Quote:
Originally Posted by SRW
Why not? Can you afford to be wrong and give up a double, or let a potential run score because you can't see schitt?
My thought on this is... why NOT call it foul? Kill it and bring the batter back with a strike.
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Why? The obvious answer is that it is easier to correct an erroneous "fair" signal than a foul call. Now comes the big "but". If you are the only umpire there, who is going to help you, the fans?
Obviously, there is no "absolutely correct" answer to this situation.
This can bring us back to the "you cannot call an out without actually seeing a tag" issue. I think it was obvious, that this comment is also not an "absolutely correct" statement. There are indicators an umpire can use to help.
In this scenario, if I cannot see the ball, I revert to my experience as a "yute" watching MLB games. Forget the ball, watch the fielders as they will take you to the ball.
I'm probably looking toward the ground (if it was a line drive) in the area where I see the fielders heading searching to pick up a bouncing object that hopefully is the ball.
If it is still in question, the umpire can hesitate and see if the fielders react in a certain manner which may indicate whether it was fair or foul.
If you are really lucky and cannot get any indication and a coach or defender moves into you line of view. Guess which way the call goes then?
Whatever it is, you have to make a decision. If it is wrong, you WILL be talking to just
one coach/player. If you need to take a little heat, let him have his/her say as long as it is in a civil tone.