Quote:
Originally Posted by topper
I'm probably just as confident as the next person about trusting my judgement, but believing is not knowing. We all know there are situations where we may not have the best view of things. A possible checked swing is one of them. I'm curious to hear your general or specific reason not to check if asked.
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If I saw it beyond doubt, other than to placate a coach, why should I go for help? I'm not talking about anything questionable. I'm referring to an absolutely no doubt about it situation.
In some circumstances, it has become too routine at the plate and in the field to demand an umpire ask for help, sometimes to the point of becoming a fishing expedition. Requesting an umpire ask for help should be taken seriously and that just isn't always the case.
Saw a game last year where the catcher refused to ask and just told the coach she didn't go. Coach was miffed, but if the catcher realized there was no swing, what the hell was the coach looking at or doing when telling her to ask?
I understand when required and I don't refute that any umpire working under that banner should without hesitation follow the prescribed protocol. And I'm not suggesting umpires not ask for help just because they do not have to ask. I'm simply stating that going for help shouldn't become the norm just because someone asked, but because it is possible, even remotely, that the umpire missed an element of the swing/play.