[kcg NC2Ablu]

Originally Posted by BlitzkriegBob

From a Fed game last week where I am PU. Partner is pretty good, no real problems with him (first time working together). First occasion, lead runner coming in to 3B (trailing BR still on bases), I am down the line getting in to position with a throw coming in. I see BU coming over so I verbalize "I got third" (loud enough to make the 3B coach turn towards me), but BU continues to move in. Luckily ball gets away so there's no call to make. Second occasion, we have a rundown between 2B and 3B. I am in position to take the lead, but BU is right smack dab in the middle, so I verbalize "I got this end" (again loud enough to make the 3B coach turn). There is a series of quick throws as the BU does his imitation of one of those target ducks that twirls back and forth before the tag is made as the runner is retreating to 2B and BU rings her up.

My questions is this: After letting the BU know that I am there to make my call and he is still right there to also make the call, what should I do? In both cases, I was thinking to myself that I was going to let him make the call (and the rundown did turn out to be his call) in order to save us from the possible double call, but what should I have done?

He was a 20-year veteran and after the game he was more concerned with fraternizing with the coaches than reviewing game so we didn't get to discuss the coverages. I know we pre-gamed, but I don't remember for sure if we went over these situations. More than likely we didn't.

You did the right thing backing off and letting him have it if he is going to take it and then if he doesnt make a call then you now have to bang it bigger than you would have had you been able to be sure you had the call and not wondering if you did or didnt. The NCAA has a communication thing that I think is really cool, if in your pre game you can discuss it with your partner, What the NCAA manual has in it is when in a rundown or situation where your partner is calling you off but you cant look over to him/her to let them know you heard them then touch your ear closest to that umpire that is calling you off. This is a low profile signal that you and your partners can use for communication. That being said on my pregame "cheat sheet" I have rundowns and coverage on there those are always situations that can screw with even the best of people. As for the post game... if your partner doesnt want to then just get in the car and drive away listening to whatever calms you down and later vent ... let it go ... hopefully like someone else suggested you can block him on arbiter