Baseball Field Umpires

Video Transcript

BEN GRAHAM: We're going to take a look now at the responsibilities of the field umpire crew. In Major League Baseball, there's going to be an umpire at every base, so a first base, a second base and a third base umpire. There's also in the playoffs or the World Series, there will be one in left field and there will be one in right field. The role of the field umpire is number one to determine fair or foul balls. For example, I'm standing at first base right now, if the ball is hit to my left here in foul territory then it's a foul ball. If the ball is hit to my right, it's very likely it's going to be a fair ball. It's going to be inside the lines. Now I also have to watch this line down the field here to see if the ball--sometimes they can come very close, so you have to watch where the ball lands. Also the first base umpire, when the ball is hit and there's a play at first base, he has to keep an eye on the bag and determine whether the runner beats the ball to first base. If the runner beats the ball, the runner is safe and he gets to stay. If the ball beats the runner, the runner is out and he has to go back to the dugout. Now the second baseman has the added responsibility of watching for double plays. He'll watch second base. He'll have to determine whether the ball beats the runner or if in case of a steal, if the runner is stealing from first to second base, he'll have to determine whether the runner slid in under the tag, if the second baseman or the shortstop was able to make the tag and get that runner out. He also has to watch the plays as they're hit and has to watch the outfielders to determine things such as ground-rule doubles, hit to center field, which is where if the ball bounces and goes over the fence. Or if the ball is hit over the fence, he has to watch and see if it actually went over the fence or if it actually hit the yellow line or below the yellow line to determine whether or not it's a home run. The third at base umpire has basically the same responsibilities as the first base umpire with the exception he also has to watch out for steals. Sometimes, he has to keep an eye out for balks just like the first base umpire has to watch out for balks, as when the pitcher makes a move to the plate before trying to throw a runner out at first base, in which case, the runner gets to advance a base. He has to watch the fair and foul line down the third baseline and has to determine whether or not the runner is safe when he slides into third base or when he runs into third base. So that's basically the responsibility of a field umpire. They got to watch the whole field and make sure the rules are being enforced. In rare occasions, they have to break up fights. It's a lot of fun to be an umpire even though you have to put up with a lot of garbage from the fans, the players and the coaches from time to time.

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