So I'm doing a game in the bottom of the 12th last night...

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Either way it's not your problem.

I couldn't disagree more Don...as a team of umpires on the field...it's both umps responsibility to get the call right (assume 2 man)...you could be in perfect position and not see a ball dislodged...(since that's the example we're going with)...that's why teams hire two umps...if we're just going to go with whatever calls we see...then lets just use one umpire for all of our games...I get the spirit of what you're saying (and I agree)...but in terms of reality, I can't agree with you.

As long as the call belongs to one of the umpires - once the call is made, that umpire owns the call - right, wrong or indifferent. Only he can change it and only he can ask for help. If he doesn't ask for help you cannot approach him. It is up to the team that is adversely affected to ask the umpire to ask for assistance, to which he can reply yes and ask your help or no, I don't need his help. 99 times out of 100 the umpire with check with his partner and the partner simply confirms yes or no.

From FED 10-1-4 -note verbage in RED

ART. 4... Any umpire's decision which involves judgment, such as whether a hit is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out, is final. But if there is reasonable doubt about some decision being in conflict with the rules, the coach or captain may ask that the correct ruling be made. The umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize or interfere with another umpire's decision unless asked by the one making it.