umpires resonsibilty

Question
you have 2 umpires runners on first and second.  a pop up to short right field which ump should be watching the runner on secound for not tagging. the ball was caught 15 feet over the first basemans head by the second basemen

Answer
Hi David,

There's a few things that can happen here...

"by the book"...anytime there are multiple runners in a 2 umpire system, the home plate umpire is responsible for the lead runner and the base umpire for any trailing runner(s).  In this case the hpu is responsible for r1 at second.

Now we can also deviate if we have to and in this play since the ball is in short right field and the hpu is looking either down the line or just to the left of it, (hp is responsible for fair/foul, catch/no catch as priorities) the base umpire who is rotated out (because or R1 at 2nd) and is coming inside the diamond with his buttonhook has an easier look at 2nd can tell the hpu "I have your tag at 2nd".

We only deviate if we commmunicate it first with our partner.

Mark