How to not sell a call...

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Speaking softball, this is correct only if the runner did not touch the plate. Trying to keep this non-specific wrt who the umpire is (and his reputation for delayed calls) and the fact that it is baseball, if the umpire saw the runner touch the base, the runner was safe at that instant. To then wait to see if the catcher regains control of the ball and to only make the safe call as the catcher is moving to make the tag is inviting controversy, IMO. Some sort of theatrics / sell call on the part of the umpire would have helped, IMO.

Helped what?

No member of the defensive team even complained.

The manager said he thought the runner touched the plate.

The whole "controversy" was media generated by the TV guys.

The umpire, when interviewed by the media, said he was in position to see the play, saw the hand touch the plate, and processed the entire sequence before signaling safe.

Who among us would not be satisfied in making a call that ends a big game after being in the right position to see the play enfold and then walking off with no arguments?