pulled foot at 1st - getting help

[Jerry]

I'm from the old school . . . the BU has that call at 1st. If you're not sure whether F3's foot was on the bag or not, you should go with the "information" you do have; and make your "judgement call" (after all; that's what it is anyhow)on your own. Experience umpires do pretty well in "reading" the movements and actions of fielders, coach's expressions, etc. and add those clues to their "skill set" when making calls.

Not to be argumentative at all, but what if the PU was daydreaming? Or looking directly at the play but "seeing" something else? (As if THAT never happens!) Now you've got two umpires who aren't sure of what they saw. And you're still "stuck" with making the call. What if he replied, "I think he was off the bag." instead of a "Yes" or "No". Or God forbid, "I didn't see it." (As if THAT never happens either!)

As for the argument that you ask for help on checked swings . . . that's a requirement of the rules in OBR. Most experienced umpires won't do that either. It's enough having coaches, players and managers argue with one umpire, much less dragging your partner into that situation as well.

Jerry