Did Joe West overrule Paul Schrieber Friday?

[Paul L]

It happened at the Washington/Cincinnati game last Friday, June 4. From Bill Ladson of MLB.com:

"The Nationals had just scored their fourth run of the game, as Willie Harris hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Roger Bernadina. At the same time, Ian Desmond tried to advance to third base and was ruled safe by third-base umpire Paul Schrieber.
Reds manager Dusty Baker came out of the dugout to argue that Desmond's foot was off the bag. Before Baker could say anything, first-base umpire Joe West told Baker that the umpires were going to talk it over.
"It looked like [Desmond] came off the bag to me," Baker said. "[Reds third baseman] Scottie [Rolen] is one of the best there is, and that's what I saw. Then they conferred, evidently somebody on the other side must have had a better vantage point than the third-base umpire did."
About 30 seconds later, West ruled that Desmond was out at third.
Desmond then tossed his helmet and West immediately ejected him from the game." (emphasis added.)

AP also reported that West, umping at first, overruled the third base umpire's call. I tried to tell my brothers that no ump, not even a crew chief, can overrule another umpire's call, and got laughed at for not accepting the facts. That it was Joe West, and that after the umpire conference he was the one who signaled the out, lent credibility to their claim. I have looked in vain on the internet for a definitive answer, but Schrieber looked to be in a good position to see the play.

Can anyone say for sure whether Schrieber asked for help or did West unilaterally inject himself into the call? And did Schrieber change his call after getting help from his fellow umps or did West actually overrule the call on his own?

[Paul L]

Here's the play:

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | CIN@WSH: Desmond is ejected after throwing his helmet - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[Paul L]

And here's a video starting at the end of the umpire meeting. I see only West talking and pointing, then the conference breaks up and West signals the out. Desmond tosses his helmet and West tosses him. Riggleman confers with West then appears to be seeking out Schrieber when the video ends.

VIDEO: Umpire Joe West Ejects Ian Desmond, Creates Yet Another Donnybrook - From Our Editors - SBNation.com

[mbyron]

Already a thread on this topic.

Catcher covering third base

[UmpJM]

mbyron,

Not the same play.

JM

[johnnyg08]

I'm sure Baker asked for the crew to get together and ask what each saw...it was the right call, they got it right, they didn't have to place any runners...West, the crew chief reverses the call of safe. Must be an MLB thing where the crew chief makes the call on a play like that or something.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

mbyron,

Not the same play.

JM

Oops. Right, but I've seen that video somewhere around here...

[Tim C]

"I thought you were umpires. You don't know how this works?

"9.04(c) - The crew chief is the decider."

This post ties for the dumbest post ever made on the internet.

T

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Tim C

This post ties for the dumbest post ever made on the internet.

T

Well let's see- the crew gets together to review a call. Someone says "out" (foul - whatever); someone says "safe" (HR - whatever); someone has to decide.


And that doesn't fit the rule how?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Well let's see- the crew gets together to review a call. Someone says "out" (foul - whatever); someone says "safe" (HR - whatever); someone has to decide.


And that doesn't fit the rule how?

You're giving New York education a bad name. Read the rule again.

[mbyron]

The rule does NOT say, "whenever umpires disagree about anything, the crew chief gets to make a call."

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Well let's see- the crew gets together to review a call. Someone says "out" (foul - whatever); someone says "safe" (HR - whatever); someone has to decide.


And that doesn't fit the rule how?

That is when 2 make the call at the same time during the play. Not, on a crew gathering. When that occurs, it is the calling umpire's responsibility to make the call and announce it (which is common practice since he is the one whose call it was). I'm sure the UIC is allowed to announce it in MLB which does many things inappropriately.

I wonder if it is b/c it was Joe West. He decided to take the heat for the call directly since he is the only one who could see it based on the rotation of the play. His angle or U2's angle were the only 2 to tell the foot came off.

The funny thing about the play is the EJ. The runner knew he came off the base based on how he scrambled back. He knew it was the correct call. I think it should have been overturned b/c it wasn't a judgment call. It was a call that U3 couldn't see from his angle.