Most base umpires believe that hustle is required only from position A since your station in the infield on positions B and C require little movement to make a call at any base. However, these umpires are incorrect! A pitcher's pick-off move to any base requires hustle in order to get a step or two before setting up for a better look at the tag. A rundown requires the base umpire to keep pace with the runner back-and-forth until the plate umpire can get in position to assist at one end of the rundown.

The double play, 2nd-to-1st, with the base umpire beginning at position B (infield right side) when performed with hustle and anticipation can be a thing of beauty! As the ground ball is hit for the apparent double play, begin backing toward 1st base (away from the easy call at 2nd). Stop and set as the ball is caught at 2nd base and yell "Out" but you need not signal. As the ball is transferred for a throw to 1st, begin moving toward 1st while watching that the ball is properly thrown. Before the ball reaches 1st, stop and set for the close call there. Make the call for first then repeat and signal the call at 2nd. If properly executed you should be within 12-15 feet of 1st with a perfect angle to make the call. Both coaches and all spectators will think that you are Superman to be able to make the call at 2nd and then be in such a great position to make the call at first. Only you know that anticipation and hustle made it possible! By the way, if the infielder bobbles the ground ball or the relay is bobbled at 2nd, do not proceed to 1st since there is little likelihood of a double play but instead stop and make the call at 2nd.

Although the above examples show the need for hustle in a base umpire, a plate umpire has even greater opportunity and necessity for hustling. Even though you are weighted down with equipment, you should not take the lazy root of staying near home plate during the game. When I watch my fellow umpires and I see the plate official sticking close to home plate, I immediately judge him/her to be a LAZY umpire. With no runners on base and a ground ball to the infield, the plate umpire should exit to the catcher's left and run up the first base line and should reach halfway to 1st before the ball or batter arrive there. Carefully watching the first baseman's foot from this position you are ready to answer your partner's question if the first baseman pulled his foot off the bag. Without the hustle, you cannot help your partner from home plate and you indicate to the world that you are a lazy umpire. Without runners, a fly ball catch in the outfield is the plate umpire's responsibility but making that call from home plate is difficult and lazy. At the crack of the bat, you should exit the catcher's left side and hustle at least to the side of the pitcher's mound before the catch is made. Note: do not run directly at the ball but instead at a slight angle so you will have a better view of the catch.

With or without runners on base, a foul ball hit near a dead ball line requires the plate umpire to hustle to the dead ball line to determine whether the fielder caught the pop-up in live territory for an "Out" or caught the ball over the dead ball line for a "No Catch." A lazy umpire at home plate cannot accurately make this call. An overthrown ball which is headed for a dead ball line must also be followed by the plate umpire so as to accurately call "Time" the moment the ball crosses the line but more importantly not to call Time if the ball does not reach the line. Again the lazy umpire at home plate cannot accurately make this call.

With a runner on 1st and no runner on 2nd, the plate umpire should make the call at 3rd base on a base hit. To do this properly the plate umpire must hustle down the 3rd base line and cut into the infield near the bag, set, and make the tag call as the runner from 1st attempts to advance to 3rd. The lazy umpire who stays at home plate doesn't even attempt to make this call but instead requires the base umpire to take the play and also cover any play on the batter at 2nd or 1st. With a runner on 2nd and a ground ball to the left side of the infield, the plate umpire should watch the first baseman's pulled foot on a throw there and also cover 3rd in case the runner attempts to advance on the throw. To adequately do this job requires hustle, Hustle, HUSTLE.

As a plate umpire, what do you do when the pitcher picks-off a runner and a pickle develops either between 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd? Do you stand at home plate and watch your partner run back and forth with the runner between the bases? If so, you are a lazy umpire. What should you do instead? If the runner who is picked-off is not the lead runner, then you must be prepared for a pickle play on the lead runner when he attempts to advance and the defense makes a play on him. However, if the runner who is picked-off is the lead runner, then hustle down the line to take one end of the pickle. On a pickle between 2nd and 3rd, race down the third base line to take the front end of the pickle; whereas a pickle between 1st and 2nd, race down the first base line to take the back end of the pickle. When you get at your end, wait until the runner turns to run toward 2nd, then step into your end, and yell to your partner "I got this end". Now the runner can run back and forth forever without exhausting the umpires as the base umpire has the tag call near 2nd and you take the call at the other end.