The phantom out (Expected call)

[chuckfan1]

--If its a "sloppy" tag, then the play didnt play out as "expected". Then you might have a "safe, no tag!". If the throw is good, and the fielder drops the glove down, and brings it back up, what looks like an out, is an out. Similar to a ground ball, and F1 pulling off the bag a hair before the ball hits his mitt, when BR is out by several feet. Are you going to safe that?
--If you dont give the "expected" call, especially at higher levels, the coaches arnt used to seeing that. They see that called out every time, and if you safe it cause F6 missed the tag by an inch, you may be technically right, but for intents and purposes, its an out.
--When I first started, I didnt buy into the expected call either. But as Ive moved up, talked with higher level officials, seen how the game is called and played, thats just the way it is. Any deviation, will cause you problems.
--I posted this before, but Ill mention it again. I worked two HS games this season with a D1 umpire here in So Calif. He does all the big schools here, the Cal State Fullertons, UCLA, USC, Stanford, etc. He assigns for JC ball. Im trying to move up to the JC level. He works a few HS games a year with guys like myself to evaluate. So this is coming from someone who goes through this stuff.
I was on the bases. R1 stealing. Very smililar play to what we're discussing. F2 strong throw. F6 nice reception. Ball beats runner, F6 lays glove down, and I see a miss, albeit an inch or so. I safe it. Def coach comes out a few feet, and asks "miss the tag?". Meaning, it sure looked like an out to everyone else, what could have happenned to give a safe?
I say yep, missed the tag.
In discussing after the game, my partner asked what I had. I said I had a miss. He said, that at any level above "ankle-biters" that is an out. And if I want to make it to the next level and be successful, thats an out. He agreed that if any part of the play deviates (bad throw, poor reception, bobble) then go with that, but if all the elements are there, throw, reception, glove down then up, its an out. Yeah, were out there to see things others dont, and rule accordingly, but were ALSO out there to affirm what everyone sees.
He mentioned something interesting also. He said..."I dont know if you played ball when you were younger......." Whcih tells me in his observation of my performance Im not calling certain aspects to what is, yes, expected.
No one has to question integrity. This seems pretty easy. R1 tries to steal, ball clearly beats him, F6 lays down glove, and brings it back up a hair in front of a sliding runner trying to keep his hand intact. We want outs. The runner knows hes out, the fielder knows hes out, as well as the coaches. Geez, get the out. And at the upper levels, none of the aforementioned will say a peep. Because, thats the way its played.
Just my opinion....