Quote:
Originally posted by GarthB
No one has taken the heartless approach yet, so I guess it's my turn.
Heartless Comment Number one:
I don't believe that is one of the calls that should be overturned in a two man system. As much as I will go for help on a swipe tag or pulled foot at first, (When I'm in C), I will not entertain a coach's appeal of my call at second like that.
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There's no need to go beyond Heartless Comment Number one. There are five calls where the umpires can legally change a decision:
- two umpires make opposite calls on the same play;
- a rule is misapplied;
- a call of ball on a half swing is "appealed";
- a call of foul/fair or home run/double on balls hit over the fence is questioned;
- a fielder drops a ball on a tag called out and the calling umpire does not see the drop.
A dropped ball on a force out, a pulled foot on the batter-runner at first, a swipe tag on a runner: Those are calls that once made, stay made.
We must steel ourselves to the fact that we are going to make mistakes that cannot be rectified. In the enciting play of this thread, the umpire's bad timing resulted in .... Was it a bad call? Certainly, the plate umpire doesn't have a clue at his distance. (He likely wasn't watching anyway.)
An umpire can always CORRECT a call: "Safe! No, no, no, I mean Out! He's out. He's out!" He's going to get some frowns, you bet, but that's expected and the changed call is legal when the new call is part of the continuing action.
Here's what's not legal. Umpire: "He's out!" Coach: "Get some help!" Ump: "Ok, Smitty, what you got?" Smitty: "He's safe!" Ump: "Ok, he's safe!" Me (assignor): "Make a note to send Ump back to Little League."
[Edited by Carl Childress on Feb 3rd, 2001 at 05:14 PM]