NLCS-Game 6 (and final)

[Kaliix]

I would venture to say that if you know anything about umpiring and know that with six umpires on the field, you would have to have a good idea that if you were the umpire at first, you would be watching to play develop from your position at first and because of that position, probably have a real good look at a tag of a runner going past the second baseman towards the second base bag. Knowing that, you could feel fairly certain that if you were to ask for help, your parter has a good shot of seeing the play.

Just because the umpires huddle, doesn't mean that someone doesn't have a clue. The call has already been made. If the calling umpire knows he got straightlined and has the manager out strenuously arguing that he blew the call, maybe asking for help would be warranted.

Since I didn't see the play, but from what I've read, Larusa didn't put up a big argument, I'd stick with the call.

But if the situation is different and Larusa is seriously arguing that I missed the call and screwed the pooch, and I know I got straightlined and that there is a good possibility that my partner could help, maybe I find out if he can.

Originally posted by PeteBooth
[ Originally posted by mcrowder

I'll say again... U2 KNEW he did not see the tag (my evidence - the lack of a tag). Most of us who have done this for a while KNOW when we are straightlined. Most of us, when this happens, have no recourse most of the time... but when we do (when the straightlined play is visible by another umpire), we ask for help (this includes, predominately, the "normal" help calls listed above, but is not limited to just those calls). An umpire in MLB is certainly likely to be much better than almost all of us... but should also know when we was straightlined.

As an umpire when it's MY CALL how can I assume that another umpire has a better angle than I did. Suppose the umpires did as you suggest. Called Time, huddled and NO-ONE really saw the TAG/NO TAG - Now what.

As soon as the umpires huddle, EVERYONE knows that YOU meaning Gibson have no clue whether the runner was safe / out. Now even after huddling no other umpire can help. Guess what! A CALL still needs to be made. Now get ready.

IMO, Gibson showed us how to handle a situation in which we are not in proper position. It's a fact of life that one time or another all of us will get caught out of position. It's just not in front of 1 million people to see.

I have done what Gibson did myself. I get caught out of position and look for some clues (players expression) and then SELL the call either way. We can all give examples of how players made our call for us by their actions or expressions. If you do as you suggest, a RHUBARB could easily happen. LaRussa can be Pinella like sometimes and no REAL argument came about.

As mentioned Gibson did the right thing. When Ledge gave up the HR to PuHolse the other night did Ledge ask for help after the fact. He probably wanted to take that pitch back but that's baseball.

Pete Booth