Playing in Vegas earlier this month we played a game with a 2 person umpiring crew.
The field umpire with a runner on 1st took a position in front of second base. In between the pitcher and the base. I asked if he could move since I was at SS. He insisted on telling me how long he has umpired and that he would make sure he got out of the way. My issue wasn’t that he would get out of the way but rather it was just another body in the middle of the infield and still can understand why he had to stand there. In looking on the web for 2 person umpiring it shows the field umpire outside the dirt between 2nd and 1st. It also states that the umpire should always have the play in front of them. Anyone have thoughts as to the benefit standing in front of 2nd base?

Thanks

with a runner on 1st I always position myself about 20/25 ft from 2nd base and about 8 to 10 ft behind the base line and NEVER in front of the bag it's not safe ... a rule of thumd for any base umpire should be when the ball is in the infield you belong on the OF side of the base line.. when the ball goes to the OF you button hook in to the infield

NYGYY, that’s a standard baseball position.
Call it a hunch but I suspect that umpire also does baseball.
I agree with BJ, it’s much too dangerous to be standing on the inside in softball.