Getting it right!

[PeteBooth]

Living and dying with a bad call is kind of like keeping troops battling in a foreign country without an exit strategy. It makes no sense. When you can fix one of your errors, you are smarter for doing it.

I disagree.

Players React to an umpires call RIGHT or WRONG

Let's take this play

Last inning score tied. One out R1/R3. Ground ball to F4 who attempts a tag on R1 and then throw to F3 to send the game into extra innings.

Let's Freeze at the moment F4 attempts a tag on R1 as this call is crucial. Since R3 is the winning run, If U2 rules No tag, chances are F4 will fire home and try and get R3. If U2 signals out, then F4 will simply flip to F3 to send the game into extra innings.

Let's say U2 ruled Safe No-Tag, F4 threw home and R3 was safe game over EXCEPT wait a minute, U1 who had a better angle clearly saw the tag on R1 by F4. Now the umpires hudle, change the call. Now what! Would the defense have turned the DP, etc. etc.

Same is true on the flip side. Suppose U2 called R1 out and the defense turned the DP to send the game into extra innings and again, the umpires hudle rule that R1 was safe. Now what Game OVER.

Therefore, Windy I agree with your philosophy if it involves only ONE runner, because changing the call does NOT EFFECT another play. However, when we have multiple runners then WE as UMPIRES MUST and SHOULD stick to the Call even if we Kick it because to change it causes more havoc.

Pitcher's give up Gopher balls - Do we give them a mulligan
Players' make errors
managers make mistakes

In all the above there are no second chances. When the ball sails over the Fence, or through someone's legs (remember Bill Buckner), or the manager makes a terrible pitching or player move, we do not ask the manager to Group together with his staff and change things. It's called part of the game.

Contrary to popular Belief, Umpires will make mistakes too. Remember a baseball game is 9 innings long and the smallest series is the best 3 out of five games, so in a nutshell, the best team will win regardless of a bad call or not.

Pete Booth

[Edited by PeteBooth on Oct 14th, 2004 at 05:26 PM]