Umpire Mechanics

 

All professional umpires use the same basic mechanics on the field, from rookie ball to the major leagues. This includes positioning behind home plate and on the bases, as well as how to indicate “out,” “safe,” “ball,” and “strike.” Fans are familiar with the signals for out and safe. However, most fans are not familiar with an important part of the umpire mechanics: how umpires move on the field during a play to provide good coverage of that play. One might use the term “choreography” to describe the movement on the field since it is a coordinated, prearranged sequence much like that of a ballet company.

The major leagues have developed a standard system of mechanics that are used to cover the field while the ball is in play. There are separate systems for a four-man, three-man, and two-man crew in use at various levels of pro ball. This article will discuss the four-man system, although some of the mechanics are used in all three crew types. But first a few other notes.

General Principles

There are a few general principles.

• With no runners on base, the first- and third-base umpires start a play with both feet in foul territory.
• One umpire will go into the outfield on all fly balls and line drives. This umpire should go out as far as possible but be stopped when making calls.
• An umpire who goes out into the outfield should not return to the infield until the play is completed.
• When there are runners on base (other than a runner only on third base), the second base umpire will be positioned between second base and the pitcher’s mound. This umpire will set up to one side of the mound and will not go out on fly balls to the outfield.
• The home-plate umpire will stay at the plate when there are runners in scoring position.

A second-base umpire who is positioned in front of the second-base bag is said to be working the “inside” position. This term will be used in this article.

The system in which all umpires use the same mechanics is a recent change. Through 1999, each league had its own staff of umpires and each league’s arbiters had different ways of working. The most obvious difference was the chest protector. American League umpires wore the outside “balloon” protector through the late 1970s, when new AL umpires were required to wear a protector inside the jacket. National League umpires had been wearing the inside protector for many years. The American League umpires at first base and third base would stand completely in foul territory but the NL umpire straddled the line. The second-base umpire would stand behind the bag at all times in the AL, while the NL umpires would move in front of the bag.

In the minor leagues, where umpires use the two-man and three-man systems, their position at the start of a play is with their hands on their knees. In the major leagues, it is up to the crew to decide if they will use that hand position or not. Many crews do use it in the big leagues.

On balls hit to the outfield, each base umpire has a responsibility on coverage, with the exception noted above for the second-base umpire who is working the inside position. These coverage areas are delineated in the Umpire Manual and are based on where the ball is hit. In general, the dimensions of a ballpark do not alter the outfield coverage areas for umpires. In a ballpark like Fenway Park, with its unusual outfield configuration, the umpire crew might temporarily alter its mechanics and coverages to fit the field. Severe weather conditions might also cause a temporary alteration of mechanics.

The Umpire Manual contains diagrams that show general movement and the base for which each umpire has responsibility on plays. Communication among members of a crew during a play is one of the essential tools to ensure that the umpires properly cover all bases.

When an umpire runs into the outfield on a play and another umpire has moved to cover a different base, that covering umpire stays with the runner in question at the end of the play and only releases once the umpire who went into the outfield returns and has assumed responsibility for the runner. This ensures proper coverage of each runner on base.

Professional umpires are taught not to watch a fly ball. Instead, they watch fielders. For example, on a popup in foul territory behind home plate, the plate umpire will watch and move with the catcher. The catcher will watch the baseball in flight and move according to the location of the ball. One of the key factors in this example is that the catcher usually throws his mask away before catching the ball. By watching the catcher, the umpire knows when and in which direction the mask flies and can avoid being struck by that mask. An obvious exception to this mechanic is a fly ball to the outfield that is a possible home run.

Umpires are also taught that their first responsibility on all batted balls is to determine if the ball is fair or foul. Many batted balls are easily judged, such as one hit to center field. However, many fly along one of the lines and must be judged by an umpire to be fair or foul. A batted ball in the infield is judged fair or foul by the home-plate umpire before it reaches the bag and by a base umpire once it reaches the bag and/or moves past it.

The first requisite of an umpire is to get all calls correct. An umpire is urged to seek help from a partner when that umpire’s view is partly blocked on a play. It is the responsibility of the calling umpire to request help; a partner should not interject himself into a discussion without being asked to do so. The ultimate decision to change a call rests with the umpire who made the call. One example of a play in which the calling umpire might request help is on a foul ball that is caught or not by the catcher. In this situation, a base umpire might have a better look at the play and be able to determine if the ball was caught on the fly or not.

On a dropped third strike, plate umpires are instructed to signal that the pitch was a strike. When the batter has been put out by a tag by the catcher, the plate umpire then signals the out with a separate mechanic. If the batter is put out at first base on a throw, then the first-base umpire would signal the out.

