[Andy]

The philosophy your partner was talking about is "making the expected call".

Another example: On a tag play at any base, the throw is there well before the runner, but the fielder misses the tag attempt on the sliding runner. You (umpire) may be the only person that sees the missed tag attempt, but you call the out anyway because that is the "expected call" since the ball got there in plenty of time.

IMHO, this is chickensh*t umpiring! If you aren't prepared to make the correct call as you see it and deal with the repercussions of that call, you are in the wrong avocation.


Now, at the risk of hijacking the post - I have a question for those of you that are considering the OP an appeal play:

What are you defining as "past the base"?

In the OP, as I envision it, the runner has slid feet first and missed the plate with her feet. As her slide continues, she reaches to touch the plate with her hand. Part of her body has passed the plate, but part has not. My thinking would be that she has not passed the base until her entire body has passed the base. Only then would an appeal come into play.

Also - to rule on this play as an appeal, I would need some indication from the defense that they know the runner missed the plate and are not just trying for the routine force out.