Baseball umpires are in charge of the game and must do everything within their power to make sure the game proceeds smoothly. Umpires must make decisions on balls and strikes, safe and out calls, and fair and foul balls, and they must do it in a timely manner to keep the game moving. If there is a dispute, the umpire listens to the arguments and can explain his decision or send the manager or coach back to the dugout.
Balls and Strikes
The home-plate umpire calls balls and strike on all batters. Since the plate umpire stands behind the catcher, he stations himself over the inside shoulder of the catcher to make the right calls. If the umpire stood right behind the catcher, the catcher's body would obscure the view of home plate. Standing over the inside shoulder gives the umpire the best chance of getting the calls right.
Understanding the Rules
The umpire has to have full understanding of the rules of baseball before he takes the field. Although this seems obvious, baseball rules can be complicated, and the umpire might have to explain a decision to one or both teams. For example, the rules on interference (a baserunner getting in the way of a fielder) and obstruction (fielder blocks runner) can be open to interpretation. The umpire might want to explain his interpretation of the play to one or both teams to make sure everyone understands why the call was made.
Conferring With Other Umpires
Although baseball umpires want to be in a position to see every play and make every call clearly, there are times when even the best umpires are out of position. If the umpire has not seen a play clearly, he can, and should, consult one of the other umpires on the field. The idea is to get the call right, so a good umpire will be honest and consult with other umpires when he needs help.
Proper Positioning
An umpire must be in the right position when making a call on the field. A home-plate umpire will look at all calls on plays at home plate from a 45-degree angle to have the best view. The umpire should position himself 3 to 5 feet away as a throw comes in and the baserunner approaches the plate.
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