Helping a coach ask for help

[JAWRebels]

"Gives you goose bumps when you take the BR into 3B and have a play there. No matter the call, it's that "good hussle blue", coming from the dugout."

What about those times like I had last night. 2 outs, bases empty. Ball hit to left field, gets by the outfielder. Runner is trying to leg out a triple. F5 catches the throw and tags a sliding BR right before he reaches the bag. I have been set in position because of my hustle and was just waiting for the play to develop. Big out sell. BR says, "That's a bad call." His teammate says "No, Todd, you were out." Teammate looks at me and says "Blue, that's not your call, you can't call that."

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by JAWRebels

"Gives you goose bumps when you take the BR into 3B and have a play there. No matter the call, it's that "good hussle blue", coming from the dugout."

What about those times like I had last night. 2 outs, bases empty. Ball hit to left field, gets by the outfielder. Runner is trying to leg out a triple. F5 catches the throw and tags a sliding BR right before he reaches the bag. I have been set in position because of my hustle and was just waiting for the play to develop. Big out sell. BR says, "That's a bad call." His teammate says "No, Todd, you were out." Teammate looks at me and says "Blue, that's not your call, you can't call that."

Don't you know that most ballplayers teach mechanics at clinics?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by JAWRebels

"Runner is trying to leg out a triple. F5 catches the throw and tags a sliding BR right before he reaches the bag. I have been set in position because of my hustle and was just waiting for the play to develop. Big out sell. BR says, "That's a bad call." His teammate says "No, Todd, you were out." Teammate looks at me and says "Blue, that's not your call, you can't call that."

"Strike two. Anything else stupid you want to add, so you can hit the highway trifecta?"

[gsf23]

Originally Posted by JAWRebels

"Gives you goose bumps when you take the BR into 3B and have a play there. No matter the call, it's that "good hussle blue", coming from the dugout."

The players and coaches do appreciate the hustle no matter the call. Took a runner into third on ball hit into right-center field gap. Throw comes in just ahead of the runner to the inside part of the bag, runner makes a great slide to the outside of the bag and gets in under the tag. I'm about 7 feet away with a perfect angle and clear view. I give the big SAFE call and I hear the defensive coach from the third base dugout "Boy blue, it's a good thing you're standing right there or we'd be arguing right now." Just smiled and hustled back over to A.

[tcannizzo]

This should be part of every pre-game meeting with the coaches.
"Coach if you have a question about a call, request TIME and then go to the umpire who made the call. . ."

Then you can easily remind the coach that in this case, he needs to go to BU.

If I am ever asked to go for help, it will only because the coach used the "magic words", that include, perhaps your view was blocked, would you mind asking your partner if he saw there was a tag, etc.

The only thing I would ever ask my partner would be the specific question that coach asked, but ONLY if coach asked the right question.

I would never go to my partner and ask, "What do you have?". I would also never answer that question if my partner came to me and asked me that question.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

This should be part of every pre-game meeting with the coaches.
Why?

"If I am ever asked to go for help, it will only because the coach used the "magic words", that include, perhaps your view was blocked, would you mind asking your partner if he saw there was a tag, etc.
Why?

The only thing I would ever ask my partner would be the specific question that coach asked, but ONLY if coach asked the right question.
Why?

I would never go to my partner and ask, "What do you have?". I would also never answer that question if my partner came to me and asked me that question.
Why?[b]

Why not "Partner, did you see anything that would make the call different"?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

This should be part of every pre-game meeting with the coaches.
"Coach if you have a question about a call, request TIME and then go to the umpire who made the call. . ."

That has not been part of my pregame in the 32+ years I have umpired, nor do I expect it will ever be. Some areas teach that, some don't. I won't teach it, and won't use it. I don't personally believe that it is necessary to set the tone of any game with how to act when you disagree with a call. If a coach approaches the wrong umpire because he doesn't know any better, then (and only then) will I point him in the right direction.

If I have reason to doubt my call, I won't expect a magic combination of words; I will go for help. If I have confidence in my call, his magic combination suggesting I missed something would need to be somewhat supported as (at least) as possibility. If he just wants a second opinion, well, I don't really care, he isn't getting one.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

That has not been part of my pregame in the 32+ years I have umpired, nor do I expect it will ever be. Some areas teach that, some don't. I won't teach it, and won't use it. I don't personally believe that it is necessary to set the tone of any game with how to act when you disagree with a call. If a coach approaches the wrong umpire because he doesn't know any better, then (and only then) will I point him in the right direction.

If I have reason to doubt my call, I won't expect a magic combination of words; I will go for help. If I have confidence in my call, his magic combination suggesting I missed something would need to be somewhat supported as (at least) as possibility. If he just wants a second opinion, well, I don't really care, he isn't getting one.

I agree as well that no umpire should use that as part of his plate meeting with the coaches, for much the same reason that you have already stated. For some reason, when I am working with a partner that uses that speil, I cringe at the sound of the words.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

. . . If I have confidence in my call, his magic combination suggesting I missed something would need to be somewhat supported as (at least) as possibility. If he just wants a second opinion, well, I don't really care, he isn't getting one.

This is exactly what I was meant.