West Coast Triple Play Teachable Moment as Umpires Think Quickly About How to Call This Wacky Play

[@Bopplz]

I never thought I would see a breakdown from BC. I was just in Kamloops this year for an advanced umpire clinic and the 1st base umpire was one of my instructors lol

[@michaelmaxwell5571]

There was a play in the Minnesota-Tampa Bay game that would be good to go over with us. Outfielder got yhe ball in the field of play on a bounce, then went into the seats with it before throwing it to the infield.

[@teebob21]

Hooray!!! A Tmac Teachable!

[@johannesney2132]

Always happy for another teachable! Thanks!

[@PapaVanTwee5]

I would have hated to do this with one umpire. I do love a challenge, but that would be insane. I guess I'd be parked near the pitchers mound most of the play.

[@rayray4192]

Thanks so much, brother T- Mac for the excellent training

[@1969EType]

Respectfully, while I agree that PU's hustle is indeed excellent and noteworthy...he overthought the play at the plate. He had it perfectly wedged up. All he had to do was lean into the area of the tag a bit and he would have had the perfect look at it. Instead, he stepped to the left and this meant the runner's body was now between PU and F2. There is no way he saw a tag from that angle. Ultimately, I believe he got the call correct. The runner was indeed out. But, his mechanics on this were sub-optimal...

[@teebob21]

Disagree. While the tag was a swipe play which is generally better officiated from the wedge in 3BLX, F2 was so far in front of the plate that the classic 90 on the plate to see whether the tag beats the hand onto the plate isn't a terrible place to be. If I had to critique it, maybe one step fewer would have given PU the best possible angle. In any case, they got it all right.

[@joetheumpire]

@@teebob21 3BLX is obsolete. You need to be in the wedge

[@joetheumpire]

I was thinking that too. He was where he needed to be, point of plate. He should've been working those quiet steps to get on the hip of the catcher.

[@teebob21]

@@joetheumpire 3BLX is the starting position from which you read the throw and the player and adjust to the wedge/keyhole on normal throws. I wasn't suggesting it was an "X marks the spot" calling position.

[@joetheumpire]

@@teebob21 3BLX is not where you start. It’s POP. But yeah idk what I’m talking about. This ain’t LL

[@closethockeyfan5284]

5:00 Am I about to land on a commercial flight?😂

[@marcm9999]

Nice video, great analysis.

[@CCStmac]

Thanks for watching! -tmac

[@joetheumpire]

@@CCStmac TMAC!!!

[@KWally]

Great work Craig!

[@sullyvancarter]

Yo I went to bells games as a kid. I played at their stadium for a couple recreational leagues. Dope. 😊

[@Renegade605]

Hey I know these guys! :D

[@RandalC-hy5ke]

Two guys calling an out on the same guy and then the plate guy takes himself out of position for no reason. They ain’t it

[@KWally]

​@@RandalC-hy5kehe wasn't out of position, but I guess you didn't watch the video.....

[@Renegade605]

@@RandalC-hy5ke you always this miserable?

[@BradThede]

I respectfully disagree with the analysis of the plate umpire. If he’s point of plate he gets off of the catchers left shoulder and let the catchers shoulder walk you around the right side. There’s no way from this angle you can see if he got it right. He was looking over and through the runner. Some will disagree with me but that’s fine.

[@xBinkzz]

Craig Burt was a MILB umpire for 2-3 years. He’s Canadian.

[@mcleanse1382]

Might have been safe at home but too close to overturn.

[@DavidBreuls]

Agreed! I like the positioning of the umpires and the decisiveness of the hp ump. Great video!

[@johndoe-yw7eb]

I thought so too in real time, but frame-by-frame, looks like a good call.

[@ZackArturi]

Today Brian O’Nora Ejected Joe Espada for arguing foul ball replay review

[@jordanissport]

Hard disagree T-Mac. The wedge is for a reason. He can avoid R3 and see the tag. PU takes an angle where he has to guess.

[@jeffreyramsdell4781]

I agree, at first he went way to far away at first hit to right field! He had to make up to much ground

[@samuelfisher1847]

I believe the PU missed an opportunity to work the wedge. There was also a lot of adjusting equipment and fidgetimg as he anticipated the play. I am not sure he saw the tag up at the moment of the touch of the ball as he turned his head left. Perhaps he could have gone deeper from the plate and release secondary fair/foul coverage by trusting his partner.

[@lastdance2099]

If I had to pick the worst screw-up here it would be the failure of the 3B runner to score. The 1B runner screwed up too, but the 3B runner had fewer distractions and his proper base running would be of greater value. Maybe the 3B coach failed to properly instruct the runner, I don't know.

[@Leafsdude]

I think 3B is bluffing and waiting for the throw. It's clearly right on the money, and it's not that deep a fly. You don't run into an out just because there's guys behind you. The 1B needs to be looking at the 2B the whole way. From the tag up he's put his head down. It's all on 1B because as the trailing runner, you can't be running blind. Watch 2B, he does it right: the second 3B stops, he does, too, because he's looking right at 3B the whole way.

[@lastdance2099]

@@Leafsdude It's clear the 3B runner doesn't take off until after the 1B runner is tagged. But 1B was running full tilt toward the 1B runner and that's when the 3B runner should have taken off. If he had, he would've scored easily. Waiting until after the 1B runner is tagged makes no sense at all.

[@robcoop6521]

Wouldn't that be 3B coach you should be blaming?

[@Leafsdude]

@@lastdance2099 Oh, I see. I thought you meant on the original tag-up. I didn't realize you meant after the pickle started. Mea culpa.

[@lscales6131]

I don’t like how he was moving. I understand he wanted to get a better look at the tag but you should always be still when a play is happening. He should have had better positioning before the ball got there. IMO.

[@OwlRTA]

first :P