[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by LilLeaguer

Well, I believe the rules to provide for that, and due to the good sense, politeness, and restraint of the umpires, the storm does not happen (very often).

9.02 (c) appears to relate to the behavior of umpires during an appeal. It gives no remedy if the rule is broken. 9.04 (c) explicitely recognizes that different decisions may be taken by different umpires on the same play, and gives the remedy: UIC (or other designate) wins.

I'm not arguing that any UIC should ever do this. I'm only arguing that if one did, it would probably hold up under protest.

-LilLeaguer

You would be wrong in that belief. Read this from the MLBUM.

MLBUM

4.12 CREW CONSULTATION AND GETTING THE PLAY RIGHT

As the Casebook Comments to Official Baseball Rule 9.00 point out, the first requisite as an umpire is to get all decisions ultimately correct. Umpire dignity is important-but never as important as getting the play right. In line with this reasoning, the following guidelines should be followed:

(1) An umpire is urged to seek help when that umpire's view is blocked or positioning prevents such umpire from seeing crucial elements of a play. An umpire is also encouraged to seek help in instances when that umpire has doubt and a partner has additional information that could lead to a proper ruling.

(2) Official Baseball Rule 9.02(c) states, "No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it." Therefore, except in special situations such as those referred to below, the umpire making the call must be the one to seek assistance of a partner.

(3) In a limited number of situations, a partner may have critical information that is unknown to the umpire making the call. When the partner is certain that the umpire making the call could benefit from such additional information, the partner should alert the other umpire that there is additional, important information that should be shared. While the mechanics of bringing this information to the attention of the umpire who made the call is left to the crews (walking towards the partner, inconspicuous signal, etc.), crucial, potential call-changing information should not be withheld on a play that has clearly been missed. As noted in the Official Baseball Rules, "Each umpire team should work out a simple set of signals, so the proper umpire can always right a manifestly wrong decision when convinced he has made an error."
Nevertheless, the ultimate decision to change a call rests with the umpire who made the call.

Plays such as the following lend themselves to the philosophy described above:

* Deciding whether a fly ball that left the playing field was fair or foul.

* Deciding whether a batted ball left the playing field for a home run or a ground-rule double.

* Cases where a foul tip is dropped by the catcher, causing it to become a foul ball.

* Cases when an umpire clearly errs in judgment because a ball is dropped or juggled after making a tag or force.

* Spectator interference plays.

* Balks called by an umpire who clearly did not realize the pitcher's foot was off the rubber.

GUIDELINES:

When an umpire seeks help, the umpire should do so shortly after making the call. There should not be a lengthy argument with the manager that is followed by a crew conference about the call in question.

* When an umpire seeks help, the conference should always take place away from players and managers. It is suggested that the entire crew meet, as there are cases when an "unlikely" umpire on the crew may have pertinent information.

* Some judgment calls are not subject to reversal. These include: steal and other tag plays (except if the ball is dropped without the umpire's knowledge); force plays (when the ball is not dropped and foot is not pulled); and balls and strikes (other than check swings). Also, some calls cannot be reversed without creating larger problems. An example is a catch/no
catch situation with multiple runners.

* Managers are not entitled to a second opinion simply because they dispute a call.

* If a call is reversed, managers are entitled to an explanation. However, managers should not argue about the reversal of a call when the ultimate decision is obviously correct
.
* If an umpire's error such as a missed count or number of outs clearly affects the play, every attempt should be made to correct the error, if possible.



Tim.