Covering Third Base

That is a bad mechanic but if you are using Fed mechanics a correct one. If they want the BU to cover all the way to third and have the PU stay home, that is better.
With the Fed mechanic you you have the BU runing 90ft to take him to second, then 120ft to cover the plate. Then you have the PU run 90ft to cover third. Too much running for no apparent reason.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
That is a bad mechanic but if you are using Fed mechanics a correct one.

Rule of thumb: if FED mechanics differ from another set of mechanics, they are wrong, such as here.

One runner, one umpire.

Our association no longer pays for the FED umpire manual....an utter waste of paper.

Pro and CCA make much more sense, and CCA continues to move towards pro, especially in three man.

FED mechanic we are required to use....if we are observed and not using it...NO playoff games! So I use it PERIOD. Must be my military service in SouthEastAsia.

Used to be that way here and many other places. We finally got tired of not being allowed to use a better mechanic and got things changed. "Because we've always done it this way" is no excuse to continue inefficiencies...even in the military. That was one of my lessons in the Army.

quote:

Originally posted by POLOGREEN:
Wow have I gotten a ton of resistance from partners about covering third with no one on base as the UIC (HP), we have been told to come up to third and have the BU come back to cover HP if the runner goes to third. They just want to cover it themselves!

I'm curious. At what point does FED say BU should release and head home?

I am not sure I understand your OP then. I know it is a Fed mechanic and required in NJ. Others in your group are resisting it? If so who is evauluating, your group or the state? If your group then changing as a group shouldn't be a big deal. If the state then I don't understand why your cohorts would resist, it's in their best interest.
As far as when to release, I would say when the runner has committed to third. The tricky part is knowing the right moment to release, deciding between a possible rundown and a honest advance.
It would look way worse to release and then all of a sudden the runner stops and you have a rundown with the BU running away. This is why it is a bad mechanic, too much can blow up, too much running with no advantage. It is a throwback to always an umpire ahead of the play, the problem is by releasing too early has the exact opposite result.
If the BU takes him all the way to third and the throw is bad, now you automaticly have that pickle covered. If the runner tries to go to third and gets hung up between second and third, the BU has it all initially and the PU comes up and gets his end when he can. The other way, you end up with the BU at the plate and the PU at second.

How about a rundown followed by an errant throw to 3rd and the BR heads home?

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
How about a rundown followed by an errant throw to 3rd and the BR heads home?

To easy. Cover it the same way as a rotation to 3rd on a basehit with a runner on 1st.

Loyd

quote:

Originally posted by gobama84:

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
How about a rundown followed by an errant throw to 3rd and the BR heads home?

To easy. Cover it the same way as a rotation to 3rd on a basehit with a runner on 1st.

Loyd

But FED says BU has the play at the plate.

When the runner rounds second and is heading for third you are supposed to start heading home.
I work with many different partners from different associations and some do not like the mechanics and in pre-game state their case (Won't use it) if they are UIC I go with them.

Polo........being on the same page as your partner is paramount.....Im not a fan of FED mechanics and we teach CCA to all our HS umpires....

yet, I feel for you, if YOUR eval depends on using FED mechanics...then by all means do it....

then try to convince them to change...

quote:

Originally posted by POLOGREEN:
When the runner rounds second and is heading for third you are supposed to start heading home.

BU heads for home, PU is at third, B/R changes his mind, goes back to second, the throw get there as he does...nutcutter call. Who's got it?

quote:

I work with many different partners from different associations and some do not like the mechanics and in pre-game state their case (Won't use it)

Good for them.