Mechanics

Using the Working Area

By Anthony Mayer

There is no definition of where the “working area” is on a baseball field but is the one place you want to be able to find when working in the two-umpire system. From this area, you can adjust to plays and situations at any base where there is a responsibility. We never want to over commit to one side over the other, so the working area is a great place to find yourself with multiple responsibilities on the field.

We can define the working area as the space between the back edge of the pitcher’s mound and the front edge of the second base cutout and the area. The second base cutout is normally a good measure of width, but all fields are different so use common sense.

The diagram below is taken directly out of the CCA manual for the situation that matches our video. You can see our field umpire follows this diagram almost exactly and does a good job of preparing for the most likely play as well as what may come next. Using the working area as the platform to get the best angle for a play at any base.

The video for this writeup is a very routine play where nothing out of the ordinary happens. As we have heard numerous times before, routine plays like this is where we can tell if an umpire is well trained and aware of responsibilities. When working the field in the two umpire system, with runners on base you should always find yourself in or very close to the working area at all times to be prepared to take plays at all bases.