Asking partner for help...

[SanDiegoSteve]

In my assocaiation, we were instructed back in the late 80s or early 90s to call, "Ball," and to drop the "No, he didn't go" part. The reason given was because it made the PU look like a boob when the BU overruled the call by saying, "Yes, he did" on appeal.

I like the way we were originally taught, which is to say, "Ball, no he didn't go" when we were certain that the batter didn't offer, and then not ask for help no matter how the defense begged. This way, the PU's call stood, and the defense could go pound sand.

The problem was that the PU (it happened to me a couple times) would say, "Ball, no he didn't go" and then the defensive coach would insist that you check with the BU. Sure enough, BU's were overruling the calls, making the PU look horsesh!t. The ones who overruled me got it wrong, because I wouldn't say "No, he didn't go" unless I was 100% certain.

I like an extra strike as much as the next guy. One strike closer to the end of the game. But this asking for help when help isn't necessary can lead to disaster if you have an incompetent BU reversing your calls and making you look bad.