Partner Misses the Definition of a Catch

[ukce1861]

So I was doing a Jr. LL game the other night. 1^st batter in the bottom of the first. I’m BU. Ball hit to F8. As I pivot in, I turn to see F8 tumbling head over heels with the ball rolling on the ground. I’ve got BR rounding first and we’re running into second. And I’ve got the PU running into the infield, “That’s a catch! That’s a catch! That’s a catch!†Obviously, the OM (who’s on the 3^rd base side) comes out to ask what the heck he’s talking about. He says something to the effect of, “He caught the ball and then dropped it when he made contact with the ground, so it’s a catch.†They went back and forth a little bit and I hung out in the working area to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. Shockingly, the OM didn’t protest or ask him to get help, so I went back to the A position, and as I’m running back, the 1^st Base Coach says, “Is that the rule?†I just ignored that question, so he asks, “Doesn’t he have to have control?†I said, “He ruled he did have controlâ€. So he said, “OK, whatever†and turned around, pretty miffed, but he let it go. Funny thing is, I’d ejected him a couple of months ago and really thought I was going to have to do it again.

My question is, absent a protest, there’s nothing to do in this situation is there? How would you answer the “Is that the rule†question?

I tried to talk about it with the PU after the game, but he kind of brushed me off with a combination of “I thought he was showing me the ball/I just sold itâ€, so I let it go. Good news is, they won with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 7^th with two out.

[Dragon29]

My question is, absent a protest, there’s nothing to do in this situation is there? How would you answer the “Is that the rule†question?

I tried to talk about it with the PU after the game, but he kind of brushed me off with a combination of “I thought he was showing me the ball/I just sold itâ€, so I let it go. Good news is, they won with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 7^th with two out.

No, there's nothing you can do unless PU requests help. As far as answering the 1BC's question, I think all you can say is, "It was ruled a catch." He's an Asst. Coach and doesn't really deserve an answer anyway! I wouldn't use the word, 'he' in reference to your partner. If you say, "He ruled it a catch." that's very different and could imply you think he's wrong. (which he obviously was, but that's another thread . . .)

I'm w/you - I hate guys who blow off bad calls with, "Well, I sold it." That will get you off the field, but it doesn't make it right. It sounds like he's the kind of guy who'll make the same BS call again, too.

[mstaylor]

Move in a little close under the guise of monitoring the discussion. Hopefully your presence will make the coach think to ask him to get help. Then get away from everybody and try to beat some sense into your partner. It sounds like he doesn't care to try and fix his mistakes. Getting out of a situation when you aren't sure is one thing, but to not care if you can fix it for next time is another. He will never get any better if he doesn't want to.

[dddunn3d]

My question is, absent a protest, there’s nothing to do in this situation is there? How would you answer the “Is that the rule†question?

I tried to talk about it with the PU after the game, but he kind of brushed me off with a combination of “I thought he was showing me the ball/I just sold itâ€, so I let it go. Good news is, they won with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 7^th with two out.

No, there's nothing you can do unless PU requests help. As far as answering the 1BC's question, I think all you can say is, "It was ruled a catch." He's an Asst. Coach and doesn't really deserve an answer anyway! I wouldn't use the word, 'he' in reference to your partner. If you say, "He ruled it a catch." that's very different and could imply you think he's wrong. (which he obviously was, but that's another thread . . .)

I'm w/you - I hate guys who blow off bad calls with, "Well, I sold it." That will get you off the field, but it doesn't make it right. It sounds like he's the kind of guy who'll make the same BS call again, too.

Anytime I'm asked about a call that I did not make, all I say is "You have to ask him, that was his call." Nothing else. This way you don't open up that can of hornet's nests.

[Dragon29]

Anytime I'm asked about a call that I did not make, all I say is "You have to ask him, that was his call." Nothing else. This way you don't open up that can of hornet's nests.

That's a great approach that I also use a lot. In this particular case (horribly blown obvious call) I don't think there's a lot you can do to make it better; all you can do is try to avoid making it worse and the less said, the better.

[Thunderheads]

Anytime I'm asked about a call that I did not make, all I say is "You have to ask him, that was his call." Nothing else. This way you don't open up that can of hornet's nests.

That's a great approach that I also use a lot. In this particular case (horribly blown obvious call) I don't think there's a lot you can do to make it better; all you can do is try to avoid making it worse and the less said, the better.

Funny this came up .... we had this on Wed night actually, ...I'm BU R3 tagging on a low liner out to LeftCenter ... They appealed and PU banged him!! 3rd base coach says, "time, blue...I looked....and he's looking at me, ... "are you calling him out because he left early?" I said "coach, that wasn't my call, that's the plate umps call" As I'm saying this my partner is getting coaches attention and walking towards him, "coach, that's my call and yes, he left early" ....

Nothing was said...

Except that run would have put us at mercy!:rolleyes: