A Position

No Runners On Base

Fly Balls & Line Drives To The Infield

   On the 60-foot diamond, the responsibility for all fair fly balls hit to all infield positions belongs to the plate umpire. On any fair fly ball hit to the infield with no one on base, the plate umpire will come out in front of the plate in the direction the ball is hit, probably no farther than midway to the pitcher's mound (on routine pop-ups), and be responsible for the catch/no catch decision. (The plate umpire would come out farther if the pop turned out to be a difficult catch for the infielder.) On a strictly routine play whether safe or out, the umpire should use the visual and verbal mechanic but the umpire should make sure that he/she is not overly loud on the routine calls as to not draw any unnecessary attention to himself/herself or the play. The base umpire will step up and take his/her 90° angle on these plays and be responsible for all decisions on the batter-runner should the ball be dropped.
   If the pop-up is a routine catch, the plate umpire will give a visual sign and a verbal call but he/she does not have to be over zealous. If the catch turns into a difficult play, the plate umpire will sell it emphatically. However, if the ball is dropped, the plate umpire will signal and call, "No Catch, No Catch."
   Again on the 60-foot diamond, all line drives to the infield are the responsibility of the home plate umpire. The base umpire, from his/her "A" position, is not in a good position, behind the infielders, to have a really good view of the plays on the line drives to make these calls.