Perception or Reality

[dfwump]

Originally Posted by BSUmp16

Here’s the sitch: Adult mens game; OBR. I’m on the bases in “A” and the Batter hits a ball to F6 who’s deep in the hole. B/R reaches 1st when the throw from F6 to F3 goes wide. B/R makes the turn towards 2nd and then realizes that the wide throw to F3 has hit the fence and bounced directly back to F3 who fields the ball. B/R retreats to 1st, diving back to the bag with dust flying. But the ball is clearly there and F3's glove is down for the easy tag. Should be a “no brainer” out.

However, I’ve got a great angle on the play and it’s clear to me that although F3 has the ball down to make the tag in plenty of time, B/R has slid into 1st avoiding the tag by a couple of inches. The only ones in the whole park who know F3 missed the tag is the B/R and me. I don’t think even F3 believes he missed the tag (but he did).

So here’s the question: Do I call him out (which is what everyone in the park believes is the case) or do I call him safe (which, although correct, is really going to cause a sh*t storm, with both teams thinking I kicked an easy one). Which is more important: perception or reality? I know what I did - What would you do?

Beyond any shadow of doubt, I would have an out. C'mon. this is an easy one!

Mike C

[rbmartin]

If you want to work a ballgame and have ALL the fans like you, sell peanuts. If you want to work a game and leave with the satisfaction of knowing that you were in proper position to make the correct call and properly educated as to the rules of the game, be an umpire and make the CORRECT call.

So, in this case, call the runner safe and then if the defensive coach comes out to argue, very briefly explain to him that his F3 missed the tag and how he missed the tag. AS OZZY said, an immediate "SAFE, MISSED THE TAG!" would go a long way toward preventing any "sh*t storm".

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

if you want to work a ballgame and have all the fans like you, sell beer.

ftfy.

[gordon30307]

On a play where there are 18 people on the field plus your partner expecting the call to go a certain way you better have a good reason why the call defied expectations. A safe "no tag" is one way. On the other hand working your average adult baseball when outs are hard to come by you might want to get this out while you can. Just a thought

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by dfwump

Beyond any shadow of doubt, I would have an out. C'mon. this is an easy one!

Mike C

Count the votes.

[MikeStrybel]

Another expected call minion.

Call what you see, not what others want you to see. It is the least you can do to be considered impartial.

[kylejt]

If you're going to make the correct call, on a play like this, you've got to sell it like Oz and Mr. Martin have said. Good umpires learn how to sell a call, when it's not the "expected" one. Plus, on a really close one, you've got to sell the Hell out of it.