Foul Tip in Dirt

[Rich]

Originally Posted by nafxos

Thanks for the feedback.

I did make a "thanks for putting me on the spot" comment to my partner after the game, but I said it with a smile. At the time, I wasn't certain if he had screwed up or if it was something I should have been more ready for. And he had 10 years of experience to my 1, so I probably erred too much on the side of deferring to him.

As for the actual call, I rang the batter up. Strike 3. Game over. Nobody on the offense complained, so I think I got it right.

And I'm still not going to call too many check-swing appeals as strikes from B or C, especially if the batter has his back to me. If the PU didn't think it was a swing, it's not like I have a better view.

As someone with 25 years of experience, let me tell you that you're completely wrong. You can make the same judgment from B or C as the plate guy can behind the plate. You have a few advantages -- there's no chance you're going to be blocked and you don't have a pitch to track.

The mindset of not calling a swing from the middle is very old school and most good umpires have discarded it. If you judge that the batter offered (and I still suggest you use your first instinct), go with it. Why penalize the defense because you don't want to make that call?