Odd play last night

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by Sapper33

I'm base Ump, ncaa game, Top of 7th, 2 outs, no one on base. batter swings, looks like slow roller towards 3rd base. BR takes off for 1st base, about half way down the line, BR starts acting like the ball hit her after she swung, F5 makes play, I call her out and as BR run s past 1st she says " no, that ball didn't my foot" very sarcastically. HC asks HP ump who says he didn't see it hit her and then I'm involved and tell him same thing. Can't call what I don't see, and it didn't look odd when it came off the bat....oh welll

Why did an umpire who didn't make the call address the coach? I would expect an NCAA umpire to know better.

[EsqUmp]

An umpire isn't required to use only sight. Sound and player reaction are relevant elements to use when making a call.

Most of us have had a swiped tag on a runner crossing a defender, who has an extended glove with the ball, and had difficulty determining whether the defender 100% tagged her. Using the player's reaction is often helpful.

Unbelievably, my plate umpire once ruled a ball fair and live after it struck a tree branch (totally in foul territory) down 3rd base because the ball fell fair. He took his eye off the ball to look at R3 (so he says). Even if he didn't see it, I don't know how he didn't hear it. What made it worse was that the branch was shaking despite the air being stagnant. Before all hell broke loose, we overturned the call and called it foul. Even I can see and hear that from 1st base.

For the skeptics, there were no squirrels or birds in the tree.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Why did an umpire who didn't make the call address the coach? I would expect an NCAA umpire to know better.

Two things-

(1)......"and then I'm involved and tell him the same thing." Doesn't make it clear if the BU was talking to the HC or the PU, who may have come to him for help.

(2) What if the BU was just standing down in his position as the HC is discussing the play with the PU, and when he was finished with the PU, made a beeline straight to the BU asking him what he saw on the play?
How would you expect an NCAA umpire in that situation to respond to the HC's question?

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Two things-

(1)......"and then I'm involved and tell him the same thing." Doesn't make it clear if the BU was talking to the HC or the PU, who may have come to him for help.

(2) What if the BU was just standing down in his position as the HC is discussing the play with the PU, and when he was finished with the PU, made a beeline straight to the BU asking him what he saw on the play?
How would you expect an NCAA umpire in that situation to respond to the HC's question?

I would not allow a coach to ask both or all umpires the same question. If the coach came out and asked, "didn't that go off my batter's foot" I would either get together with my partners to get the call right or if it was clear to me that it didn't, I would give and answer and not allow the coach to go to my partner. Getting a 50/50 vote doesn't do us any good.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I would not allow a coach to ask both or all umpires the same question. If the coach came out and asked, "didn't that go off my batter's foot" I would either get together with my partners to get the call right or if it was clear to me that it didn't, I would give and answer and not allow the coach to go to my partner. Getting a 50/50 vote doesn't do us any good.

Not what happened in OP. BU repeated what his partner stated to the HC..."didn't see it hit her."

Curious as to how in an NCAA game you would "not allow the coach to go to [your] partner."

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Not what happened in OP. BU repeated what his partner stated to the HC..."didn't see it hit her."

Curious as to how in an NCAA game you would "not allow the coach to go to [your] partner."

Why is the coach asking umpires individually? Taking a poll? Majority rules?

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Why is the coach asking umpires individually? Taking a poll? Majority rules?

Because in any game, anywhere at anytime, over anything, a coach is capable of doing something like that.....or worse.

You took Sapper to task as to the way he responded ....("I would expect an NCAA umpire to know better.").
I'll ask again, same sitch, NCAA game coach comes to you after he received an explanation of the call by the PU and asks you for your opinion. He's calm, professional and respectful in asking the question....how would you handle it?

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Because in any game, anywhere at anytime, over anything, a coach is capable of doing something like that.....or worse.

You took Sapper to task as to the way he responded ....("I would expect an NCAA umpire to know better.").
I'll ask again, same sitch, NCAA game coach comes to you after he received an explanation of the call by the PU and asks you for your opinion. He's calm, professional and respectful in asking the question....how would you handle it?

I would first be disappointed in my plate umpire allowing the coach to come out and forum shop.

If the coach did come out, I would say something along the lines of, "Coach, I believe you just discussed this issue with the plate umpire. It really isn't proper to now come out and speak to me about an issue my partner has already addressed. It makes it appear that you are forum shopping and that's not good for the game. If you'd like for me to discuss the play with my partner, I will do that outside your presence and then we can provide you with a final ruling."

But again, what good does it do for the plate umpire to talk to the only and then "allow" the coach to go out and talk to your partner? If the plate umpire says, "No 'x' didn't happen" and the coach doesn't like it and talks to the base umpire who now says, "Yes 'x' did happen." What do you do? Maybe you need to work in a 3-umpire crew, that way you can get a third opinion to break the tie if necessary.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Why did an umpire who didn't make the call address the coach? I would expect an NCAA umpire to know better.

Huh? You expect the coach to ask the BASE umpire about a ball possibly hitting the batter in the batters box? That makes no sense.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Huh? You expect the coach to ask the BASE umpire about a ball possibly hitting the batter in the batters box? That makes no sense.

No, I don't. That's what I have been saying in the posts.


Unless I am missing something I think it was quite clear that the coach shouldn't be talking to the base umpire.

[MD Longhorn]

I see the clarification now. Too many pronouns. My bad, and my apologies.

[x-tremeump]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

i see the clarification now. Too many pronouns. My bad, and my apologies.

nice