Should Umpires correct unchallenged mistakes?

[WestMichBlue]

Cajun's partner problem post made me think about about the issue of umpire mistakes not being challenged by a coach, and thus simply let go. The attitude of "they didn't catch it, we are not going to fix it" tends to make me think of the cheater's slogan that "its not cheating if I don't get caught.

I am not challenging anyone here, but I really would like some solid rationale as to why I should not get involved when my partner makes a serious mistake. Why can't I call time and ask partner why he made that call. If he realizes his mistake, should he not fix it without have to be challenged by a coach? If we don't do this, are we putting our appearances above the integrity of the game?

Two cases in point (both real)

Batter steps in box, defensive coach requests time and protest illegal player; not in lineup. PU checks lineup, agrees, and make an ASA ruling, ejecting the batter. This is an NFHS game and BU knows that unnounced sub is legally in game, but says nothing. Obviously a wrong call; player has been kicked out of the game due no fault of her own; but coach was unsure of the rule so the play stands.

Varsity game, two good teams, but kind of a low key game. Two outs, R1 comes off 2B on the pitch. Ball is returned to F1; R1 stops and slowly starts back towards 2B. F1 raises her throwing hand with the ball; R1 stops and looks at F1. BU calls R1 out for LBR violation. R1 starts to object, then runs off field. I (PU) am looking for the O coach, but she says nothing (she may not have seen F1's play attempt either). So I let it go and wander down the base line to confer with partner while teams are changing.

How serious, how game changing does the mistake have to be before, if ever, do we interject ourselves into the call to get it right?

Or do we just smugly say "too bad, coach doesn't know the rules" and it is not our problem? Are we exonerated because a coach doesn't know every rule as much as we are supposed to?


WMB