Common Sense Umpiring

[ENelson]

Again there is no perfect solution for every situation. You must evaluate the situation. I am concerned that there would be an umpire that would not want to talk to coaches. Baseball is a game that there is interaction many times between umpires, coaches and players. If you put up that shield and lack that communication skill you will have difficulty. I attended the NCAA umpire conference in Atlanta. The director of umpires Gary Nelson discussed the topic that umpires need to be approachable. They need to listen, and they need to strive to make the right call. Yes, that included an umpire to evaluate the situation and possibly discuss the call with partners and make the right call. The Major Leagues are doing this as well as the NCAA. David Yaste supported this philosophy and Tony Thompson and other supervisors expect tht from umpires that work for them.

Hopefully this does not open the door to umpires being intimidated and asking about every close call. A whacker should never be changed, but a fair\foul Home Run, a dropped ball, or a interference should be made correctly.

If the umpire does not allow the coach to discuss these situations then the integrity of the game is at risk.

Again, there are many ways to obtain the solution and the circumstances warrant the best means to work it out. Use Common Sense.