Check Swing Appeal

whiskers_ump · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Apr 04, 2004, 10:49pm

Calling in a tournament Sat. Had an ex high school coach that is
in a heated game with a team from same community.

R1 on 3Rd, R2 on 1B, batter has 3-2 count. I am BU, in C position.
On the pitch, R2 breaks for 2B, catcher up quickly, too quick.
Blocks PU view of the ball and batter. PU immediately asks "swing"?
I clearly see batter lung towards ball, trying, but unsuccesfull
in holding up. I gave a loud sell "yes". Coach comes unglued.
Gets to me before much can happend and is shouting "You cannot make
that call!" "You are out of position." "Rule book says you cannot
make that call." "Coach, inning is over, that is the third out."
"No, I am protesting." "Coach, don't think so, read your tournament
rules you received. NO PROTEST. Secondly, that is a judgement
call on a ball/strike and cannot be argued or protested." She finally
goes to the dugout, and I see her with the Rule Book. She is on 1St
base side, so I very nicely suggest she look in the umpire section of
the book and POE Section. See her reading, got up once then slammed
book down. Never heard another word from her.

Steve M · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 03:36am

ROFLMAO

Good job, Glen.

CecilOne · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 12:12pm

Agree, but do you really expect us to believe R2 was still on 1st with a 3-2 count?

And good job of knowing when a coach is being dumb versus needing to be tossed.

WestMichBlue · #4 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 01:04pm

"Agree, but do you really expect us to believe R2 was still on 1st with a 3-2 count?"

There were two outs, Cecil. I've seen enough catchers around here that will nail that runner at 2B for the third out and not worry about the runner on 3B scoring. Our local school has a girl heading for Mich State next fall and there are few runners in this area who would dare try for 2B on her.

WMB

emaxos · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 01:56pm

Throwing in that situation is still a bonehead play. Too many catchers with great arms think more about showing it off than what is right for the situation. Better to play the percentages.
I would have a problem with a catcher that did "not worry about the runner on 3B scoring".

mcrowder · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 01:59pm

Depends on the age group. We have a team here at 13-14 that will almost always try for the out at 2nd. If runner breaks from 3rd, their shortstop (also a gun-arm) will almost always throw her out at home. Saw her twice last year actually tag the runner (who didn't slow down) AND get the out at home.

FUBLUE · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 02:40pm

I loved reading this, especially when the coach realized that she was wrong...and couldn't do anything but look stupid.

As for throwing the girl out at second, depending on the situation, I'm all for it. Here's my logic: many girls (and coaches) don't think you will do it with less than two outs, so why not get the out if you know you can get the runner? Besides, most girls aren't going to run full-out...many coaches here are teaching girls to get in the rundown to ge that run home. I'll take my chances getting the out.

If I have two outs, you better know that I am throwing through, except on a 3-2 count...no sense in it. Ball four is a base for the runner, and strike three is good for me.

Reading this also reminded me of a situation I had like this once. As usual, I was doing a high school game and working the plate. I had a lefty batter, and a partner who, let's say, likes to play nicey-nice with coaches. So, no runners on, lefty batter, checks her swing (I thought). Catcher asks me to ask for help. I always ask, especially if it was close (like this one). So I point down and say, "JOhn, Swing?". He gives me a hammer signal. Offensive coach comes unglued (it was only strike two). He calls time, my partner grants it, and coach runs across the diamond to talk to him. IN the matter of a few seconds, my partner calls me to him. He explains that the coach is right in this logic: I can't appeal to the umpire standing on first base with a lefty batter, I need to go to the umpire on third. I told him he was right, IF we would have had a third umpire, but we don't, so he's my only help. Well, John decides he wants to change his call. I tell him that he's not going to change his call, we're going with what he said the first time, we don't get redo's.

Coach ends up winning the game by 5 or 6 runs, but still, insisted that I can't ask for an appeal on a lefty batter without a third base umpire. HE started the name dropping game. "So and so said this, so and so said that..." all that crap. I told him, "I'll be back next week for a game, show me in ANY rule book where that is stated." I NEVER DID SEE ANYTHING FROM HIM THAT SAID I COULDN'T APPEAL IN THIS SITUATION.

whiskers_ump · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 03:52pm

Quote:

Originally posted by CecilOne
Agree, but do you really expect us to believe R2 was still on 1st with a 3-2 count?

And good job of knowing when a coach is being dumb versus needing to be tossed.

Cecil One,

Whether you believe it not, that is exactly where she was,
and if you had seen her, you will realize why....Also had
a very good catcher with an cannon for an arm.