|
1) Umpires should seek help when their view is blocked or positioning prevents him from seeing crucial elements of a play.
2) Umpires should seek help in instances when they have any doubt and a partner has additional information that could lead to the proper ruling.
3) In the situations listed below, a partner who is 100% certain he has additional information unknown to the umpire making the call should approach unsolicited and alert the other umpire to such information. However, the ultimate decision to change a call rests with the calling umpire.
a) Deciding if a home run is fair or foul.
b) Deciding whether a batted ball left the playing field for a home run or ground rule double.
c) Cases where a foul tip is dropped or trapped by the catcher.
d) Cases where a foul fly ball is caught or not caught.
e) Cases when an umpire clearly errs in judgment because they did not see the ball dropped or juggled after making a tag or force. Or a pulled foot.
f) Spectator interference plays.
g) Balks legal called by an umpire who clearly did not realize the pitchers foot was off the rubber.
4) Umpires should not seek help on plays which they are 100% confident in their judgment and view of the play. Head coaches are not entitled to a second opinion when the calling umpire is certain his decision is correct. On the other hand, and contrary to past practice, umpires should not die with a call in cases where:
a) the calling umpire is not 100% certain he is right; and
b) another umpire has additional information which could lead to a proper ruling.
5) Judgment calls, which have traditionally not been subject to reversal include:
a) Steal and other tag plays (except if the ball is dropped without the umpires knowledge as discussed above);
b) Force plays (when the ball is not dropped and foot is not pulled);
c) Balls and strikes (other than check swings).
6) Remember, some calls cannot be reversed without creating larger problems. An example is a catch/no catch with multiple runners.
|