[WindyCityBlue]

Originally posted by Carl Childress


Papa C.: Hey, lighten up. You're a constant thorn in everybody's side.

Isn't that another one of those generalisms that you disdain? Everybody...never...always??? That's an awfully slippery slope on which you tread.

Papa C.: Those aren't hypotheticals. They are the "reasons" people give for changing a call.

WCB: Try to stay on the subject. The original query asked if the call Gordon made warranted assistance. If the other official actually saw that the fielder never acquired the base, he would only be at fault if he did nothing. Don't attempt to clutter the situation with "suppose" and "what ifs". The issue regards a violation of the rules -the fielder must have possession of the ball and the bag prior to the batter/runner attaining it. He did not comply, so the umpire's assistance is not a reinterpretation of a judgement call. It is an observation of a clear violation of the rules.

Papa C.: Gosh, you're just spoiling for a fight. Of course I didn't say I'd never made mistakes. I made one yesterday. See, I thought I had made a mistake, but I hadn't. (grin, everybody) The point I'm making is that one man's judgment is as good as another's. The fact that a coach and your partner agree does not, a priori, make it.

WCB: Flowery prose, yet no Pulitzer, how is that so? Fortunately, my education affords me the ability to uncloak the inadequacies of your logic, however disguised.

If one man's judgement is as good as another, then why do we have more than one person on juries? Why are there instant replay systems in the NFL or NHL? An experienced umpire may be looking for things that get by a lesser trained eye. Your "all things being equal" hypothesis is lacking. We may be able to make the same six calls, but whether they are correct or not remains the difference.

Papa C.: Thanks, guys, but I'll stick to the tried and true method. If I have a doubt, I'll ask first and call later.

WCB: So, rather than accede to the changes in officiating accountability we see at the professional level, you'd rather let your partner hang?!? That's not what the original post said, but you are extremely adept at putting words in other's mouths. Did Gordon ask for help? Did he have any misgivings when his partner told him that he SAW the pitcher's foot not reach the bag? The answers are no and yes, respectively. You espouse the virtues of proactive officiating, yet cower at the thought of taking some heat for correcting an improper ruling. Stand by your convictions; if you saw the violation and are certain of the merit of your call, report it. That is what an official does...he/she sees what happens and reports it.

Papa C.: Re-read my post, and you'll see I admitted the possibility (probability) that in a three- of four-man crew, when a majority of the umpires see it one way, the odds are they are right.

In a two-man crew, the odds are fifty-fifty.

WCB: I think that depends who you are working with and where. Let's see...a few years ago, I'm in "C" and the batter ropes one down the right field line. My partner lost it, but I could clearly see it just clear the fence ten feet inside the line. I'm backing to the mound prepared to watch the guys round the bags when I hear "Foul Ball". The batter is jumping up and down, the first base coach is charging in at my partner, the entire right field stands are screaming at him. I turn and look in the third base dugout and the head coach is smirking and shaking his head. His kids are laughing and telling my partner that is was a great call. This is second rate JUCO ball and I figured that the guy I partnered with must be pretty good. What should I have done, Carl? I'm pretty certain that I could have found better than 50/50 odds on whether his call was wrong.

Papa C.: Do you advocate the same technique for the man behind the plate? "Strike!" you yell. The coach comes out. "Get some help." So you ask me: "Was that a strike?" Carl: "Hell, no. It's a ball."

If you don't think that's a good idea, why is the base umpire recipient of all your largesse?

"Get some help" is a siren call, a slippery slope, a Will-o-the-Wisp, a Chimera, the Golden Chalice, the....

WCB: Boy, you sure talk pretty! I just wish that it all made sense. Apparently have never called "Ball" and had a coach yell, "Get some help...check that swing!" If you had, then I can't ever imagine you writing those words we just read. I must be seeing things...

As a seasoned official, I usually do not wait for a coach to urge me to get help (check swings may be the only exception). On the contrary, I provided a very specific example of a time when I, as the PU and crew chief, had one of my partners assist me on a call I made behind the plate. I suggest that you read it again and then pose a more appropriate rebuttal.

As I told Tim C., if you see a flagrant violation of the rules or a judgement call that puts a team at a decided disadvantage (high school rules) and do nothing about it, then you are showing us more than bad judgement. I kick calls and I have been on the field when others have. My partners and I aren't too proud to correct them when we do. I'v read enough of your threads to see that ego is big part of your world. You have certainly earned the right to brag once in a while. But, I teach all of my clinicians to leave theirs in the trunk when we head to the field. Do what you can to get the call right...but be humble enough to recognize that the game is not about you. There are no standing ovations for great calls. Just little kids watching...and hopefully learning.

I suspect a few of them might be reading these messages. I'm not trying to teach you, Carl, but the class is watching your every move. I don't have anything to lose here. I've stood by my opinions from day one. I've encouraged and chastised. I've made enemies and received kudos. But, I'm not the poster boy for this site. I'm just the guy that knows what makes a good umpire. I've seen a few around here. It's up to you to learn how to keep them. My grandfather told me to never get in a pi**ing match with a camel. Do you know what he meant by that?