Calls that may end a game

[TwoBits]

Obstruction in the first inning should be called the same as obstruction in the last inning. Make the CORRECT call, and get ready for a coach to come unglued.

[Robert E. Harrison]

All of us have our own philosophy.
1. Get the call right no matter what.
2. Call the way the assigner/league/commission dictates.
3. Make the expected call in the expected situation.
4. Apply the spirit of the rule and know the letter of the rule.
5. Get even with that coach/batter/player because he just showed me up.
6. That team is too stupid to live much less benefit from my call.
7. This game is out of hand, lets get it over.

I am sure you can add more.

I try to get the call right most of the time but sometimes a few of the other reasons get in the way of my philosophy.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Robert E. Harrison

6. That team is too stupid to live much less benefit from my call.

/thread

[canadaump6]

Call it as you see it. Who cares about the score or what inning it is? Adding the element of principle into your calls will make things too complicated, and increase the probability of blowing one.

[TussAgee11]

There are times you do not call what you saw. The truely great officials of any sport can do this.

I know that I have "seen" things that did not actually happen. I have "seen" things not happen that actually did happen. A great official can know what he saw and use that information to find out what actually happened. What actually happened may not be what you actually saw (most notably in basketball when a lot of calls are made without a steady base).

I'll give you an example. Had a call in a 15U game a couple months ago. I move to 1BLX for what I think will be a banger at the front edge of the plate. The throw came up the line, and I got caught out of position. The runner tried to avoid the catchers tag by running to the pitcher's mound side and stepping in to the plate. The catcher easily had the ball and was going to make an easy tag. As the runner passed the catcher, his hands came down (to where I could no longer see them) in a non-running motion. They came down quickly, right into the area the tag was going to be applied. 2 open hands. And then I saw the glove and the ball on the ground.

Now, did I see the INT? Nope. Did it happen. Yes. Did I call it. Yes. Very bold call, met with much aggravation from the offensive manager.

After talking with BU in the parking lot, he said it was obvious, and I got the call right.

Now, the opposite logic... had a play that I saw perfectly and passed on a call, because I had doubts whether it really happened. I'm PU, runner rounding 3rd. Coach puts up the stop sign, and reaches out and, from what I could tell, physically assisted the runner to stop and get back to 3rd. Now, that's what I saw. But I passed on the call. Why? Because a) I had this coach for many games and he's not an idiot b) There was no play anywhere on this runner and no reason for the coach to do this and most importantly c) I realized that what I saw might not have actually happened.

Asked BU about it in the parking lot, said that the coach absolutely did not touch that kid. He had the line of sight where he could "see through the play" where I was straight-lined. If I had called what I had saw I would have been dead wrong.

So, you can't always call what you see. And you can't ignore what you don't see. You have to use what you see to help you figure out what really happened. 90% of the information we gain comes through our eyes. The other 10% comes through our other senses (hearing definitely), our logic, our anticipation and readiness for a play, our understanding of call sustainability and the limitations of the position we were in to officiate that play, and a degree of common sense.

I might have just confused myself If this makes any sense please let me know so I can pat myself on the back.

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

There are times you do not call what you saw. The truely great officials of any sport can do this.

I know that I have "seen" things that did not actually happen. I have "seen" things not happen that actually did happen. A great official can know what he saw and use that information to find out what actually happened. What actually happened may not be what you actually saw (most notably in basketball when a lot of calls are made without a steady base).

If you don't see the play, or you see something that didn't happen, then you're simply out of position.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I'll give you an example. Had a call in a 15U game a couple months ago. I move to 1BLX for what I think will be a banger at the front edge of the plate. The throw came up the line, and I got caught out of position.

That's a problem.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Now, did I see the INT? Nope. Did it happen. Yes. Did I call it. Yes. Very bold call, met with much aggravation from the offensive manager.

After talking with BU in the parking lot, he said it was obvious, and I got the call right.

Lucky call. One of these days the ball might simply drop out of the glove, and you'll be calling an interference that didn't occur and that you didn't see.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I passed on the call. Why?
Because a) I had this coach for many games and he's not an idiot

Don't let the coach's IQ influence your "judgment".

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

b) There was no play anywhere on this runner and no reason for the coach to do this and most importantly

Assumption is an umpire's worst enemy.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

c) I realized that what I saw might not have actually happened.

If you can't trust your own eyesight, maybe it's time for a new avocation?

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I might have just confused myself If this makes any sense please let me know so I can pat myself on the back.

Better not pat yourself on the back, because your methods of making calls just aren't going to cut it.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

If you don't see the play, or you see something that didn't happen, then you're simply out of position.



That's a problem.




Lucky call. One of these days the ball might simply drop out of the glove, and you'll be calling an interference that didn't occur and that you didn't see.



Don't let the coach's IQ influence your "judgment".



Assumption is an umpire's worst enemy.



If you can't trust your own eyesight, maybe it's time for a new avocation?



Better not pat yourself on the back, because your methods of making calls just aren't going to cut it.

I''m going to be brutally honest with you, friend. All that you said would be exactly correct if all of our games were called in a vaccum. But seeing as we're not afforded the luxury of calling games that way, there are times when we all have been straight lined, used too quick timing on calls, or incorrectly anticipated where a play would develop, not seeing everything we should have. Our goal every time out should be to eliminate these things from happening to us, but it's unrealistic to think yourself or anyone else beyond these type of mistakes. We're human after all. Since I know for a fact you're not above reproach yourself, you might want to lighten up a bit on how you dole out your advice.............



Tim.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by msavakinas

Joe DeRosa used to say at his camps "80% of all travels called aren't actually travels"

"60% of the time, it works every time."

[SanDiegoSteve]

If you can't spell Kobe's name right, perhaps you shouldn't mention him in your posts. Lakers rule. End of discussion.

[bigda65]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

If you can't spell Kobe's name right, perhaps you shouldn't mention him in your posts. Lakers rule. End of discussion.

SDS,

Sorry for the spelling error. I don't dislike him, think he is an awesome player.
I just think he gets calls that the average joe doesn't.
Jordan got calls too!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bigda65

SDS,

Sorry for the spelling error. I don't dislike him, think he is an awesome player.
I just think he gets calls that the average joe doesn't.
Jordan got calls too!

I happens in baseball too. Any sport, really. Except golf. Some pitchers get better corners than say a rookie might get, based on reputation and seniority. It's not right, but that's the way it is, and is an accepted part of the game.

I would love to see the Celtics and Lakers go toe-to-toe in the finals!

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Lakers rule......

And your Padres drool.....................


Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

And your Padres drool.....................


Tim.

Yes, they drool while they suck, and that's annoying!