[gordon30307]

Originally posted by Blue37

This is one I struggle with. I have been calling since 1984 and have occasionally seen plays where I could not tell which came first. I see them occuring at exactly the same time. If I cannot tell, I get the out, and tell the skipper, if he argues, that I saw the ball get there first. I am not uncomfortable with that falsehood, because there is a 50/50 chance I am right, and the play was so close no one knows whether I was wrong or right without super-slow-motion replay. And even then, if the play was that close, and I missed it, I will accept the miss.

What degree of measurement does it take to be able to say with absolute certainty "Ties do not exist"? If the runner arrives at 12:01:52 and the ball arrives at 12:01:53, there is a full second between the acts and everyone should be able to see the difference. If the ball arrives at 12:01:52.00 and the runner arrives at 12:01:52.01, there is 1/100th of a second difference. This is definitely not a tie, if you take it out to 1/100th of a second, but my vision cannot differientiate 1/100th of a second.

Please do not take me wrong and think I am advocating telling a skipper "It was a tie, so he is safe." But to give the impression to a young official that there is something wrong with his ability if he sees a tie, is doing him a disservice. And to post the same at a ball park seems to be inviting problems. I remember the discussions on this issue in previous years. There were highly respected posters on both sides of the issue. If the "experts" disagree, why invite trouble by including this on your list?

IMHO, if enough monkeys with enough typewriters can eventually reproduce a famous novel, then surely enough force plays at a base can produce a tie, regardless of the degree of measurement used.

Hey Blue37 I share your pain. Bangers are indeed tough to call. My advice would be to do the best you can. If it is a tie bang the runner. The runner has to beat the throw to be safe. Whether safe or out your mechanics will help sell the call. Ties don't go to the runner but they do go to the umpire. Don't tell the Coach this!!!!!!! LOL