Umpire Protocol

[Dakota]

Originally posted by WestMichBlue
"Do you interfer with a partner's {rule application} call, if it is obviously incorrect (in your opinion), IF partner does not request your help?"

No. I say that knowing full well there may be specific circumstances where an umpire can point out his partner's error without appearing to be overruling him, or a well established partnership that will allow you to take certain liberties, but apart from that...

As bad as the incorrect call may be, things can get worse. It is not a matter of the partner taking offense (as mbcrowder suggested), but rather a matter of the ball teams losing respect for the umpire team operating as a team. If they perceive an opening, they will many times try to drive a wedge into it. They'll start coming to the other umpire for every disagreement they may have over the partner's call.

For this situation to work itself out requires the proper actions by all parties. The coach must ask the umpire making the call to seek help. Upon refusal by the umpire, the coach must inform the umpire he is lodging a formal protest. Even in leagues where all protests are to be settled on the field by the crew, this will cause an umpire conference to happen. Even with a formal protest process, the field crew should conference before the protest becomes official.

If the coach does not carry this to the protest stage, you should not officially intervene. Silent signals, such as the eye contact method, can be used to try to get your partner's attention, but you should do nothing overt (IMO) to cause the call to be reconsidered.

JMO...