[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by WindyCityBlue

The premise for this discussion is to recognize the need to get the call right. I can be out of position, blocked or just didn't get a good look at the play - it happens. I can and do ask for help and would rather look bad than penalize the player. We get paid to make the game fair, if your ego won't allow you to change your call when your partner clearly saw the ball hit the ground or the foot come off the bag, then you should stop taking the money .

Windy first off who said baseball is Fair. We are there not to make the game Fair but are there to make certain one side does not gain an unfair advantage not intended by the rules.

One of these days here is what is going to happen concerning this pulled foot business.

2 outs r3. Ground ball to anyone doesn't matter who tosses to F3 to get the BR. F3 catches ball sees R3 dart for home but Blue says OUT. Since the 3rd out was made by the BR before he/she reached first base safely NO runs score. However, wait a minute

Now the offensive manager comes out and says to Blue "Hey F3's foot was off the bag" Now you confer with the PU and the PU agrees F3's foot was indeed off the bag - Now what

If you overturn the call, R3 scores - game Over, but if U1 would have ruled safe to begin with F3 would have fired to F2 to try and get R3, therefore, how is this overturn of the pulled foot fair?

In summary, I would say that if the play INVOLVES a continuous type action EVENT, then right or wrong the umpire has to LIVE with the call because there are simply too many variables to overcome when trying to reverse. If the play ONLY involves the one runner then I say Ok do your best to get it right.

Keep in mind that no matter what we do mistakes will be made - it's called the Human element.

Pete Booth