Should this be an appeal, only?

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Jul 13, 2014
89
8
Nashville, TN
OK, here is the situation. Batter has a count of 3-2 (per PU and scoreboard). Next pitch, ball. Batter runs to first. Base Umpire runs in and yells "that is only ball 3", overruling PU. Other team thought it was ball four, our team thought it was ball four, but PU reverses call. Is this proper? Should this have been an appeal play by the other team? Not sure if it matters, but BU was actually correct, it was only ball 3 (I am scorekeeper :)). My contention is that the BU can talk to PU to overrule if there is an appeal by the other team, but can BU step in like this? Interested in thoughts.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
For the umpteenth time. No umpire can overrule another. The base umpire came in and gave the PU the correct count. The PU took the information and corrected his count. That is good umpiring there, especially if they conferred with the home team scorekeeper. If the home team scorekeeper confirms the BU's count, correct the situation and play on. There is no appeal.
 
Jul 13, 2014
89
8
Nashville, TN
OK, thanks. But if PU and BU have different counts, if the BU steps in with a different count, how is that not an overrule? Especially if scoreboard (electronic scoreboard) agrees with PU. For the record, if I had been asked, I would have told the truth and agreed with BU; but, since the other team was not contesting the ball 4 call, how is it the BU role to step in and challenge the ball 4 call of PU? Shouldn't this be an opportunity for the other team to appeal?
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
Well, I wouldnt come in yelling it was only ball 3 if I was base umpire but I would call time and come in and have a discussion with the plate umpire about our different counts. And no, it is not only an appeal situation. But, it is still the PU call to keep or change based on the information available to them. Additionally, an incorrect count can be corrected clear up until a pitch is thrown to another batter. One of the case plays on incorrect count is a batter who should have walked on ball 4 but the umpire missed a pitch somewhere. The batter hits a home run but the before a pitch to another batter the defense appeals the batter should have walked before the home run was hit. The count should be corrected, the home run taken off the board and runners put back on base and only advance if forced by the batter walking.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
if the BU steps in with a different count, how is that not an overrule?

BU to PU: I have the count as 3-2 after that last pitch.

PU You sure?

BU Absolutely.

PU OK. I musta clicked the ball dial twice on a pitch. Thanks.

PU to the field. "That was ball 3. The count is 3-2 on the batter.

Umpires can and do lose the count. Especially if there is a lot of action on the field. It's not a common thing to happen. I'll see it a couple of times a season. No big deal. Correct the count and play ball.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
BU to PU: I have the count as 3-2 after that last pitch.

PU You sure?

BU Absolutely.

PU OK. I musta clicked the ball dial twice on a pitch. Thanks.

PU to the field. "That was ball 3. The count is 3-2 on the batter.

Umpires can and do lose the count. Especially if there is a lot of action on the field. It's not a common thing to happen. I'll see it a couple of times a season. No big deal. Correct the count and play ball.

True which is why I always support the use of an indicator. In this case, I'm sort of curious how the scoreboard got the extra ball also :)
 
May 13, 2012
599
18
Don't think I've ever seen this mishandled. Worst case was count questioned ump asked ump , went to home team bench who wasn't keeping book so back to umps count defined play ball.
 
Jun 6, 2016
2,714
113
Chicago
True which is why I always support the use of an indicator. In this case, I'm sort of curious how the scoreboard got the extra ball also :)

I wasn't there, but my best guess is at some point the PU called out the wrong count, scoreboard operator just went with that even if he/she had something different.
 

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