get it right

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by bellsjc
Now... even if the foul was not seen by either ump, the reaction of the batter had to tell them that he did indeed foul the pitch off his foot. The batter could not think and react that fast if he didn't foul that pitch off his foot. If I was doing this game, after a few seconds had gone by, having realized that the player could not have faked a foul that quickly, I would have gotten together with my partner and called it a foul ball.

I have to disagree here. I have seen players purposely fake being hit when the ball did not even come close to them. You have to be careful if you use only the reaction of the players. That might go into your decision, but it is not the only factor. I had several plays last season where the ball did not even come close, but the batter would just stop trying to get a call for a foul ball on what was a checked swing or a bad swing.

I agree that the umpires should have at least talked. The BU should have said nothing. If a coach comes to me, I would only say, "I cannot offer help, he has to ask me." If my partner asks me and I am not sure, I would tell him what I saw and let him make the final decision.

This play would also be unlikely for me as well. I talk about this in my pregame whether I am the PU or the BU. If my partner does not call the ball dead, I can then assume they did not see anything or they did not have the ball hitting the batter.

Peace