[Bfair]

• On a poor throw to 1B, make them prove the tag to you. Don't call the out because you think they might have gotten the tag on him. The poor throw is not good play. When in doubt, do not reward poor play. When the poor throw occurs, consider the runner safe until proven out.
  
  
• As PU, on plays to 1B expect that your partner may come to you for help from your angle. My expectation of this help is no different than the expectation that a PU may come to me on a check swing when I'm a BU. I expect to help if needed, and I look to obtain the added information by watching for the tag or a pulled foot.
  
  
• When your partner potentially has a better angle (angle is more important than distance) and if you have doubt, ask him specifically "did you see a tag." You are not asking him for his judgment on the timing of the tag, only the mere fact of whether he saw the tag.
  Do so preferrably before any initial call.
  
  
• If you have made a call and have doubt regarding the accuracy call, you'd better judge the impact of a reversed call before going for help. Going for help means you may need to reverse the call. Some calls are difficult to reverse due to play that may have ensued thereafter. While at times you may have to live with a missed call, there are many times when a missed call is easily correctable with the added information provided by your partner. It is not "illegal" to change an obviously blown call after you have made it.
  
  
• OBR, PBUC, NCAA, and Fed all state or cite example supporting their desire to have the official get the call correct vs. the official's perceived loss of dignity in changing a call. When done properly before the initial call, gaining information from your partner's added angle shows great crew coordination and strength that is respected by all.

While it is idealistic to think that all calls made will always be correct, errors can be minimized. Using correct mechanics in gaining help will save you many headaches of argument, and can add respect to your crew strength. While weaknesses exist in the 2-man system that can be overcome by properly gaining help, those instances need to be minimized and should not be used as a crutch for poor mechanics or indecisiveness. Past arrogance of living with obviously blown calls is diminishing in all sport, including baseball. Although nobody likes being on the short end of a changed call, many still respect that the officials did what was necessary to get the call correct.


Just my opinion,

Freix