Bailed out by a Class Manager

[Robert E. Harrison]

Mark,

Top of the last, 2 outs, home up by one, R3. Grounder to F6's right and throw pulls F3 up the line and the swipe by F3 is close on BR. Do you watch R3 touch home or help your partner on the tag/no tag down the first base line.
I tossed Coach Mikulik for the Asheville Tourists (A Ball Sally League) at Greenville Drive a week before his famous meltdown on this play when my partner told me he was watching R3 touch home and had nothing for me at first.

[jicecone]

What I don't understand here is how you can ask all players to step out of their mechanics when you need help. Certainly they can not know when you can or can not see something clearly.

The poster clearly implied that had he hustled more from behind the plate, he probably would have been able to make the correct call. At what point and how, do you communicate to your partner that you can't see something, so please adjust your mechanics so you can cover my butt? Is your partner supposed to help you out the whole game, or just when he receives the signal by osmosis that your eyes are blinded?

Listen, shit happens on the field especially in a two man system. Get out there and hustle and take care of your responsibilities. If by chance you can assist you partner, fine but make sure you get your job done correctly first. If you can't see a clear out then it is NOT an out.

I had a game where the ball was hit directly into the sun and when I next saw it, it was at the base of the outfield fence. My partner was watching the touch at first. OC said the ball hit the pole outside the field and bounced back. The runner made it to second and that's were he stayed until the next batter drove him in.

If life was perfect, they wouldn't need umpires!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by jicecone

What I don't understand here is how you can ask all players to step out of their mechanics when you need help. Certainly they can not know when you can or can not see something clearly.

The poster clearly implied that had he hustled more from behind the plate, he probably would have been able to make the correct call. At what point and how, do you communicate to your partner that you can't see something, so please adjust your mechanics so you can cover my butt? Is your partner supposed to help you out the whole game, or just when he receives the signal by osmosis that your eyes are blinded?

Listen, shit happens on the field especially in a two man system. Get out there and hustle and take care of your responsibilities. If by chance you can assist you partner, fine but make sure you get your job done correctly first. If you can't see a clear out then it is NOT an out.

Exactly. Mechanics are like policy--deviate from them at your own risk. I just would love to see the fireworks when BU misses F3 cold-cocking R1 (or even just obstruction or a missed base) because he's digging in PU's garden. At least if PU misses the call, you both were doing what you were supposed to be. If you miss your call, you weren't.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Robert E. Harrison

Mark,

Top of the last, 2 outs, home up by one, R3. Grounder to F6's right and throw pulls F3 up the line and the swipe by F3 is close on BR. Do you watch R3 touch home or help your partner on the tag/no tag down the first base line.
I tossed Coach Mikulik for the Asheville Tourists (A Ball Sally League) at Greenville Drive a week before his famous meltdown on this play when my partner told me he was watching R3 touch home and had nothing for me at first.

Good for you. Your partner did his job, and you did yours.