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Bob and Company,
Lets go through this again. Terry's play. R2, R3, 2 out. Play at first. Bu in C makes out call.
Now, lets review umpire responsibilities. BU has first play on infield. BU watches ball to fielder, watches throw to first and catch by F3, watches BR for touch of first, and takes BR to any other bases as necessary.
PU watches pitch, then watches batted ball to fielder. His first responsibility is fair/foul, then catch/no catch. His responsibilities once ball is released to first would be (in order of importance) to watch R3 touch home, watch R2 touch 3rd and be prepared for any second play on the infield if BU has committed himself to first, and then if necessary watch R2 touch home, and last watch 1st for a pulled foot or swipe tag.
Onec BU makes an out call at first, the actions of the defense are based on the third out call. Possibly the actions of R2 are predicated upon that out call also. It is pretty normal for a runner to jog home and touch the plate even after a 3rd out, though with a safe or no call at 1st, she may very well stop at 3rd.
It is my, and many other experienced umpires, opinion that once the BU is convinced he has enough evidence to make a call, he should not then ask for additional information from his partner. If he does not feel he has enough evidence from his own observations, he should ask for additional observations from his partner before making his call. That way the defense and offense are both on notice that continuing action may be relevant, and will act accordingly.
This is true for any call made during continuing action, for a passed ball 3rd strike on a check swing (PU must ask immediatley or not at all), and on any call that results in a 3rd out with runners on base.
This maintains the balance between the offense and defense and is the common practice in the area and leagues I work.
So what if F3 did pull her foot slightly off the base? Missed judgement calls are a part of the game. If they are not put the little rubber target up behind the plate, and if F1 gets the ball through the bullseye, then it is a strike. Use instant replays and slow motion to analyze the close calls at 1st.
In about 175 games as a head coach I won one game because of an umpire's mistake and lost one game on an umpire's mistake. In between 1500 and 2000 games as an umpire (I didn't keep a log in the early years) I don't think a mistake by the crew ever changed the outcome of a game. We (including myself) may have made mistakes that added or cost runs but I can't recall any changed outcomes.
Missed judgement calls are part of the game, and IMO usually come out as a wash.
I'll stand behind my statement to Terry. Ask for any help before, and only before, you make a call. After you make a judgement call, consider it final. Then you never get to trying to read a crystal ball to place runners. This works well for many of us.
Roger Greene
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