WMB, I think Woolen Noggin makes a very good point.
Quote:
Originally posted by woolnojg
West-
Judging from your posts, you have some experience.
You made the initial no call for some reason. then you second guessed yourself and checked with your partner. He had done the same thing, a no call. Followed by a guess.
My experience shows me that officials make a call based on all kinds of info that they process without alway being aware of the details. You make your call/no call based on this. At that point, I have to have definite evidence that it was a wrong call to change my call. In this case you had 2 maybes, not strong enough evidence to change, in my view.
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There is a sense of the game that I believe, of which we are not fully aware. Instinctively we know the count but we check our idiotclicker. Instinctively we sense the ball was hit but we might second guess and then become uncertain. Instinctively we saw a good tag-out but upon replay we question the accuracy of our judgement, possibly justify that a tag was late or not made and then say it's too late for an out call - must be safe. We create some of our own problems.
I ask my partners in the field to be ABSOLUTELY certain before they call a foul ball (as in it hit the batter). I don't believe I would ever ask my partner about a foul ball that escaped and got behind the catcher. I would positively know, if not instinctively know, whether there was contact with the bat or not.
If the pitch was poorly thrown (such that the catcher had difficulty making the catch) and the batter did what he/she was supposed to do (swing and not make contact), then I would let the play stand (runner advance). When I don't rely upon my instincts and I make a call that doesn't fit the situation, is when I create problems for myself.
In my opinion, if no one else on the field wants the call... then don't make it to please yourself... or even to get it right. As soon as you do something that no one else is asking for, or sees as a needed call, then you are standing out and are liable to catch some strong, negative reinforcement. Changing a no-call to a send-them-back call generally catches some flak also.
In your case, you may have unknowingly received that glance from the coach that he thought this was a foul ball. And the coach may have been just waiting for you to make your decision. And you may have made the correct decision... instinctively. The timid confirmation from your partner may have been just enough reinforcement for you to rely upon your instincts.
I'm thinking that you probably did it right but that you possibly could have let the play stand and not gotten criticized either. Sounds like everyone was content except for you being a little uncertain. Keep going.