After not knowing basic rules (I've posted before and won't rehash), this is my #1 gripe. I see umpires just guessing/making things up ALL THE TIME. It's frustrating. It's frustrating when they say a thing did/did not happen that everybody in the park saw. And maybe I'm different from most coaches, but if I'm talking to an umpire about a play and they say they didn't see it or were obscured by a player or something, I immediately just end the discussion. Can't see everything, stuff happens, and I accept "I didn't see it" as a response pretty much 100% of the time.
If he was obscured/didn't see it, then you have the right to appeal and most umpires will go discuss - that is a perfect time to see if his partner can help. Remember as it was not their partners call it is possible they weren't looking in the plays direction - this is the answer to why the other umpire often can't provide help even when asked on what looks like an obvious mistake - it is normally because the other umpire is taking care of something else that is their responsibility and they actually may be the only person NOT focused on the play as it happens.
Look - if it is my call, I still have to make a call based on the information I have. There is no option to NOT make a call. I am not 'making a call up' - that is something completely different - but I could be making a call without all the information I would ideally like.
If I am obscured then I know it and if a coach comes out and asks about it, then you have something appealable and I can go talk to my partner. If the partner didn't see something different related to the appeal, the call stands.
For example - and this is a classic hard call in 2-man mechanics - I am in 'C' position (basically I am off the SS's RIGHT shoulder) with a runner on 2nd and 3rd. Hard grounder to SS who checks 3rd and then throws to 1st. It is going to be my call at 1B but I am stuck behind the SS until she throws it - because it is also my call at 2nd or 3rd if she throws there and I have nowhere to go anyway. For whatever reason the 2B wandered over towards 1st - maybe the runners break on the throw so I have a runner going from 2nd-3rd also possibly in vision. Once the throw happens I move towards 1st as best I can and stop with the ball half way there (make call when STOPPED).
So I am:
- Further away than ideal
- there is a 2B and 1B in vision and possible a runner going from 2nd-3rd
- the runner is quick so it is going to be a classic 'bang-bang' call.
- the throw is not 'straight' so the 1B is basically reaching directly towards me which is a crappy angle to see - because it is also kind of obscuring the base...
- I see/hear the ball in the glove before I see the runners foot on the base so I call her 'out' (or the other way around)
- If the coach comes out to just say I got it wrong he is questioning my judgement. And that is not appealable, so the call stands.
- If the coach comes out and asks if I was obscured or he saw the fielder off the bag and I agree that I was obscured or couldn't see that aspect of the play, then it is worth talking to my partner about and I will go do that. I will then ask specifically about the appeal (was the fielder on the bag, I was partially obscured by the 1B) and so on. I am not going to discuss the whole play - just the appealable part.
- If no one comes out, I probably got it right
Just for reference - same play in 3-man mechanics there will be an umpire in the 'B' position (off the 2nd base shoulder) so they are in a much better position to make the call at 1B when this play happens. That is what an extra official provides...
BTW, writing this all out helps me because it makes me think through my understanding of this and also if I get any of it wrong, MTR or Comp will correct my understanding which will only make me a better umpire (and coach).
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