Crew Chief makes a mistake...but they got it right

[Sal Giaco]

With all due respect, I work NCAA Div. I conference baseball here in the Midwest and I work with guys that have less experience than me and guys that have more experience (D-I Regional, Super Regional and College World Series Umpires). The whole "Big Dog" term you guys use gets thrown out the window when you work at the higher levels. The reason is the experience and maturity level of the officials at that level. They don't have egos - they have a mature sense of confidence. Moreover, they are not afraid to admit mistakes or seek help when necessary. Perfect example is the "take your hat off" mechanic if there is a contraversial call on the field where another partner feels like he could add some useful information. Another point is the crew chief on some conference weekend series is NOT always the most experienced umpire on the field. Regarless of your experience level or title (crew chief or not), everyone working on the crew for that particular weekend is on the same level.
By the way, the NCAA is probably the first organization that adopted the "get it right" philosophy. Unlike many other trends in baseball officiating that start at the MLB/Pro level and work their way down into amateur ball... it seems like this time the big leaguers are getting a page out of the NCAA book.