[DG]

Originally Posted by CoachTex

Rookie ump here, so help me out please.

Situation 1: LL Senior league, three man crew. I'm in the C position. R2 attempts to steal 3rd. F2 throws down to 3rd, F5 catches, makes the tag on the slide. I have the runner out but not until I can see the ball. I wait a couple of seconds, F5 keeps glove on the ground. I yell "show me the ball". F5 keeps glove on the ground waiting for call. I yell again "show me the ball". He waits, I say "where's the ball" as I don't see anywhere on the ground. Finally, F5 turns his glove around and I see the ball in his glove and I yell out. F5 then raises his glove and as he does, the ball rolls out. No one says word and game goes on. In talking to PU later, I asked him "runner was safe since F5 dropped the ball huh?", he said "yep".

Situation 2:LL Major game, 3 man crew. No runners, no outs. Short fly ball to left. F7 runs in makes the catch but I see he has the ball in the palm and his glove turned upside down. I'm waiting for him to remove the ball from the glove before I call the out. Other base umpire yells "out". In between innings I say to him "what are you doing making my call?" to which he replied "my gosh, how long are you going to wait before you make the call?". I tell him the situation and what I was waiting for. He says "he had the ball, batter is out, make the call".

So, what's a good rule of thumb. Should I wait until fielder removes the ball from the glove in all cases or do I call out and damn the occassional ball slipping out?

SIT 1: If I see the ball enter the glove and the tag made, but am unsure if he held onto the ball I will wait FOREVER for him to show me the ball, in his glove. When he does I make the out call, regardless of what he does afterwards. Your partner was wrong. SIT 2: I am assuming you are U3, you don't say. It's bad form for your partner(s) to make your calls. In between innings is not the right time though, because I would be nowhere near my partners between innings. After the game is a good time to do post-game. Timing-wise, I think you can make an out call before the fielder runs half way to the dugout and flips the ball toward the mound voluntarily. If there is any question that he has secure possession wait for the voluntary release, otherwise OUT and if he drops the ball afterwards the batter is still OUT.