Quote:
Originally posted by WMU_05
asking for advice...
...one of my major peeves working baseball is coaches/players INSISTING on me asking the umpire who is behind the mound (with a runner on) for help on a check swing. in my opinion, the reason why it is OK to ask the ump at first for help on a check swing is because he has a good angle on the bat going through the strike zone. an umpire behind the mound, unless the batter completely spins around, does not have the proper view of the strike zone in order to make a call on a check swing.
usually in this situation, i don't heed the defensive team's call for help because it is pointless, all he's going to do is say "no," or "yes," even though he doesn't have the proper angle. a couple umpires i have worked with this year suggested that I ask for help, just to appease the team. but why should I ask for pointless help? Once, I had a team ask for help from beyond the plate, which I granted, the ump amazingly said yes, and the opposing coach went nuts, saying the field ump didn't have the proper angle to make the call.
That is the reason why I stopped granting calls for help with the ump behind the mound because teams need to realize that he can't make a correct call from there on a borderline check swing and need to stop asking from that position. but other umps tell me to just do it to appease the teams.
any advice should be appreciated.
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If you are umpiring games played under OBR or NCAA rules you are REQUIRED to ask.
Just do it. Nothing good can come by refusing to ask.
BTW, I can see an offer from B and C just as well as I can from anywhere else. Cause that's what we are charged to judge -- an offer -- not some ridiculous arbitrary thing such as a bat coming in front of the plate or "through the zone" or wrists "breaking." Did the matter offer at the pitch?
Back in the mid 90s I had a partner refuse to check with me in a FED game, which is allowed. My partner ended up in a big argument and with an ejection all because he wouldn't ask. There was clearly no swing and a quick check would've moved us on to the next pitch.
But again, if you are using OBR or NCAA rules, you are REQUIRED to ask.
--Rich