The Expected Call?

[blueump]

I got a chance to watch a game tonight as a fan instead of dressed in the normal blues. Had a play at second that was quite interesting from my vantage point. I clearly understand "judgement" calls and the maturity of avoiding the nit picking, but this was WAY wrong from my viewpoint.

Throw from a routine grounder goes to F3 who misses it. There is a short fence behind him but R1 heads for second anyway. The throw clearly beats him, by at least 6 steps, and the fielder waits for the slide before he even starts to attempt a tag. R1 comes to a complete stop on top of the bag before the tag hits him near the chin. The field blue never hesitates, but pumps him out and heads back to the A position.

Sure the throw beat him, but...ouch, this wasn't even close. It was definitely the "expected" call. Just curious, how many veteran officials here usually call the runner out, just because the ball beats the runner.

[DG]

This is definitely not an "expected" call. He tagged him on the chin while he was standing on the bag. If he had the ball 6 steps before the runner got there he could have done a better job.

An expected call is when F3 throws the ball to F6, who puts the glove down in front of the bag in plenty of time to make the tag on the sliding runner but misses by an inch or two.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by blueump

I got a chance to watch a game tonight as a fan instead of dressed in the normal blues. Had a play at second that was quite interesting from my vantage point. I clearly understand "judgement" calls and the maturity of avoiding the nit picking, but this was WAY wrong from my viewpoint.

Throw from a routine grounder goes to F3 who misses it. There is a short fence behind him but R1 heads for second anyway. The throw clearly beats him, by at least 6 steps, and the fielder waits for the slide before he even starts to attempt a tag. R1 comes to a complete stop on top of the bag before the tag hits him near the chin. The field blue never hesitates, but pumps him out and heads back to the A position.

Sure the throw beat him, but...ouch, this wasn't even close. It was definitely the "expected" call. Just curious, how many veteran officials here usually call the runner out, just because the ball beats the runner.

Maybe the BU had a dinner date & needed to get some outs

I like to call outs as much as any umpire, in fact I love the word 'out' ('strike' is my second favorite baseball word) but the play has to be a lot closer than what you described for me to give them the 'expected' call.

[chuckfan1]

Just a recent experience that happenned to me, digest as you wish, just another thought to the process....
Worked a HS game recently with two teams here in So Cal who are both ranked in the TOP 20 in the state.
I had the bases. On the dish was a D1 umpire who works a few high school games a season with guys who want to move up (me). This way he gets a chance to work with them, as part of the evaluation process...
Anyways..... had a steal of 2nd, F2 great throw, ball beats runner, F4 had to reach for the ball a bit, and come back with the tag.
I adjust and see a "no tag" of R1. I signaled "safe". Off coach comes to the foul line and asked if I had "no tag". I said yes. That was it. He was somewhat agitated, but nothing over the top. Went back to dugout.
Afterwards, in reviewing the game, my partner said I "missed" that play and should have been an out, in the way that I explained the play.
Great throw, F4, drops the glove down, and comes up all in one motion. Yes, he may have missed an actual tag, but on that play in particular, this is one you could file under "Expected Call". Said thats the way its done at higher levels, and no one would have said a peep.
That F4 is making the play that way, possibly not to get injured. But to everyone watching, it LOOKS like an out, its expectd by all, including both coaches, so call the out.
In retrospect, I knew I should have had an out on that play.
Just my couple cents...Jeff

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by DG

This is definitely not an "expected" call. He tagged him on the chin while he was standing on the bag. If he had the ball 6 steps before the runner got there he could have done a better job.

An expected call is when F3 throws the ball to F6, who puts the glove down in front of the bag in plenty of time to make the tag on the sliding runner but misses by an inch or two.

I agree. It has to be a little close to give them the out. And a high tag doesn't do it for me.

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by DG

This is definitely not an "expected" call. He tagged him on the chin while he was standing on the bag. If he had the ball 6 steps before the runner got there he could have done a better job.

An expected call is when F3 throws the ball to F6, who puts the glove down in front of the bag in plenty of time to make the tag on the sliding runner but misses by an inch or two.

I agree 100%!

In order to get the "expected call" the defense has to play in the "expected way."

What was this F6 thinking? His unusual and cavalier manner in applying a tag should result in whatever happens. If the runner was on the bag when tagged (on the chin!), then he's SAFE!

Unusual plays can have unusual results ... and that's not the umpire's fault.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN