Quote:
Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
I will address this to those of you who can read...
I made it perfectly clear that it is conferring with your partners to correct a JUDGEMENT CALL or RULE INTERPRETATION is acceptable and the right thing to do. We see examples of this at the CWS and almost every week in MLB. Fan interference, foul balls, dropped catches and balks are all examples of calls that lead to these issues. This post began witha pulled foot and has moved away.
I worked an American Legion State Championship last year that had a play over ruled. One of my partners (6 man) called a balk because the kid turned his shoulder toward first to check the runner. He is a terrific umpire and works a lot of high school baseball. As we know, his call was wrong. I was crew chief and asked him what he saw. He explained and I told him that Legion ball is governed by the American League version of OBR. He made a mistake and agreed that we need to reverse it. We took heat from the fans and one coach road him hard the rest of the game, BUT WE GOT IT RIGHT.
Sure we do our best, but we mess up and it is up to us as ambassadors of the game to get the call right. Baseball is a sport that allows for appeals and assistance. I'm not asking anyone to hesitate or second guess a partner. I teach my clinicians that it is imperative that you get the call right. I am certain that I have gotten many calls wrong over the years. But, I can sleep at night because I was big enough to have my call corrected or diligent enough to correct my partner's erroneous call. Despite what many think, you get to work at this level because of the way you treat the game. There's plenty of time to sooth egos over a beer after the game. And yes, I've been the one that has had to buy the beer because of a bad call.
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Your examples are ones where I would have no problems talking with a crew. But consult with a partner over a pulled foot or swipe tag when I worked hard to get in position and I'm certain I saw what happened? Doubtful.
Now, if I get screened? I had a play in the MSBL World Series a few years ago where I came across from C to make a call on a play at first base. Just in time for the money shot, a fielder runs right across my field of vision and I have no freaking idea what happened. Fortunately I saw my partner in the corner of my eye and was able to get help. My safe call would've been a horrible one, but if my partner wasn't in position to help it would've been the only one I could 've made after weighing all the other evidence.
Experienced umpires know when to ask for help and when not to. Most umpires either never ask for help or will ask for help all the time. Neither is appropriate in today's game. If you're finding yourself wanting to ask on a routine play (and most situations, even pulled feet and swipe tags, are routine), you ought to consider your mechanics and your effort.
--Rich