McCarrrrrverrrrrrrrrrrrr strikes again

[scott1231]

Originally Posted by UMP25

I criticized Tim in the other thread, and I'm not saying Swisher was out, but one need not bend the head down to see a runner's foot leave the bag. I personally have kept my head straight, looking at the ball/glove, then simply and as quickly as I could, glance down to see the runner tag. Having said that, my personal philosophy on appeals--missed base and leaving early ones--is that I don't have an out unless I'm absolutely, positively, totally sure the guy missed the base/left early. If I'm not sure or can't tell for some reason, I don't bang him out.

My point, simply put.

[NickG]

"My point exactly"

Well, the argument would carry more weight if McClelland got the call right. You have to at least look ... at SOME point. He didn't look, so he didn't see it. As someone already pointed out, you better not call something if you don't see it.

[umpjim]

How far would he have to go to line it up?

[UMP25]

Only as much as is necessary to have both the fielder/glove/ball and runner in the same field of vision and plane. If one can do this withOUT having to move his head much, if at all, then it's all the better, because a moving head skews it a bit. It also takes a split second of time away from when the runner actually left.

[scott1231]

Originally Posted by NickG

"My point exactly"

Well, the argument would carry more weight if McClelland got the call right. You have to at least look ... at SOME point. He didn't look, so he didn't see it. As someone already pointed out, you better not call something if you don't see it.

I'm not defending the call. Please note that I did not ever say whether I thought he got it right. I was commenting on one of my least-favorite color commentators and his lack of knowledge about what or how we do what we do.

Agreed, Nick, he was late. A total lack of separation/depth. It looked really bad. But ... where you think that he did not look, I think he did look through at both the catch and the tag.

[SanDiegoSteve]

He never glanced down at Swisher's feet. The second the ball was touched he should have immediately looked down, and if he didn't see a huge gap, then he shouldn't have called the runner out.

[UMP25]

Not necessarily a "huge" gap, Steve, just a noticeable one would suffice.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Not necessarily a "huge" gap, Steve, just a noticeable one would suffice.

To me, a "huge" gap is one that is barely noticeable when lined up properly. T.Mac was not lined up properly. He was moving when he should have just stopped and got the best look he could, as the ball was hit hard. Watch the ball get touched, quickly look at the feet of the runner. Of course, he knows that.

[umpjim]

You try to get lined up. Play might have happened too quick but I have never seen the guy hustle. If you don't get there you do the best you can with a look. In my neck of the woods they have a bench player watching what you are doing and if you were not looking down they will appeal just to put you on the spot even if they know the runner didn't leave early.

[UMP 64]

I love your previous comment and totally agree.
"McCarver sucks but McClleland blew the call.

Good call UMPJIM