Asking for Help

[billken]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I "owe" only that there be a level playing field for the game.

As it has been said many times before: "If players and coaches didn't lie and cheat you wouldn't need officials."

Few high school ages players have invested "more skin" than the guys I umpire with . . .

T

I agree with your first statement...we are saying the same thing.

I think that kids who work out daily, spend countless hours in the cage, travel to summer games, and are dedicated to being their best do have more skin than I do. I dedicate a fair amount of my time and energy, but not 4-5 hours a day to officiating. Obviously, a coach who's job depends on wins and losses has a fair amount at stake as well.

I'm not going to have a policy that assumes that I'm infallible. I'm going to be confident, do my best, and apply my knowledge of the game and the rules to my calls. But to say that my partner can't ever help me is, in my opinion, elevating me to some sort of God-like being. I can own my calls, but I can ask for help in certain circumstances and still be a very strong official.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by billken

I agree with your first statement...we are saying the same thing.

I think that kids who work out daily, spend countless hours in the cage, travel to summer games, and are dedicated to being their best do have more skin than I do. I dedicate a fair amount of my time and energy, but not 4-5 hours a day to officiating. Obviously, a coach who's job depends on wins and losses has a fair amount at stake as well.

I'm not going to have a policy that assumes that I'm infallible. I'm going to be confident, do my best, and apply my knowledge of the game and the rules to my calls. But to say that my partner can't ever help me is, in my opinion, elevating me to some sort of God-like being. I can own my calls, but I can ask for help in certain circumstances and still be a very strong official.

This philosophy would be great if officials took it to heart and asked questions of partners when the question was truly required.

I've had this happen twice in 20 years. Once I had F4 run in front of me for the "money shot" at first base and the other time F1 short-hopped F3 on a comebacker and I couldn't tell if the fielder had control of the ball (I was lazy and that one was avoidable and a lesson for me). So once in 20 years I really felt I *needed* help. I see some people exceed that in a single *game*.

Unfortunately, the attitudes I see from umpires in a lot of games is that the coach comes out and asks the umpire to "get help" and the umpire simply doesn't have the stones to refuse or thinks it's rude to do so. What those umpires don't realize is that (1) the coach doesn't care about "getting it right", they care about getting it their way and (2) it's our job to put ourselves in the best position to make the call, make it, and have the intestinal fortitude to stick with it.

I worked with a guy a few years ago who, on a grounder while he was in the C position, didn't move to make the call at first. Three times he came to me for help on plays at first base because of his poor base work. I am convinced that on just about every play at first base, the base umpire can put himself in a great position to see what needs to be seen. Angles first, then distance. Don't be afraid to run. Adjust to a poor throw with a step or two and a lean.

The problem is that too many umpires (1) don't know how to work the bases and (2) act as though they can always go to the plate umpire for help on that "tricky" pulled foot, swipe tag, or other such squirrels.

And of course, once the base umpire goes for help, it's open season on such requests and the coaches will *never* stay in the dugout. They'll be out on everything close, trying to shop the call to the most advantageous bidder.

[ozzy6900]

Gotta tell 'ya, the only time I asked for help from my partner was when I was having a heart attack on the field.

1. You get in position to see the play.
2. You see the entire play from start to finish.
3. You find the ball so you see if thee was control or not.
4. You make the call.

It's called 1 play - 1 call. If you are doing your job correctly (it takes time to learn), when a coach approaches you to ask for help, you just tell him, "John, if I needed help to make the call, I would have asked for it before I made the call. Let's play ball, John." and hustle into position.

I agree that umpires need to have the gonads to basically say "no" to the coach but the umpire needs to be in position and properly trained. Going out there and expecting your partner to be "your backup" is not how you approach officiating. In the rare instance where you need to meet and discuss a ruling or call, that is acceptable (as noted previously from NCAA & MLBUM).

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Gotta tell 'ya, the only time I asked for help from my partner was when I was having a heart attack on the field.

Pussy.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Pussy.

OK, that's twice now I've had to scold you for not using a smilie. You're going to give him another heart attack.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900
Gotta tell 'ya, the only time I asked for help from my partner was when I was having a heart attack on the field.

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Pussy.

Yeah, I was weak that time, but the first time, I was able to call 911 myself! He, he, he!

[dash_riprock]

Way to stay out there Oz.

[Eastshire]

I almost never ask for help, not because I'm philosophically opposed to it, but because I'm never sure if the PU is even looking at my play. I have my responsibilities and he has his, why do I assume he's looking at my responsibility.

If I kick it, I just need to work harder.