explanations

[Little Jimmy]

How often do you add an "explanation" to a safe or out call. I'm talking about saying something like "under" if a girl slid under the tag on a close play or some other such embelishment on a play that you clearly saw but everyone else may not have.

Case in point. Last night I was plate. Visitors were down 10-3 in the 7th. They manage to shave it to 10-7 but now they have 2 outs and a very slow runner on 2nd. Routine hit to the outfield and 3rd base coach (unexplainably) waves the girl from second in. She lumbers home and does a poor, fall down slide with her lead foot missing the side of the plate by 2-3 inches. Her other foot never quite makes it to the plate as the catcher makes a leaping catch toward the first base side, swings around, and essentially falls on the runner. Tag was made. Foot never reached home. I sell the out.

Visitor coaches and fans go beserk. "I saw her foot touch from here!" everyone and their mother says. Arms are flailling. Players are sceaming. As I try to explain to the the now out runner that the tag came before the foot ever got there, I hear the visiting coach give the old "you can't take it away from the girls" cry. I say to myself nothing is going to satisfy them (I've dealt with these guys many times before. This game is over, get off the field. Nothing is going to be gained by staying.

As I changed for the next game I thought was an exlanation in order? Would I have thought differently if the coaches wouldn't have went nuts? Just how much of an explanation is needed in this or any situation?

[wadeintothem]

A call like that you cant explain away, so dont bother trying. They could be replaying in on a jumbotron and they'd still be blaming you. You get to leave. games over So go and go quickly.

[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.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

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.

Very good!

How about "The coach is an idiot sending a slow girl home .. safe!"

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Very good!

How about "The coach is an idiot sending a slow girl home .. safe!"

I tried that once. Had to buy 4 new tires.

[Stu Clary]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

How often do you add an "explanation" to a safe or out call.

Never.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Very good!

How about "The coach is an idiot sending a slow girl home .. safe!"

LOL

[JEL]

[QUOTE=Little Jimmy]How often do you add an "explanation" to a safe or out call. QUOTE]


When I am asked in a civil manner face to face by the head coach, I will explain it.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Very good!

How about "The coach is an idiot sending a slow girl home .. safe OUT!"

Even better!

[Andy]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

games over So go and go quickly.

One thing Wade forgot to add.....

Make sure you are laughing evilly as you walk off of the field.....

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

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.

Don't forget to reflect back to the fact that you made 50% of the people happy 100% of the time.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

Don't forget to reflect back to the fact that you made 50% of the people happy 100% of the time.

Nah, you piss 'em all off at some point in time.

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Nah, you piss 'em all off at some point in time.

To me the best feeling comes when you leave the field and the winning team is more ticked off at you than the losing team. That's when you know you've had a good game

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Nah, you piss 'em all off at some point in time.

That could be true. My 50% to 100% ratio was regarding individual calls. I should have been more clear with the statement.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

That could be true. My 50% to 100% ratio was regarding individual calls. I should have been more clear with the statement.

On a close call, I just tell people, "look, either way I call, half the people here are going to hate me, so I might as well call it right."