If there was doubt in your mind that you may have missed the call, then you handled it properly. Don't acquiesce to a coach's request simply to appease him. Check your partner only if you feel there may have been something that you missed in the call
AND that your partner was in better position to see that point of question than you were. Don't seek his opinion on the timing of the play.
The coach initiated his appeal when the play ended, regardless of how long it took. Still, the decision is not bound to the restrictions of....until all infielder including the pitcher leave fair territory. That restriction is for appeal of baserunning infractions only. This was not a baserunning infraction. This decision is bound to whether you wish to accept it or not.
Getting help and changing an obviously blown call is neither wrong nor illegal.
I am not saying it should always be done, nor am I saying it should be used as crutch for initially poor judgment calls. What I am saying, however, is that it is
not illegal for the responsible official to change his judgment call---under any set of baseball rules. OBR supports it, PBUC supports it, Fed supports it, and NCAA supports it. None will tell you that it is good mechanics.
However, it is preferred to correct an obvious mistake instead of living with an obviously poor call---OBR, PBUC, and NCAA specifically state that while the Fed examples it in caseplay.
The best mechanic is to seek that help from the PU before making the call at 1B if you are in doubt concerning a pulled foot or a swipe tag. Consider the runner safe until out. That is, word your question to the PU such that his postive response of "YES" results in an out.
- Did he hold the base?
- Did you see a tag?
What you are truly saying is that you did not see those actions occur and that you have the runner safe pending that added information.
Situations of seeking help on a pulled foot should seldom arise except for instances where you start in C position in a 2 man crew. Don't listen to those who tell you inability to judge a pulled foot is weak umpiring---it's not.
It's a weakness in a 2 man system; not the umpire.
AS BU you are responsible for the first call in the infield---which could be at 3B. You can't always abandon a mid-field location if there is possibility the first play will be at 3B. Therefore, you can't always position yourself for the best angle at 1B on a pulled foot if the play happens to go there.
PU frequently has a better angle a play, and that's especially true if the play develops with F3 reaching directly toward you. If you've got a crappy angle, PU is likely to have a much better angle.
Furthermore, in working with unfamiliar partners---something common in amateur baseball---you can't always be certain your PU is watching the foot at 1B. That can make it difficult to check him before making a call at 1B---something that
must be done even when you are in doubt regarding the touch of the foot. Many PU's hightail to 3B for plays that never occur, thus never watching the play at 1B (something I was taught to always watch). If you go to him immediately, you risk the chance of getting a "deer in the headlights" response from someone who saw nothing at 1B. If you know your partner and are confident he's there to assist, or if you've discussed it pregame, then go to him before making this call. If you don't immediately seek help
but are in doubt regarding a tag or a pulled foot, I'd recommend a safe call since it allows play to continue. It's much easier to change a safe call to out vs. out to safe should you later elect to seek that help for whatever reason.
Here's an excerpt from a post made by Jon Bible, an ex-professional and reknowned veteran college umpire having worked 7 College World Series.
He posted this 5/6/02 at URC:
A couple of years ago I banged the back end of a double play at first, with the first baseman stretching toward me (toward right field). As soon as I did, all hell broke loose and here came the first base and head coaches. Right there I had a small hint that something was not right. When I looked up and saw David Wiley at second base easing toward me, it was immediately apparent from his body language that he was coming not to get the troops off of me and make it a one-on-one, but instead to tell me something. So I immediately put my hands up and said "Wait a second. . . " and asked Wiley if the foot had come off the bag. He said, "only about two feet or so," so I immediately changed the call.
[my emphasis]
The point is that Wiley did not jump right in yelling "his foot was off the bag," but instead created a situation in which I would know to ask for help and then do so. IMHO, that is the best way to handle judgment plays, unlike rule plays, where I continue to believe what I have already said earlier.
To those advocating it's wrong to seek help or change a call, I ask:
- Can you provide any authoritative written training or documentation that negates the emphasis of the rules bodies regarding the official's need to attempt to get the call correct over his perceived dignity?
- Why is PU taught to go down the 1B line and watch the play if not for the purpose of providing help, if needed, and to watch for balls going to DBT?
When you are certain your partner, the PU, is prepared to answer your question of doubt,
it looks like and is great team coordination in seeking his help and getting the call right.
There is no dignity in adhering an obviously blown call if the situation allows for its correction.
Just my opinion,
Freix