Quote:
Originally posted by refman
Warren.....you're missing the point on this one. Your long, detailed explanation/rule references regarding "judgement" are not being disputed. On a pulled foot situation, the umpire making the call from the "C" position makes his out/safe call using his "judgement" at the time. From that point, if there was a pulled foot, witnessed by the plate umpire, and questioned by the 1st base coach (or other qualified offensive representative), and if the appropiate steps are taken by the offense to request the base umpire to please check with the plate umpire....then proper mechanics and common sense dictate to do do. If the foot was pulled, and the PU tells the BU in their private little discussion, then the BU changes his call to "get it right". Plain and simple.....no "judgement" .....that was used to make the out/safe call. And you make the out/safe call before asking the plate ump for any kind of help.
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Perhaps we'll have to A2D, Refman, because I understand your point perfectly but I think you're off base on several counts:
- Allowing an appeal on a judgement decision is breach of 9.02(a)
- Changing a judgement decision once you've made it is a breach of 9.02(a)
- If you ignore points 1 and 2, then you leave yourself open to question on EVERY judgement decision with which the coach(s) disagree
- If you ignore points 1 and 2 there will be occasions, like the play I presented in my last response, where you simply CANNOT unravel what has happened since your initial judgement decision - it becomes a lose-lose course to follow.
There is good reason for the rules requiring that judgement decisions are "
final", and are NOT open to question. If you entertain one such objection then you are bound to entertain them ALL, or be accused of discrimination and bias. Rule 9.02(a) was intended to protect umpires from that very eventuality. It was codified in the full knowledge that adhering to the rule might mean an occasional "bad" call may go uncorrected.
Please, Refman, try to look at the BIG picture. The game is WAY bigger than simply getting an individual Safe/Out call "right". Getting one call "right" may even cost you your ability to control the whole game. Despite BFair's naive protestations, this isn't about preserving umpire dignity for its own sake. It is about the maintenance of necessary authority for the good of the game and in the best interests of all participants. It's about GAME MANAGEMENT. Umpire's make judgement calls, NOT coaches, managers, players or spectators. It takes some officials years to learn that lesson. Some NEVER learn it. I hope you do not fall in the latter category.
Cheers
[Edited by Warren Willson on Jul 16th, 2003 at 08:05 AM]