Delay...but how long?

[GarthB]

Let me add one note to Peter's post and a slight difference of opinion: Consistency.

I started adding a delay to my calls my second year after having two "out, no he's safe" calls. At first, like you, I experienced some coaches who seemed to not appreciate my new sense of timing. After a brouhaha in which I was accused of allowing the opposing coach to influence my call, my partner informed me that I was not ALWAYS utilizing the same delay. He told me that it appeared that my delay on the REALLY close calls was longer than my delay on FAIRLY close calls.

I was too close to the situation to see that and even to believe it at first. I asked a veteran umpire to come to a game and evaluate me without telling him why. Afterwards, he made a similar comment.

After I began making a conscious effort to assure that ALL calls were made with the same delay, the complaints and accusations went away.