Steppin on toes

[ozzy6900]

First off, if you need help to make a call, get it before you make the call. Once the call is made, you and everyone else has to live with it.

Now as the PU, if my partner makes a call without asking for help then a manager wants to appeal to me, I tell the manager to go to the umpire that made the call for a discussion/appeal. If my partner (after the manager pleads his case) comes to me, I turn my back and walk the other way. Why? Because in the pre-game, my partner and I discuss how this is to be worked. As the PU, I am always watching his back and I use 2 simple hand signals (palm flat out for safe or fist clenched for out). On a tough call I will emphatically say "good call!" to let the "by-standers" know that I am agreeing with my partner.

I'm not being an S.O.B. about this, I just can't stand an umpire that is indecisive and can't stand up for himself when he makes a call. Again, if you need help on the call, your delay mechanics should allow you to get the help before you make that call. After that, it's in the past.