[DownTownTonyBrown]

Yes, sometimes the players will help you out... and you can impose the penalty they think they deserve, and do so without getting into much trouble. In general though, you have got to make the call that you see.

If the play is close or contested, then the call must be sold. In #1, loudly, "SAFE. No tag." To the coach, "It is not a timing play, Coach. You are right; the ball was there in plenty of time but, there was no tag made until after the runner touched the base. Runner is safe." Of course he is going to immediately try to show you up by asking the fielder if the tag was good. Hopefully the fielder has enough brains to say that he might have missed... or something.

Had a situation the other day where the pitcher and first baseman had the player at first dead three times in a row. F3 made minimal attempt to tag - a little flick of his wrist from about waist height down about 6 inches toward the sliding, returning runner. I was ready to call the out but had to say loudly "NO TAG." Not once. Not twice, but three time in a row they did this. Not one of those three times was a tag made but the timing was great and I was ready to sell the out three times in a row. BUT NO! My first call was the loud sell of safe, no tag. The second call for the identical motion was an almost questioning call with my palms upwards and arms only partially extended, "No tag?" The third one was just a safe call.

Play #2. Whatever you see is what should be called and dirt on his arm doesn't negate the tag. In this case the player helped you out; give him what he thinks happened. Call the out and do it as a matter of fact. In this case, selling the call may create more commotion than just a calm out call. If the player thinks he is out, let him be out. Coach is an idiot - "I'm not sure Coach, are you're questioning my judgement or you're questioning the natural laws of physics? Couldn't have been made; what does that mean, Coach?" Well that's a little of my sarcastic nature and not a wise response... better would be "It was a great hit Coach but I saw tag before he reached the base."

Sometimes it has got to be sold. To call different than what is expected by the players and the crowd requires the sell.

I've seen players slide into 2nd and be tagged so violently, dragging the tag from their ankles up into their face, to the point I thought they may come up fighting... and the runner gets up and says "He didn't touch me." No sell needed. Just give them the signal and leave. Never stand a fight with a player.

Just my opinions. Hopefully it helps.