Tony:
Rarely, if ever, would/should one umpire ask another one for his view/opinion . . . if they're each watching their areas of responsibility.
With no one on, there's no reason in God's green earth that the BU should ask the PU if there was a tag or if a foot was on a base. The PU is watching EVERYTHING except for that. (Excluding of course the possiblity that the BU was suffering a coronary at the time; or became instantaneously blinded by a lightning bolt from heaven.)
Now; if the BU does ask . . . you're in the awkward position of having to render a judgement based on what you may have seen; even if it wasn't your job to specifically watch it. How dumb is that? ("I don't know what he saw; I'm looking for overthrows and interference.")
With R1's and R3's, the scenario may be more difficult for the BU; but certainly not impossible. Same thing . . . PU should be watching something other than tags and missed bases at 1st.
Umps gotta learn to "call 'em as I see 'em".
Jerry
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