throw. This happens frequently on a half swing or bunt and the
theory behind this is that after establishing the 90° angle and there is an
overthrow at first base, the base umpire is in a perfect position to take a
step or two into the infield "working area" to be ready for any
possible play on the batter-runner if he/she decides to advance to second
base. This will make it possible for the base umpire to stay ahead of the
runner and to be in position for the play at 2nd base.
However, if the ground ball is hit down the 1st base line in the
vicinity of 1st base, the base umpire must stay on the line until the ball is
touched (or passes 1st base) because the base umpire has fair/foul
responsibility after I 't base, while the plate umpire has this
responsibility until the ball reaches 1st base. If the base umpire must point
the ball fair (as on a ball fielded by the 1st baseman behind the bag, but
near the line); he/she would first indicate that the ball is fair (by
pointing) and then move off the line into fair territory to make the call at
1st base.
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