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Originally posted by Andy
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Originally posted by Woodchuck
I have never missed a call from the angle I had to make it from and have changed many of them after discussion with my fellow umpire.
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If you had to change it, you missed it!
I agree with your point that the BU has a job to do and needs to do it. My point is that the two umpire system with the BU in C position is not an optimal situation for the call at first base. It is very possible that you are not able to get all of the information you need to make the call due to the angle you are looking at first base from.
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Then why not give the PU the call? If he is going to remain in position to see the running lane, the defender's foot and be prepared to cover 3B, then why can s/he not determine if the ball was there in time? After all, it is quite possible the PU is no farther from the play than the BU.
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I contend that it is better to ask your partner about the pulled foot before you make the call. You are not giving up the call, just gathering more information that you could not get before. [/b]
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If you have to stop and think about it, you just as well give it up. I believe you call what your brain sees and processes.
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Once a coach requests that you go for help after you make the call and then you reverse your call, you are telling both coaches that they can request that you "get help" on any call that they don't like.
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That is just plain not true and you probably know that. I'm doing nothing more than working with the coaches by using what help is available (when it is available) if there is something they believe I may have missed. A coach comes to me with a request to ask my partner for help, they must be specific as to what they believe I missed that my partner could have possibly seen or it just doesn't happen. I do not ask for help if I know I had the full play in my mind.
There are F3s out there that are going to pull that foot every time. Are you going to your partner on every play?
I certainly hope not.
There are times to go for help and times not to do so prior to making a call. Only because in the scenario offered the runner stayed put at 2B was this an easy situation. If that runner wasn't checked and on the move, it could have been ugly. Been there, seen it, experienced it. I've done it your way at a National on a play at the plate. I had a top rate umpire for a partner, but it made us look bad on a no win situation than a straight call with a possible request for help after the fact. And it was an important one, a play at the plate.