Asking partner for help...

[PeteBooth]

[

QUOTE=Fritz]Different scenario but curious as to how you would handle this -

2 man crew, I'm PU, partner in B with R1. Pitch comes in high and outside, batter starts a swing and checks. I have a clear view and call "no he did not, Ball!"

Simply call the pitch a ball no need to add "No he didn't go". When you call the pitch a ball it is now OBVIOUS that he didn't go otherwise you would have called the pitch a strike.

On the flip side the PRO mechanic if you call the pitch a strike on a check swing is to point at the batter and indicate it is a strike. You can also add "he offered"

As others mentioned simply go to your partner. What's the BIG deal. It takes all of 10 seconds.

Personally I do not care what my partner calls. I trust his judgement and when I point to him I simply want him to give me what he's got plain and simple.

Also, with the exception of FED and some youth leagues, OBR / NCAA you MUST go. FWIW I do the same in a FED game.

Pete Booth

[jkumpire]

When I went to pro school in the Dark Ages, we were taught to say: "No he didn't" if you were the PU.

Is this a change in MLB or MiLB mechanics, or is that just your practice?

I personally like to say "No he didn't" since I am selling my check swing call, and maybe dropping by partner a hint on an appeal. A good partner will overrule me if I am wrong, so why worry? Selling my call with voice will save me and my partner trouble on occasion.

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

On the flip side the PRO mechanic if you call the pitch a strike on a check swing is to point at the batter and indicate it is a strike. You can also add "he offered"

the flip side of what? as is mentioned in the post above mine, the mechanic taught at the umpire schools (was and still) is, "ball, no he didn't go."

[canadaump6]

Is it acceptable to call time and approach your base partner to see if there was catcher's interference?

[RPatrino]

Sure, don't you call time on catcher's interference?? Lah me!!

[LMan]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Sure, don't you call time on catcher's interference?? Lah me!!

Heh. I would love to see this in person.

[Dave Reed]

Originally Posted by LMan

Heh. I would love to see this in person.

Saw it last August at the !4U USSSA Elite 24 World Series , which is generally considered to be the biggest tournament of the year for this age group. Championship game, four man crew, the stadium at Disney Wide World of Sports, R2, R3, 2 outs. Catcher interferes, weak grounder to short, F6 throws to first, but first baseman has already walked away and B/R isn't running because time has been called-- by part of the crew.

It took 45 minutes to re-start the game, because the crew couldn't decide what to do. They did spend 10 minutes off the field, evidently in phone conversations. Ultimately they scored the two runners, and placed B/R at second base.

One good thing about talking 45 minutes to reach a decision: there was no comment of any kind from either team. They just resumed play.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

It took 45 minutes to re-start the game, because the crew couldn't decide what to do. They did spend 10 minutes off the field, evidently in phone conversations. Ultimately they scored the two runners, and placed B/R at second base.

Wow. I wonder whom they called. It sure wasn't Bob Jenkins.

[TxUmp]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Is it acceptable to call time and approach your base partner to see if there was catcher's interference?

Why do we umpires persist in perpetuating this total misnomer? It is CATCHER OBSTRUCTION!! Not catcher interference.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by TxUmp

Why do we umpires persist in perpetuating this total misnomer? It is CATCHER OBSTRUCTION!! Not catcher interference.

Only FED uses the (sensible) term 'catcher obstruction'. In Canada, they use OBR-based rules, in which the term 'catcher interference' is correct.

[TxUmp]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Only FED uses the (sensible) term 'catcher obstruction'. In Canada, they use OBR-based rules, in which the term 'catcher interference' is correct.

Interference is an act by the offense (or - rarely - by an umpire). Obstruction is an act by the defence. How can "catcher's interference" be the correct term, regardless of which rule book is used? I understand that "catcher's obstruction" is commonly used, but that doesn't make it correct.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by TxUmp

Interference is an act by the offense (or - rarely - by an umpire). Obstruction is an act by the defence. How can "catcher's interference" be the correct term, regardless of which rule book is used? I understand that "catcher's obstruction" is commonly used, but that doesn't make it correct.

Because that's what OBR calls it. See 6.08(c) Comment.

If you don't like, call MLB and the union and revise the CBA.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Is it acceptable to call time and approach your base partner to see if there was catcher's interference?

Depends on the circumstances. For most "common" CI, I find it hard to believe that BU would have a better view than PU.

[Tim C]

" . . . one of our senior guys that oversees a number of the fields is passionately against asking for check swing help when the partner is in the middle of the field. But you're right, . . . "

Ask this yoyo if he'll send me a PM and I'll explain to him that he is either to dumb to umpire (i.e. does not understand the checked/unchecked swing issue) or doesn't have enough guts to make the call (or have his umpires have the courage).

I HATE people that say you can't make this call from inside.

I never say: "No, he didn't go!"

Regards,

Added Note:

After reading some of the posts by our younger umpires (not Canadaump BTW) I believe in the axiom:

"Children should be seen and not heard."

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Added Note:

After reading some of the posts by our younger umpires (not Canadaump BTW) I believe in the axiom:

"Children should be seen and not heard."

Thanks Tee. You can even see me for free now that I've posted a video of me umpiring.