Voluntary Release Play...

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I didn't take my eyes off the play, which is the only reason I saw the ball on the ground in the first place.

The problem was I was in B and as the fielder pivoted to make a potential throw home I was looking at his back. Therefore, if and when his hands came together, and the ball was being transferred, I would have missed it. To me it seemed odd that I would have that happen, and never see the ball on its way to the ground, unless his legs were blocking me out of that.

My last piece of evidence was that the ball didn't come flying out, as it typically does on a transfer.

All my evidence was completely circumstantial, because I never saw the ball come of the glove in the first place, or knew when it happened (I know I first saw it on the ground when the fielder had already pivoted to make a throw home).

I guess maybe its just a pitfall of a 2 man system, but I don't feel confident going to bed chalking up that excuse.

Your only problem was timing. Make sure you know where the ball is before making the call.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Your only problem was timing. Make sure you know where the ball is before making the call.

The problem wasn't timing, my problem was literally not seeing the play. It wasn't that I had my mind made up before I had processed it all, its that my eyes were literally incapable of seeing part of the play.

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

The problem wasn't timing, my problem was literally not seeing the play. It wasn't that I had my mind made up before I had processed it all, its that my eyes were literally incapable of seeing part of the play.

It happens. X-ray goggles aren't standard umpiring gear.

Just don't make it a habit.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

The problem wasn't timing, my problem was literally not seeing the play. It wasn't that I had my mind made up before I had processed it all, its that my eyes were literally incapable of seeing part of the play.

Four magic words if you're unsure - SHOW ME THE BALL

[tibear]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Four magic words if you're unsure - SHOW ME THE BALL

Exactly!!

Especially on a steal, if I have any doubt as to where the ball is, I immediately yell, "Show me the ball!!". If the defence raises their glove with the ball then I have an out otherwise save.

The beauty of this is that it tells both benches that I saw the play and have an out but only if the defensive player maintained control of the ball.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by tibear

Exactly!!

Especially on a steal, if I have any doubt as to where the ball is, I immediately yell, "Show me the ball!!". If the defence raises their glove with the ball then I have an out otherwise save.

The beauty of this is that it tells both benches that I saw the play and have an out but only if the defensive player maintained control of the ball.

So ... you guys are going to start giving fielders direction about showing you the ball when they are in the middle of trying to initiate another play? Egads, surely not. On one like this, the umpire merely needs to wait.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

So ... you guys are going to start giving fielders direction about showing you the ball when they are in the middle of trying to initiate another play? Egads, surely not. On one like this, the umpire merely needs to wait.

We're arguing the same point.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by waltjp

We're arguing the same point.

I suppose you forgot the four little magic words. Read post #22 for a refresher.

[tibear]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

So ... you guys are going to start giving fielders direction about showing you the ball when they are in the middle of trying to initiate another play? Egads, surely not. On one like this, the umpire merely needs to wait.

Obviously, I wait until the play is over before asking for the ball. When I said immediately, I implied immediately after the play is over. If F4 jumps up and then throws the ball somewhere else, I don't need to ask for the ball now do I??

You ask for the ball when the play has ended and you're not sure where the ball is.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by tibear

Obviously, I wait until the play is over before asking for the ball. When I said immediately, I implied immediately after the play is over. If F4 jumps up and then throws the ball somewhere else, I don't need to ask for the ball now do I??

You ask for the ball when the play has ended and you're not sure where the ball is.

So what in the world does this have to do with the OP then?

[celebur]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Four magic words if you're unsure - SHOW ME THE BALL

But he wasn't unsure--the ball was clearly on the ground. The only question is how it got there, and asking the fielder to SHOW ME THE BALL doesn't help at this point.

Personally, if I didn't know how the ball got to the ground, safe is the only call I can make.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by celebur

But he wasn't unsure--the ball was clearly on the ground. The only question is how it got there, and asking the fielder to SHOW ME THE BALL doesn't help at this point.

Personally, if I didn't know how the ball got to the ground, safe is the only call I can make.

Not to bash Tuss on this, I think we've all done something similar at some point, but from his own words he started to signal 'safe' but then saw the ball on the ground. He wasn't 'unsure', he was simply wrong.

Timing, timing, timing. See the ball. If you don't see it ask for it. The extra second or two makes all the difference in the world. One play/one call. If the fielder can't produce the ball you signal safe and sell it, if needed, by stating that the fielder does not have possession of the ball.