Tmac's Teachable - Ted & Tumpane's Teamwork

Tuesday's Tmac's Teachable talks to Ted & Tumpane's teamwork as Crew Chief Barrett at third base & HP Umpire John officiated a game-ending play in Houston.

With two out and Yuri Gurriel on first base in the 11th inning of a 3-3 Orioles-Astros game, batter Robinson Chirinos hit a 3-2 fastball from Baltimore pitcher Branden Kline for a line drive down the left field line, ruled fair by 3B Umpire Barrett. With Gurriel running on the full-count, two-out pitch, Barrett quickly released the ball into The Left Field Corner and watched Gurriel's touch of third base as HP Umpire Tumpane moved into position for a play at the plate.

Another fine example of crew mechanics.

As Orioles catcher Chance Sisco prepared to receive the cutoff throw, baserunner Gurriel began his slide, crashing head-first into Sisco as the ball arrived at home plate.

Sidebar: This is also an example of a legal home plate collision situation; had Gurriel not slid and instead crashed into the catcher on this same trajectory (via foul territory), this would be a legal play as the catcher without the ball (but legally fielding the throw) moved into the runner's base path...compare and contrast with Marisnick play in which the catcher was positioned entirely in fair territory at the time of the collision).
Related Post: HP Collision Rule - Marisnick Illegally Hits Lucroy (7/8/19).

F2 legally blocks R1 while fielding the throw.

Tumpane, who began the play third-baseline extended and on the catcher's left hip, effected a position adjustment by moving to his right, ruling the runner safe at home upon observing that Sisco had dropped the baseball, which was affirmed via Replay Review.

The lesson here is twofold: First, as the third base umpire, don't over-hustle by immediately chasing a ball into the outfield. There is a time and place for going out on a batted ball, and a bounding ball already ruled fair may not be one of those times, given the situation of a runner already on base.

Be patient and locate the ball before your call.

That said, in four-person umpiring, the crew could have easily adjusted to U3 running into the outfield via rotation (plate umpire Tumpane would take the touch at third & 1B Umpire Ramon De Jesus would rotate to take the play at the plate). But in a crew of three or two, coverage becomes more difficult when an umpire goes out. Bear that in mind and do as Barrett does by keeping your head on a swivel to prepare for either eventuality.

Finally, as the plate umpire preparing to take a play at home, start at your point of plate and move with the catcher's hip as the projected tag play dictates. At the moment of truth, adjust your position to locate the baseball and runner while slowing down your call.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: A walk-off in Houston featured patient crew officiating (CCS)