Field coverage and movement

Here are some examples of field coverage and movement of umpires during a play as defined in the Umpire Manual. These examples are for the four-man system.

Coverage with no baserunners

With no runners on base, the second-base umpire covers more than half the outfield area. This is defined as all fly balls from the left fielder moving straight in or out to the right fielder moving straight in or out. The first-base umpire covers the area from the right fielder to the right-field line. The third-base umpire covers the area from the left fielder to the left-field line. Among other things, the second-base umpire watches for a catch/no catch on these plays.

If the second-base umpire goes out into the outfield, the third-base umpire is responsible for covering any possible play at second base, so he moves from his position to the second-base bag while the play is in progress. The home-plate umpire moves to third to cover any possible play there and the first-base umpire, after the batter/runner has reached second base, moves to home plate for any possible play.

Coverage with a runner on first only

When there are runners on base, the coverage changes depending on the initial position of the runners. With a runner only on first, the second-base umpire starts a play in the inside position. The first-base umpire covers the area defined as the center fielder straight in or out to the right-field line, while the third-base umpire has coverage on all fly balls that cause the center fielder to move to his right all the way to the left-field line. Movement around the infield with runners on base varies slightly depending on where the runner started the play.

With a runner on first and a ball hit to left field, the third-base umpire goes out on coverage. The home-plate umpire moves toward third base for any play on the runner or batter/runner at third. The first-base umpire is responsible for any tag-up at first or any play on the runner or batter/runner at first. The first-base umpire releases to home plate once the runner from first commits to third base. The second-base umpire drifts between first and second. He is responsible for a play at second on the runner from first. Once that runner commits to third base, the second-base umpire releases from that runner and picks up the batter/runner.

Of course, this changes if the first-base umpire goes out on coverage. The plate umpire moves toward first base and has responsibility for any tag-up at first. The plate umpire also has responsibility for any play on the runner at first. If that runner commits to third base, the plate umpire returns to home plate for any possible play there. The last responsibility of the plate umpire when the first-base umpire goes out into the outfield is the touch of first by the batter/runner.

The second-base umpire has responsibility for any play on the runner or batter/runner at second. He also is responsible for the batter/runner back into first base after rounding the bag. The third-base umpire has the runner from first into third base and the batter/runner at third. One variation on this choreography is that a crew may have the second-base umpire cover first base instead of the home-plate umpire.

Coverage with runners on second and third

Responsibilities get much more complicated if there are runners on second base and third base. One of the complications is whether the infield is playing in or not. If the infield is in, then the second-base umpire is positioned on the outside on the shortstop side. He should be far enough behind the infielders to clear them. In this situation, fly-ball coverage is basically the same as with no runners on, but if the infield is not playing in, the second-base umpire is positioned in front of the bag and the choreography changes to coverage with a runner on first base only, which was discussed above.

There are also mechanics for all other combinations of runners on base: second only, third only, first and second, first and third, and bases loaded.

Line drives to the infield with runners on base

This situation is less clearly delineated than most others because of the complexities of how and where the ball may be hit and where the infielders and umpires are positioned. The general rule is for the umpire to whom the glove is opening takes the ball. If there are any runners on base, the home-plate umpire takes all balls hit to the pitcher or an infielder who is charging in on the play. The first-base umpire generally takes any ball hit directly to the first baseman or any ball that takes the first or second baseman to his left.

The second-base umpire would take any ball hit directly to the shortstop or second baseman, any ball that causes the first or second baseman to dive to his right or any ball that causes the shortstop or third baseman to dive to his left. The third-base umpire takes any ball hit directly at the third baseman or any ball that takes either the third baseman or shortstop to his right.

Mechanics for six umpires

Some of the four-man mechanics change if there are six umpires on the field, such as in postseason games. The two umpires positioned on the outfield lines are referred to as “line umpires” in the manual. If the second-base umpire goes out on coverage, the line umpire on the side on which the ball is hit drifts into the outfield. Umpires continue to rotate as they do with four umpires. However, the only time the home-plate umpire rotates to third base is with no runners on base and the second-base umpire goes out in coverage. In all other cases, the plate umpire stays home.

With runners on base and the second-base umpire on the inside, both line umpires go out in the direction in which the ball is hit. The line umpires make fair/foul calls only on balls that land behind them and line umpires do not rotate to cover a base.

Conclusion

This article discussed many of the umpire mechanics for the four-man umpiring system as defined by Major League Baseball. Should a crew work with fewer than four umpires due to injury or other reason, there are also defined mechanics for the three- and two-man umpiring system. The Umpire Manual also contains sections on “Conduct and Responsibility of Umpires” and “Rule Interpretations,” neither of which are part of this article.