Quote:
Originally posted by dani
My rule of thumb regarding long distance help is if I am 110% sure the situation occurred then I call it.
For example, the batter appears to foul one off his foot and I am working the bases. If I am 110% sure the ball got him I kill the ball immediately. If I am not 110% sure, no call is given. In addition, I can't be of any help to the plate guy upon appeal because if I was sure I had something I would have killed the play immediately.
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I understand your desire for accuracy. Considering the BU is much further away on a possible hit ball fouled off a batter's foot it would seem that in most cases that should be the PU's call. Good mechanics dictate that PU in the slot should be able to see the strike on the low outside corner at the knees. It does not assume the PU will see the ball hit the batter's foot, especially if screened by the catcher or possibly the batter himself. Sometimes BOTH PU and BU in a two man system can miss the batted ball hitting the batter.
I was PU in a Connie Mack game last year in which the offensive coach claimed the batted ball had hit his batter. It was an easy groundball to SS and the batter ran a few steps before claiming he had been hit. Neither of us saw it and I told the coach that was "unfortunate". Later I learned from reliable sources that it indeed had NOT hit the batter. Deception can be contagious.
For those historians and Top Dogs I give you the 1969 World Series and Mookie Wilson. The plate umpire checked for shoe polish after Mets' Manager Gil Hodges claimed that Mookie Wilson had been hit by I believe it was a pitched ball. Comments anyone? I know ballplayers don't shine their shoes these days and sometimes nither do umpires. Jim/NY