Well, I do know that I have had a pretty decent career! Certainly, call a runner safe at second because the SS did a "neighborhood play" hasn't hurt my career. It actually caused a DIII head coach to request me for his home games when I called the SS off the bag during a conference game. The defensive coach didn't even come out of the dug out! That coach had just won the DIII national championship the year before too.

I have NEVER had a very serious argument calling the "neighborhood play" safe if that is what I see. No, I don't always see the miss, and indeed, I don't look THAT hard for it. But if I see him miss, I am going with safe as the call. I am perfectly willing to "discuss" the play with the coach. I have never ejected a player and/or coach over this play. I HAVE gained a lot of respect as the guy that "calls what he sees". THAT has been good for my career, because almost every coach wants integrity when the big game is on the line.

Yes, I have called safe runners who were not tagged. The usual response from the head coach is not being pissed at me, but rather something to the effect of "Make the ^$#$$ing tag next time" to his fielder.

I am supposing that many guys that let the phantom plays stand are also the guys milking 12" off the plate for a strike too, just because the catcher stuck it?