Beating myself up about this one...

[TussAgee11]

Last game of the day today. 2 strikes - check swing pitch that goes to the backstop. I call ball and wait for the catcher to appeal. He never does. Everyone yells throw to first, the catcher scrambles, gets the ball, and throws to first. Partner signals out!

Dang it, we huddled, my partner said he knew he went and didn't know that I didn't call it. Offensive coach was not too bad about it, he made some valid points towards me in a soft tone of voice which I bit my lip on because I knew he was right.

I'm assuming I should have just appealed it myself immediately, correct?

Like I said, I'm not too pleased about my gross miss.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Last game of the day today. 2 strikes - check swing pitch that goes to the backstop. I call ball and wait for the catcher to appeal. He never does. Everyone yells throw to first, the catcher scrambles, gets the ball, and throws to first. Partner signals out!

Dang it, we huddled, my partner said he knew he went and didn't know that I didn't call it. Offensive coach was not too bad about it, he made some valid points towards me in a soft tone of voice which I bit my lip on because I knew he was right.

I'm assuming I should have just appealed it myself immediately, correct?

Like I said, I'm not too pleased about my gross miss.

If no one appeals, you call the pitch a ball, and no one else called the pitch a strike, why is the batter out? Do a pregame next time. You shouldn't appeal unless you need help and are blocked out. If you thought the batter offered, ring him up. Your initial call of ball is what muddied up the waters.

Use this verbal mechanic on a check swing.

"Strike, on the swing" or "Strike, on the pitch".

Then use the proper mechanic for which ever call you make.

2 strikes? Yeah, you should appeal yourself if you have ANY doubt.

Don't beat yourself up too much about it though.

[TussAgee11]

This wasn't the problem, ST. I didn't see a swing attempt - although BU said he easily went around. I was completely honed in on the pitch - curveball that was close to the outside corner. I could not rule if the batter swang because I didn't see the attempt that BU saw.

We did have a pregame - but next time I will add this sitch in.

I was waiting for the catcher to appeal because I figured he would, not because I thought he went. If I thought he went, I would have rang him up right there.

With 2 strikes, I am VERY liberal with going for help without being asked. Your situation is the reason why.

Curveball outside with 2 strikes? I am going for help if he even moved his shoulders a bit!

But I got to thinking, how could you not have seen in your peripheral vision the batters attempt? If you were keeping your head still and moving only your eyes, you should have seen the shoulders move.

Did you turn your head with the pitch? If you don't know, you should really have somebody keep an eye on you to see if you are moving your head with the pitch and put an end to that bad habit in a hurry!

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

This wasn't the problem, ST. I didn't see a swing attempt - although BU said he easily went around. I was completely honed in on the pitch - curveball that was close to the outside corner. I could not rule if the batter swang because I didn't see the attempt that BU saw.

We did have a pregame - but next time I will add this sitch in.

I was waiting for the catcher to appeal because I figured he would, not because I thought he went. If I thought he went, I would have rang him up right there.

I am really trying to make sense of this?

If you did not see the attempt, which happens, then how in the world would you be expecting the catcher to appeal? Maybe he didn't see it either which seems obvious because he had to be told to throw to first.

Did your partner call him out for the attempt or for not reaching first before the throw. Was there a runner on first? How many outs? Did the batter have a right to go to first on a dropped third strike?

Missing the attempt is not all that bad, it happens.

But it is hard to give you our opinion, if were not given all the info.

[Cub42]

In a situation like you described, it is a good mechanic to go to your partner immediately for a check swing. This is a mechanic we use in higher level ball when you have a passed ball on a check swing of any kind. This will prevent a situation like you had, with a coach creating chaos, plus giving him the opportunity to take a stroll down memory lane. You do not need to wait for the catcher to ask you to check. This is also a good mechanic to employ on a 3/2 count on a check. Don't wait, go right away. Let it go and move on. It is how we learn

[BigTex]

Read the OP. Tuss did not have a swing, called the pitch a ball, nobody asked for an appeal. the count should now be 1-2. BU threw him under the bus. We can talk all we want about when to go for an un-requested appeal, but that is not what happened. Me and BU are having a serious heart-to-heart after the game.

[JJ]

In a case like this, if I see the catcher take off for the ball and hear people yelling, that's a tipoff to me that I might have missed something obvious to everyone but me and this might be a good time to ask for help.

Been there, done that. Learned from it.

JJ

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JJ

Been there, done that. Learned from it.

Ah, this is the magical part that seems to elude so many.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by BigTex

Read the OP. Tuss did not have a swing, called the pitch a ball, nobody asked for an appeal. the count should now be 1-2. BU threw him under the bus. We can talk all we want about when to go for an un-requested appeal, but that is not what happened. Me and BU are having a serious heart-to-heart after the game.

Originally Posted by Steve Tyler

No appeal, no strike.

What's so hard to understand?

The both of you fabricated a strike out of thin air.

Wrong.

It doesn't matter if no one asked for help; the base umpire should give it immediately in such situations. It's called a voluntary strike and is an excellent mechanic to employ.

When the batter can become a runner on a ball that gets away from the catcher, the base umpire rules on a check swing without waiting for the request for help from his plate partner. The MLBUM explains this, and it is an approved mechanic under OBR and NCAA. The problems it prevents is worth it.

[TussAgee11]

Just to review the thread so I fully understand what should have / could have been done.

1) I could have appealed it myself immediately to BU if I suspected batter may have attempted

OR

2) BU could have taken the liberty of yelling "HE WENT" while signaling with his fist.

Either one of these would have been fine, correct?

[DG]

There is, of course, another possibility, ie your partner was wrong on his assessment. Next time you have a checked swing on a 3rd strike not caught go to BU immediately, as soon as it is clear the catcher did not catch it.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Just to review the thread so I fully understand what should have / could have been done.

1) I could have appealed it myself immediately to BU if I suspected batter may have attempted

OR

2) BU could have taken the liberty of yelling "HE WENT" while signaling with his fist.

Either one of these would have been fine, correct?

#2) Not "could have" but should have for the base umpire.