Post on 31-Mar-2015
Delaware County ChapterPIAA Baseball Umpires
Communication & 2-Man Mechanics
Keys To 2-Man Success
• 2-Man Is A System Of Compromises– Can’t Be Everywhere To Cover Everything
– Angle Over Distance
– Prepare For The Next Most Reasonable Play
• Communicate With Your Partner– Before Game Day (Confirm)
– Before The Game (Changes & Pre-Game Conf.)
– During The Game (Verbally & Physically)
– After The Game (Debrief)
Keys To 2-Man Success
• Know Your Responsibilities– Prepare In Advance
– Can’t Learn 2-Man System In The Parking Lot
• Do Your Job– 1st Responsibility Is Your Responsibilities
– Everything’s Covered If Both Guys Do Their Job
• Stick With Your Priorities– Fair / Foul
– Catch / No-Catch
Pre-Game ConferenceFair/Foul Responsibilities
No Runners On Runners On
C B
PU
BU
C B
PU
BU
Pre-Game Conference:Outfield Coverage
No Runners On Runners On
C B
PU
BU
7 98
C B
PU
BU
7 98
5
6 4
3
1
2
Pre-Game Conference
• Other Subjects– Field Issues / Known Problems
– Dead Ball Responsibility (Normally the PU)
– Force Play / Slide Rule Responsibility
– Signals
Silent Signals
• Rotation– Point Where You Are Going
– Partner Should Know Where He’s Going
• Staying Home (PU) / Staying Here (BU)
• Time Play
• Let’s Meet / Talk– No Standard; Decide During Pre-Game
Silent Signals
• Infield Fly
• Double Tag-Up (R1 & R2, less than 2 outs)
• Catch / No-Catch by Catcher
• My Call– Commonly Used Before An Upcoming Appeal
Signals With Sound
• Done When Ball Is Put In Play– Infield Fly• Point Up / “Infield Fly, Batter’s Out (If Fair)”
– I’m Going Out• BU On A Trouble Ball
• Point Up
–My Call / I Got The Ball• Any Borderline Fly Ball
– Time • Not “Dead Ball”
Positioning:No Runners
C B
A
PU
With Runners• R1 = B
• R1 & R2 = C
• R2 = C
• R1 & R3 = B
• R2 & R3 = C
• R3 = C
• Bases Loaded = C C B
B
PU
C
• Plate Umpire – All Plays At Home• Except: No Runners, BU Goes Out
– 3 Rotations to 3rd
• Base Umpire – All Plays At All Bases• Except: No One On, BU Goes Out
• Except: 3 PU Rotations to 3rd
Basic Responsibilities
• Plate Umpire Has Touches:– At Home• Exception: When BU Goes Out
– At 3rd• Exception: When Base Umpire Has BR Touch
– R1 & R3• See R3’s Touch Of Home As You Rotate To Take
R1 Into 3rd
• Rotating Does Not Relieve You Of Your Plate Responsibility
PU Touch Responsibilities
• Base Umpire Has Touches:– At 1st & 2nd
– At 3rd On Batter-Runner
– At 3rd When He Has A Play At 3rd (2nd play in the infield)
– On BR At Home After Going Out And Coming Back In
Touch Responsibilities
• PU Has All Re-touches At 3rd
• BU Has All Re-touches At 1st And 2nd
Re-Touch Responsibilities
PU Rotates• Only When Batted Ball
Leaves The Infield
• BU Takes 2nd Play In Infield
• R1
• R1 & R2 < 2 Outs
• R1 & R3
• Only Go In If There’s A Play (Ball & Runner)
C B
BU
PU
Potential Problem Plays:Rotations
• PU moves to “Library” to read the play– “I’m at 3rd if he
comes…”
• Move to 3rd only when you have the runner & the ball coming– “I’m at 3rd!”
Potential Problem Plays:Tag Near 1st Base Line
• Before 45’ Line, PU
• After 45’ Line, BU
• If in doubt, make eye contact first
C B
BU
PU
Potential Problem Plays:Runner’s Lane Violation
• PU Has Primary Responsibility
• Work To Get To 45’ Line
• Move Along Line, Not Toward Mound
C B
BU
PU
Potential Problem Plays:Run Downs
• PU Helps With No Runners In Scoring Position
• Hustle To Get To Cut-Out Area
• “I’m Here” When You Get There, Not Before
• Generally, Call Belongs To Ump The Runner Is Moving Toward
C B
BU
PU
Potential Problem Plays:R3, Trouble Ball to Right
• Priorities: Fair / Foul, Catch / No Catch
• Deeper the Ball, Farther up the line
• Never go 1st base line extended first
• Pause, read, react
• Pop-up = Pivot– PU has all routine fly
balls
– Communication is key
• Go out in four situations:– Fair / Foul
– Players converging
– Catch below the waist
– Possible HR
Potential Problem Plays:Going Out
QUESTIONS???