[mcrowder]

Pete - it was Adam Everett, not Craig Biggio... which invalidates that entire line of thought.

I'll say again... U2 KNEW he did not see the tag (my evidence - the lack of a tag). Most of us who have done this for a while KNOW when we are straightlined. Most of us, when this happens, have no recourse most of the time... but when we do (when the straightlined play is visible by another umpire), we ask for help (this includes, predominately, the "normal" help calls listed above, but is not limited to just those calls). An umpire in MLB is certainly likely to be much better than almost all of us... but should also know when we was straightlined.

Like it was mentioned above - an umpire needs 2 things to ask for help... 1 - Didn't actually see what he called (present in this case), and 2 - the likelihood that another umpire saw, or could have seen, the play better (also present in this case). While I'm not positive McClelland had a view of the tag/no-tag, I would think it LIKELY, considering that he's tracking the ball once he gets into position for the DP. And while it's possible he was still setting up position, and DIDN'T see the tag/no-tag, there is enough of a chance that he DID see it that U2 should ask.

But lost, and not mentioned, in all of this is the existence of a 6th umpire. U9 probably had the best angle of all on this, and had no other responsibilities on this play. It's highly likely that he DID see this. The question then becomes - did he (or McClelland) have a good enough view from 90 or 120 feet away to see for certain that there was no tag.

But there's no question in my mind that U2 should have asked.

(PS - this is not sour grapes from a Cards fan. I'm a lifelong Astro fan.)