Getting the call right

[rwest]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Let's not ignore that angle is more important than distance. That is the most common reason for getting help and for "changed" calls.

However, it is generally taught that you don't go for help on judgement calls. It is still one umpires judgment vs anothers. Who's to say the other umpire is correct? I agree we should give up distance for angle and if a coach suggest to me that my partner may have had a different angle, I'm going to my partner for help. But if it's "I think you blew that call. The runner beat the ball. Can you go for help?". Now it's a purely a judgment call and my partner's judgment may not be any better than mine.

[vcblue]

Part of the beauty of the game is the fact that an umpire may make the same call 8 out of 10 times, but there is still those two times that he/she would have gone the other way. Part of the mechanics of the game is for the players to learn these things and talk with their teammates and adjust. When players get to this level its truly a great game to participate as an umpire.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by rwest

However, it is generally taught that you don't go for help on judgement calls. It is still one umpires judgment vs anothers. Who's to say the other umpire is correct? I agree we should give up distance for angle and if a coach suggest to me that my partner may have had a different angle, I'm going to my partner for help. But if it's "I think you blew that call. The runner beat the ball. Can you go for help?". Now it's a purely a judgment call and my partner's judgment may not be any better than mine.

I was not implying we should go for help anytime a partner might have a better angle. Just making the point that when we do, that is usually the reason and, unless a partner is extremely near-sighted, we all can see a play from 60 - 90 feet away, so angle is more important.

Actually had a coach ask my BU partner to ask me because of better angle (he thought) on a play at 2nd. No matter, BU had it covered very well and correctly refused the request.