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Originally Posted by Steve M
Mike,
If I am absolutely sure that I've just seen interference, yup, call it. But, before I call interference, I'm looking to see what my partner is doing. If my partner has a good look at this same play - right position and can see what needs to be seen and is looking at it - my split second or so delay is going to let my partner call it. And if my partner is looking right at it, chances are real good my partner is going to give a "safe" signal which sez "Yes, I saw that and it's nothing." My split second delay is going to avoid us having conflicting calls AND is allowing my partner to keep/have/whatever primary responsibility where my partner has primary responsibility.
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Just because you partner (and is not offering a signal exclusive to NCAA?) didn't think it was INT or whatever, doesn't mean that umpire has the same angle. It also means that it isn't INT, OBS, whatever. Remember, I'm talking about
SEEING a violation. There are no "primary" duties when it comes to INT, OBS or other obvious violations.
A decent example is last year in OKC when there was runners at the corner an a pitcher from a GA team was rolling. I'm U3 and R2 was returning to 1B after a pitch. The pitcher got the ball, stepped on the PP and started the pitch. Even though U2 is responsible for R2, I'm looking right through the P and immediately killed the ball. U2 (WY umpire) was right behind me in the call.
All the calls we are discussing are the type which need to be immediate and decisive. I'm not saying that Steve is wrong in what he does, I just don't agree with it. I also don't agree with the NCAA's mechanic of the "safe" signal as it may conflict with what his/her partner observed and now, regardless of the circumstance, cannot be called without an unavoidable issue that will not reflect well on the crew.