Expert: Martin Hoover - 3/19/2007

Question
I KNOW A UMPIRE CAN REFUSE TO ASK FOR HELP ON MANY JUDGEMENT CALLS, BUT WHEN OUR CATCHER ASKED THE HOME UMPIRE TO ASK THE INFIELD UMPIRE FOR HELP ON A CHECK SWING AND THE UMPIRE SAYS NO BECAUSE THE OTHER UMPIRE IS NOT ON THE FIRST BASE LINE AND NOT IN POSITION TO MAKE THE CALL.  IS THAT THE PROPER ANSWER FROM THE UMPIRE?  DOES IT MATTER WHERE THE OTHER UMPIRE IS?  WOULDN'T YOU AS A UMPIRE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR OTHER UMPIRES IN THE PRE-GAME MEETING TO NOT OVER RULE THE OTHER IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO NOT LOOK STUPID DURING THE GAME?  AFTER THE GAME THE HOME UMPIRE TOLD ME THAT IF THE THERE IS NO UMPIRE ON FIRST BASE, THAN THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A APPEAL FOR HELP ON A CHECK SWING.  IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN ONE CAN ASSUME THAT A LEFT HANDED BATTER CAN NEVER HAVE A CHECK SWING APPEAL ON THEM BECAUSE MOST YOUTH GAMES DON'T HAVE A UMPIRE ON THIRD BASE, SO NO APPEAL CAN BE ASKED FOR.  AM I RIGHT OR WRONG?  

Answer
Eddie,

Judgement is the strongest thing an umpire has when working a game.  However, there are times when judgement is difficult, and help, when there, is a wonderful thing.  Now, let me break down some of your questions that you asked.  Chances are that answer the umpire gave your catcher is justified.  Chances are, your umpires discussed it before the game, and with most umpires, it becomes common not to look for help when the umpire is out of position.  If the umpire is at the C position (between 2nd & 3rd), they cannot tell on a close check swing whether a batter went around or not.  Would you want an umpire, who is out of position, making a call?

When I umpire, I still check, knowing that my official is going to give me the same call I have 99% of the time because he/she can't really see anything.  And yes, you can assume the same on a left handed batter, though if you are in the C position, you can see it better than if you were over at 1st base, and might want to call it if you see it.

As for looking stupid in the game, be careful in choosing your words.  What may look "stupid" to one might just be "new" if they haven't seen it before.

I hope this has helped, if you have any other questions, please let me know.

-Martin Hoover