Worked at the PFX tour this weekend - Part I: The Ugly

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Julio Caliente

Damn, made me go pull out my little book and look it up. I was wrong on the play at home. I am apologize to all.

Julio, you were only wrong if this was played by baseball rules and baseball mechanics. Remember, this was played by ASA rules, so ASA mechanics prevail.

Under ASA mechanics, no ball equals no call. That means, when the runner isn't played on, there should not be a safe call. If the runner is played on, ie, a missed tag, and touches the plate, there is an immediate and appropriate safe call. If the runner is played on, missed tag, missed plate, you pause momentarily to differentiate from a touched plate timing, so you are not falsely suggesting to the defense that the runner did touch the plate. If the defense fails to pursue the play, then you signal "safe", because the runner is, at that moment safe; and failing to make any call is "telling" the defense the runner missed the plate. The missed plate is an appeal; we do not "tell" the defense that they should make an appeal play.

NCAA handles it differently, in a manner only a college coach could appreciate. By RULE, not just mechanics, an umpire must signal safe and verbalize "no tag" if the runner misses home, even if the defense doesn't attempt a tag!! IMO, one of the worst rules ever written; when I do that, I feel like they should issue me a glove, too, since I am working for the defense.