Quote:
Originally Posted by chapmaja
I agree with what others have said. No it is not an absolute cast in stone rule. There are rare exceptions, such as what teebob mentioned, but the general rule should be if you go out, stay out, but observe what is going on.
We observe what is going on because we never know when our view may become important to the play.
I had this play several years ago. Two umpire system, fast pitch HS)
I'm to the left of the SS (runner on 2nd base). There is a fly ball that goes over my head into no mans land. I know the CF is quick and may be able to make a diving catch on the ball. I yell "Going" and head out. The CF just misses making the diving catch so I give a safe signal (trapped ball, my partner actually thought she caught it). CF comes up throwing home. Throw comes home but it way late to get the runner. Catcher notices that the batter made a wide turn at second and guns the ball back to 2nd, trying to get her coming back. My partner has absolutely no angle on the play whatsoever, so he calls her safe (Don't guess an out). The DC comes out and is rather animated that the runner never got back to the base. Finally my plate umpire comes out and asks what I saw. "She never got back to the base". He calls her out. The OC (3rd base box) is about to come unglued with me. Thankfully the first base coach intercepted the coach because she had the same angle and saw the same thing.
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The issue with coming back to the infield is a double (opposite) call. I saw this one time and it isn't pretty because it is impossible to reconcile.
I was always told (by the same folks Steve usually cites) that not coming back doesn't mean you don't watch, even slowly working your way back toward the infield. However, you don't get to the point you spook your partner, s/he has to know they've got to make the call.