Who's Got First?

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Garth Vader

i would think that getting the call right would be the most important thing

It is but four posters before you sure don't think so.

Check your egos at the door and get the call right.

[johnnyg08]

Right, but mechanically when I know that my partner wasn't even looking, I'm not going to ask him just to appease somebody who's never opened a mechanics manual.

[Rich]

I like how those with an agenda always lean on the ego canard.

Truth is, umpires have specific responsibilities on plays. Since the base umpire is in B, that means that there are runners (I'm guessing) on first or first/third.

If there's R1/R3, the PU has to watch the touch of the plate. Period. Even if the umpire tried to sneak a peek, he's behind the plate and probably 95-100 feet away with a terrible look.

If there's R1, how is the crew handling R1 going to third? If it was agreed that the PU was covering third on this play, he's already heading up the line and the BU has to move to get in place to get this call. If the BU is covering third, then the PU might be able to get up the line to get a decent look.

But instead of wringing our hands and talking about "getting help," how about I ask the OP what he did to move into position to make this call. Did he move aggressively a few steps towards the 45 foot line between the plate and first in order to get the best possible angle on the play, keeping in mind there could be a subsequent play, depending on coverages?

I guarantee this: I will never ask a partner when I'm certain I have the best possible look at a play and I know my partner doesn't have a better look. And that means that me asking for help happens about every 10 years. I've worked with many base umpires who stand still, get straight-lined, and ask multiple times in a GAME. With umpires like this, we're dealing with a symptom here, not the disease.