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Originally Posted by Julio Caliente
I appreciate the kind words Irishmafia, but in some cases he is right. I know this isn't baseball, but in HS and college BB the BU is supposed to retreat to shallow right field in between innings. This mechanic is most likely also used in HS and college FP SB, but since I just started doing softball I am not positive on it. However, I do know that my partner umpires college softball, was one of the top umpires at the Northern National this year, and is my significant other. She had some wisdom teeth pulled the day before the tournament (not by choice, but due to an insurance issue) and she was telling me how she was feeling (watching her call outs with gauze in her mouth was quite humorous). That is the reason I had 7 plates this weekend, every time it was her turn for the plate I took it instead because I didn't want her to take a ball to the face.
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Same in softball and I abhor the practice. The reason offered for this was to get the umpire out of the path of defenders leaving the field to reduce possible confrontations. Bull$hit!
I would rather have the ability to talk to my partner without announcing it to the world. Things happen and occasionally change during a ball game. I may see something my partner is not and vice versa. Maybe one of you want to remind your partner of a proper mechanic or position.
Such communication is even more important if working with someone who may be relatively new to umpiring or the level or rules of the game being worked.