explanations

[NCASAUmp]

I love how Wade is the first to jump in on this one. He's definitely got something to bring to the table!

Actually, wade is correct, and he's had his share of unpopular but correct calls. There is little you can do to appease the participants of a team (or, even worse, the fans) that has just gotten a call against them.

I don't "explain" calls too often, and they usually amount to pointing with the left hand and saying "off the bag! Safe!" I may also call, "no tag! Safe!" Or if a runner pulls his/her foot, I call, "tag! Off the bag! Out!" I only do it on REALLY tight plays, or on plays where I'm probably the only one in the world who has the angle to see the call properly.

Two important things that umpires forget:

1 - The explanation should come first, then the call. The other way around sounds like you're coming up with an excuse after the fact.
2 - Explaining a call will not keep coaches/players/fans off your back.

We're umpires. They're going to hate us anyway, so let them hate us while we still have our integrity. Go home, have a brew, and sleep well at night, knowing that you made the tough, though correct, call.