Quote:
Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
...We know who is responsible for making the call, but if he can't tell what happened with the attempts to tag the base, his partner can certainly correct his error. Some of you are arguing that this is not a rules violation but a judgement call. All six calls made by umpires (Fair/Foul/Safe/Out/Ball/Strike) are judgement calls that can be corrected by consensus of the crew. ...The play ends, I call "Time" and head over to my partner. I ask him if he is sure that he saw the pitcher touch first. If he is adamant, I will back him and we will talk about it after the game. Most of teh guys I work with know that I would NEVER ask them that question unless I absolutely saw something different. If we agree that the play was kicked, we will announce the decision and correct it. No plurality, no correction. I am not a god on the field and I've made my share of mistakes. Knowing that Fed allows corrections and OBR is SHOWING US WE CAN AND SHOULD, is all the proof we need. If you can't or won't that is up to you. I prefer to walk off the field knowing that I earned my money.
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I worry about even joining this raucus party...
Windy, many of the things you have said above are what I would consider blatantly wrong. I would not want to work with a partner that has the attitudes you have espoused above.
Your difference from the rest of the crowd appears relatively slight, if not subtle. It is obvious you understand mechanics. However, perhaps you don't understand the idea of teamwork and different responsibilities for each teammember - the umpiring crew is a team. I think the concensus is that you respect your partner's judgement and thereby, the team, above what you are calling "getting the call right."
Plainly stated, the consensus is:
YOU DON'T IMPOSE ON YOUR PARTNER'S JUDGEMENT CALLS.
If the base ump missed the call but called him out anyway (he guessed the BR out), YOU CANNOT IMPOSE what you saw. PERIOD. And if you go out onto the field to discuss, YOU HAVE ALREADY IMPOSED and you have embarrassed your own teammate.
Your partner screwed it up to begin with by guessing and making the call without consulting you first. If he wants to eat crow and embarrass himself by asking for your assistance after he made the call, that's his own deal. He looks the part of the rookie and now you are doing your part to get the call right.
But if he has already called it one way and now you interupt the game to go out and give your two-bits, then you are introdcing the pluralty. And you are imposing where you should not.
Embarassing your partner lasts a long time for both yourself and for your partner (years - I've been there). A single close call is generally done and finished with the next pitch. I suggest that you place higher priority on protecting the relationship with your partner, than on what you consider getting the call right.