Mechanic for foul ball

[GoKorea]

I was watching a High School palyoff game yesterday which was using three man mechanics. With runner on first and a foul ball off the first base line near the fence, both the plate umpire and the 1st base umpire followed the flight of the ball to the fence. I know both shouldn't have followed, and I think it should have been the 1st base umpire only, but what say you?

[Comp]

If the base umpire goes out on the hit, it is their call and the other 2 umpires revert to the 2 umpire system.

[AlwaysImprove]

I thought it was always home plate's job to call foul ball. Otherwise you end up in that really sticky mess of home plate yelling and signalling foul, and outfield yelling and signalling fair.

[Crabby_Bob]

Was the ball going to land between home and 1st? The umpires are putting more eyes on the ball.

[GoKorea]

Was the ball going to land between home and 1st? The umpires are putting more eyes on the ball.

No the ball was about near 1st base, near the fence (it ended up going out of play).

[Comp]

Your OP didnt specify how far the ball went. If the ball is between home and 1st or 3rd base, the fair/foul call belongs to the plate umpire. If the ball passes the base and the base umpire goes out with the ball, fair/foul becomes their call.

[UmpSteve]

Well done, umpire crew!! You are describing a higher level mechanic called "bracketing" the foul ball, to make sure the umpire that calls the play (catch, no catch, hit the fence/net) has the full play in front of them. This is expected to be used whenever the ball is between two umpires and may result in a difficult call.

They keep the ball and player(s) between them, and whichever side (front or over the back) the play is facing makes the call.

Remember, 3 umpires; U3 (starting behind 2nd with single runner on first) can pick up any tag up or attempt to advance.

[HugoTafurst]

Well done, umpire crew!! You are describing a higher level mechanic called "bracketing" the foul ball, to make sure the umpire that calls the play (catch, no catch, hit the fence/net) has the full play in front of them. This is expected to be used whenever the ball is between two umpires and may result in a difficult call.

They keep the ball and player(s) between them, and whichever side (front or over the back) the play is facing makes the call.

Remember, 3 umpires; U3 (starting behind 2nd with single runner on first) can pick up any tag up or attempt to advance.

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[Anti-Clone]

Well done, umpire crew!! You are describing a higher level mechanic called "bracketing" the foul ball, to make sure the umpire that calls the play (catch, no catch, hit the fence/net) has the full play in front of them. This is expected to be used whenever the ball is between two umpires and may result in a difficult call.

They keep the ball and player(s) between them, and whichever side (front or over the back) the play is facing makes the call.

Remember, 3 umpires; U3 (starting behind 2nd with single runner on first) can pick up any tag up or attempt to advance.

This is exactly right. More and more umpires are doing this and doing it well. The umpires should bracket the play. Here, 3BU can easily handle and tag-up, which there won't be anyway since no one tags-up with the ball in the infield.

[MTR]

Well done, umpire crew!! You are describing a higher level mechanic called "bracketing" the foul ball, to make sure the umpire that calls the play (catch, no catch, hit the fence/net) has the full play in front of them. This is expected to be used whenever the ball is between two umpires and may result in a difficult call.

They keep the ball and player(s) between them, and whichever side (front or over the back) the play is facing makes the call.

Remember, 3 umpires; U3 (starting behind 2nd with single runner on first) can pick up any tag up or attempt to advance.

Yeppers. As long as the two umpires communicate as to who is making the call, this is a great mechanic.