BASEBALL MECHANICSBASEBALL MECHANICS

Why are mechanics important?Why are mechanics important?

• Consistency• Professional appearance• Minimize mistakes

Umpiring “Order of Operations”Umpiring “Order of Operations”

• Fair/Foul• Catch/No-Catch• Safe/Out• Ball/Strike

Positions: A, B, & CPositions: A, B, & C

C B

A

The “A” PositionThe “A” Position

• No runners on base• 10-12 feet behind 1st base• Always behind 1st baseman– If he plays in, stay behind the base– If he plays deep, stay behind him

A

Fair/Foul & Catch/No-Catch Responsibilities

Fair/Foul Responsibility – “A”Fair/Foul Responsibility – “A”• “Pane of Glass” – front of base

““Going Out” from “A”Going Out” from “A”

• Pause, Read, React– Pause to determine whose “coverage area” the

ball is in– Read the fielders – Trouble Ball?• Fair/Foul decision• Fielders converging• Catch on the run or diving catch• Fly ball at the fence

– React to the circumstances

““Going Out” from “A”Going Out” from “A”

• Communicate with your partner– “I’m going out!” while pointing into the air

• Err on the side of “going out”• Don’t “rim” the diamond

Don’t Rim!!

When to go out from “A”When to go out from “A”

• What is a “trouble ball”?– Fielders converging– Catch on the run / diving catch– Fly ball at the fence– Fair/Foul decision down 1B foul line

Taking Plays at 1Taking Plays at 1stst Base Base

• 90* angle to the play• Hands on knees set• Watch ball being fielded and thrown to first

GOOD POSITIONINGGOOD POSITIONING

Taking Plays at 1Taking Plays at 1stst Base Base

• Timing – SLOW DOWN!!– Off the bag– No control– No tag– Ball is on the ground

Taking Plays at 1Taking Plays at 1stst Base Base

• All plays should be taken in fair territory– Unless FORCED out by first or second baseman

The PivotThe Pivot

• When to pivot from the “A” position:– Fly ball hit to the leftfield side of centerfield– Clean base hit to the outfield– Ground ball gets through the infield– ROUTINE catch by an outfielder– Fly ball in the infield• Pop up means pivot!

The PivotThe Pivot

• Pivot before the batter-runner reaches 1st

• Pivot inside the corner of the grass cutout• Watch the ball; glance at the runner• Always stay ahead of the runner• Be stopped to see a play

The “B” & “C” PositionsThe “B” & “C” Positions

C B

• Imaginary line from the point of home plate through the edge of the dirt circle.

• Half way between pitching rubber and 2nd base.

The “B” & “C” PositionsThe “B” & “C” Positions

• Umpire should be in “B” position:– Runner on 1st base only

• Umpire should be in “C” position:– All other scenarios

Taking plays from “B” & “C”Taking plays from “B” & “C”

• Most plays will be taken from the working area; especially with multiple runners on base.

Check-swing MechanicsCheck-swing Mechanics

• “U2 should answer truthfully [no matter his position] by saying…”– “Yes he did!”– “No, he didn’t go!”

Double Play MechanicsDouble Play Mechanics• Square up to the play by stepping towards home

plate.• Always keep your eyes on the baseball.• Keep your chest to the ball; never turn your back

to the baseball• Anticipate the play going to 1st base

Double Play MechanicsDouble Play Mechanics

• From the “C” position, hustle across the diamond to the “B” position while the ball is being fielded.

• “Standing set” for play at 2nd base– FPSR Interference if ball stays at 2nd base

• Pivot to “hands on knees set” for play at 1st

– Don’t try to get any more steps towards 1st!

Rotation SituationsRotation Situations

• Base umpire rotates to home plate:– No runners on base:• Batter hits a clean triple to the outfield• “Trouble” fly ball to the outfield U2 goes out then

rotates home after ball is fielded and thrown in

– Runner on 2nd:• Fly ball to the outfield with R1 tagging up. U1 has the

play at third, U2 has any subsequent play at the plate (if BR was retired with the catch)

Rotation SituationsRotation Situations

• Runner on 3rd

– BR hits a triple move towards home for any subsequent play at the plate (not in mechanics manual but consistent with no runner on)

Rundown MechanicsRundown Mechanics• Only one runner on base, umpires “box in” the

runner• With multiple runners on base, the runner involved

dictates how the rundown is handled– If the lead runner is in the rundown, both umpires

“box in” the runner– If a trailing runner is in the rundown, ONLY the base

umpire will work the rundown• Only enter a rundown when action is moving away

from you– “I have this end!”

• Remember to watch for obstruction/interference

Rundown MechanicsRundown Mechanics

• With multiple runners on base:– Do not over commit to one end of the rundown– Follow the runner up and down the baseline– Stop to see the play happen– Don’t forget about other runners on base– Watch for interference/obstruction– Watch for “out of baseline”

ConclusionConclusion

• HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE!• COMMUNICATE!

• Questions??