Video Teachable Moment - Ortiz's Patience at 1B

Our inaugural video for Tmac's Teachable Moments analyzes 1B Umpire Roberto Ortiz's patience in calling a close play at first base in San Diego during the Orioles-Padres game. Ortiz contended with a Fair/Foul decision before a bang-bang Out/Safe ruling when SD batter Francisco Mejia arrived at first base as Baltimore P Gabriel Ynoa received the ball from first baseman Chris Davis.

Upon Replay Review as the result of a Manager's Challenge by Baltimore's Brandon Hyde, 1B Umpire Ortiz's safe call stood.

The Teachable portion of this play reminds umpires to slow things down, especially as elements of plays become more complex. For example, Ortiz ruled on the fair ball and jogged into position for the next part of the play, getting set in fair territory to make his safe call, brushing off his initial flinch and instinct to call the batter-runner out. It helps to break each play down into its parts, talk about positioning mechanics, and tmac does just that with the following video analysis:

Alternate Link: Teachable Moment of Roberto Ortiz's umpiring at first base (CCS)