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Re: Sorry again . . .
Originally posted by Gold_Spark
Maybe I am blind to reality, but I call the play as I see it and I expect others to do the same whether I'm coaching or playing.
Gold_Spark,
have you ever umpired a game by yourself?
If you did, then you KNOW you do not call'm as you see'm because you can't see everything.
When your solo, you have what I call "givens" meaning ball where it's supposed to be and the tag where it's supposed to be - WE HAVE AN OUT. The opposite is also true, meaning if throw is not good and fielder tags runner up high - We Have a safe call.
IMO the game deserves consistency and in a way the BU's calls on the bases should be consistent similar to a PU calling balls / strikes.
example; Let's assume you have 5 plays in which the fielder tags runner UP high. On 3 out of the 5 you call runner out and on 2 of them you call runner safe. In almost all instances when a tag is up high, the runner will be safe - That's what everyone EXPECTS and is an easy SELL for the umpire. Also, it is consistent. Now sometimes you call runner out and sometimes you call runner safe.
Both coaches will probably be scratching their heads because they don't how to instruct their players since there is no consistency from call to call.
Also, as was mentioned all of this depends upon what leagues you umpire in. I agree with your concept for youth leagues as the kids at that age only understand one thing. However, as they get older and learn more about the game they will come to know the neighborhood play etc.
Most games are umpired using the 2 person mechanics and therefore, we need consistency in the game. No one is talking about a fielder who is off the bag by a half a foot or so, we are talking in the vacinity or as the name says in the neighborhood
It's been around ever since baseball was invented. Today, because the kids don't play pick-up games like we did it's only accepted at certain levels. When I played even at the youth age we knew the term why! because we played baseball everyday unlike the kids of today.
Pete Booth
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Peter M. Booth
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