[GarthB]

Patrick:

I may regret re-entering this thread, but here goes.

1. I don't believe Tee ever said, and I certainly don't believe that one can never ask for help on this call. Indeed, we both have stated that if asked by our partners, we've got them covered.

Now some have insinuated that we would then degrade our partners for asking. Not true. What I would do is ask him after the game if he can see in retrospect if he could have had a better position on the play. I would want to get him thinking about improving his mechanics. Is that wrong?

2. What we have said, and what I have seen missing from some others is that we believe that umpires should be trained and encouraged to learn from their mistakes and correct their mechanics so that they don't need to ask in the future. Is that wrong?

3. It appears to me that several of the other posters have chosen to disregard point one above and downplay point two.


This is why I have suggested that some umpires appear to spend more time and energy justifying asking than they do teaching better mechanics. I believe it should be the other way around.

Given that asking is allowed, is my above point wrong?

I don't believe it is reactionary, old school, arrogant, stubborn or inappropriate in any way to encourage and advocate umpire education and training.