[greymule]

I think my post may have been somewhat misunderstood. It's not a matter of pride at all. What I said was never ask your partner on a STRAIGHT PLAY. If you're the BU, whether the runner beat the throw or not is your call, not the PU's. Yes, ask, "Did she have the bag?" "Did she go?" and so on. Yes, if your partner calls an out on a tag and you see the ball come out and roll on the ground, go offer help. By all means confer on a rule interpretation. But unless the coach claims there's something about a call that you couldn't see because of your angle, or claims that you misapplied a rule, it's your call and that's it. If you're the PU and the BU calls out a runner you think beat the throw at first, just turn around and go back behind the plate.

In a tournament last summer, I was PU and was certain a runner beat the throw to first. BU calls her out. Coach goes out to question BU's call. PU says, "Coach, the runner's foot was still in the air when the ball was in the glove." Not how I saw it. The coach must have known the game, though, because he didn't even try "ask your partner."