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I agree in concept with everyone else. But, in reality, I have actually counciled an umpire who was nothing more than a backstop in one game to move away from the catcher and off to the side.
The 12U pitcher was throwing 50+, and her catcher set up behind the opposite batters box and held her glove back over the plate. If she touched 2 out of 3 pitches, it was a surprise. The coach wouldn't or couldn't move the catcher, and the PU was hit by almost 1 out of 3 pitches.
Sorry, we aren't there for that purpose, and I didn't care what message it sent, other than, if the catcher won't do her job, my umpires isn't there to stop every pitch with his body. Will he do a poor job of calling balls and strikes from there? Yes. Is that his fault? No. We are there to umpire the game, but the there has to be some minimum expectation.
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