[DownTownTonyBrown]

The difference between over-rule and assiting can be subtle. And it has much to do with the strength of your partner.

Number one. I'm the base umpire. The play at first is mine to call. Period. A weaker BU may want help and may readily acquiesce to whatever the veteran/strong plate umpire suggests. If it's my call, I'm going to be in position to see the play and make the call. Period. If there is any doubt in my mind about whether he touched the base or not, I'm going to ask immediately (after I have decided that my partner can actually offer help) and then I'm going to make the call - IMMEDIATELY. The more likely situation is I'm going to ring him out on the first attempt to touch the base - before the second attempt to touch is even made. So in either case, I'm going to either ask for assitance or I'm going to ring him out BEFORE the second attempt to touch the base is even made. This is when the decision needs to be made - not 30 seconds later when the veteran PU wanders out to straighten out me and my call.

Number two. If you come to me after I have made my decision that on the first attempt he did NOT touch the base, and now you try to assist me... by telling me that he did touch on the first attempt... I might knock you on your effin' ***. As pointed out by several, decisions are made by one person. ONE and only ONE. If you seek the input of more than one, you are likely to get more than one answer. Now how do you decide which answer is correct? The solution is DON'T SEEK INPUT WHEN YOU DON'T NEED IT or when your partner cannot offer it.

When the game is played in the fringes and in the margins (the close calls), the teams have given up all opportunity to take charge and control of their own destiny. They have turned over the results to me and yes I will make the best calls I can make AND THEY WILL BE MY CALLS. If you are relying upon me to determine your destiny with those close calls, you may well not like the results. If any team thinks we should make decisions by committee, so that we get the call right, they are going to be sorely upset in the end. In my opinion, committees can't decide crap; committees are just a way to avoid responsibility and thereby, blame.

If I know of your penchant for assisting by over-ruling, and I see you coming, you, as the BU, are going to have to chase me into the outfield to make your point. And then I'm going to curse you for the rest of the game. Routine calls? I'm going to make sure all of my decision meet your approval... we'll committee everyone of them and all the crowd will know that the committee is run by the PU.