[PeteBooth]

[ Originally posted by mcrowder

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.

As an umpire when it's MY CALL how can I assume that another umpire has a better angle than I did. Suppose the umpires did as you suggest. Called Time, huddled and NO-ONE really saw the TAG/NO TAG - Now what.

As soon as the umpires huddle, EVERYONE knows that YOU meaning Gibson have no clue whether the runner was safe / out. Now even after huddling no other umpire can help. Guess what! A CALL still needs to be made. Now get ready.

IMO, Gibson showed us how to handle a situation in which we are not in proper position. It's a fact of life that one time or another all of us will get caught out of position. It's just not in front of 1 million people to see.

I have done what Gibson did myself. I get caught out of position and look for some clues (players expression) and then SELL the call either way. We can all give examples of how players made our call for us by their actions or expressions. If you do as you suggest, a RHUBARB could easily happen. LaRussa can be Pinella like sometimes and no REAL argument came about.

As mentioned Gibson did the right thing. When Ledge gave up the HR to PuHolse the other night did Ledge ask for help after the fact. He probably wanted to take that pitch back but that's baseball.

Pete Booth