Getting the call right

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SamG

Now I'm curious... when do you ask your partner? Before or after a call?

Never before. If I am that blocked that I cannot make a call based on what I could not see, I "give up" the call to my partner. That is not that same as going for help. Once I give up the call, I have no input in the decision making process. As an umpire, you try to recognize the possibility of being blocked-out and adjust, but sometimes you just cannot predict the movement of the fielders in time to make the appropriate adjustments.

If I see the play, I make the call based upon my observations. If there was a pulled foot or any other "issues", I do not assume something happened, I, well my brain makes the call based on what my eyes thought they saw.

Enter the coach. If I believe his argument that something occurred which I could not see, I will go to my partner in a heartbeat. If I am in position to see the entire play and/or there is no possibility my partner had a better view, I'm declining the request.