Cracked up twice in one game

[umpire_scott]

Maybe I was just in a good mood last night, but I had two situation that cracked me up.

I was on the plate for the second game of a DH in this select team league tournament. We are doing the 10U division.

Runner stealing third, runner comes in ball is there tag applied. There is a big cloud of dust and my partner says "let me see the ball". The third baseman reaches down with his bare hand and holds the ball up. Partner bangs the runner out. I'm laughing thinking the ball could have been sitting next to the glove on the ground.

A few innings later batter foul tips the ball and I hear metal, then rubber. I call foul ball. Then I see my BU give the foul tip sign as if the catcher caught it. I look at the catcher and ask him how he caught it that I hear it hit the plate. He said it hit my cup.

[carolinablue]

That's exactly why I never ask to see the ball.

[Jocko]

What do you do instead?

[carolinablue]

Had a very similiar situation to the OP in my rookie season. Play at the plate, I ask catcher to show me the ball and he starts fumbling around on the ground and appeared to scoop it into his glove. I saw this and called safe. Although I got the call right it looked very bad.

Now, I get a good angle and get set and see the play and mentaly make the call. If he is safe, he's safe and it doesn't matter. If he's out and I can't see the ball I can now move in and try to see if it's on the ground or if a fielder is trying to pick it up ect...

If all else fails, they will have to show if they have the ball or not sooner or later, I'm not in any hurry.

[csabo17]

Is asking to see it not correct?

[carolinablue]

I'm not 100% sure about that mechanic, maybe someone more experienced can answer that but all I am saying is that I don't ask to see the ball and have never had any problems doing it that way. If the players are above 10YO they should know to show you the ball anyway.

[umpire_scott]

I guess you could say "show me your glove". Then see if the balls in it.

[stl_ump]

I guess you could say "show me your glove". Then see if the balls in it.

Or if it falls out when they go to show it.

[moblue]

I don't ask to see the ball. I have been looking through some of my things from JEAPU, and can't find this in my notes or book, but I am thinking that we were told not to ask to see the ball after plays. Anyone else care to comment on this?

[umpire_scott]

I don't ask to see the ball, but not because I make a specific point not too (although after my OP I may make a point not to). To me usually if I wait, I can get a better look, and oftentimes the player will show it to me on his own. Not sure if there is an accepted yes or no to this.

[Dragon29]

While I typically don't ask fielders to 'show me the ball', I think it can be useful in some situations, and have used it sparingly over the years.

However, I disagree that this:

I ask catcher to show me the ball and he starts fumbling around on the ground and appeared to scoop it into his glove. I saw this and called safe.

. . . looks bad.

That's the whole point of the question; most especially the timing of the question. As I said above, I don't usually do this, but on rare occasions when the fielder either isn't making an effort to show me the ball or if he is taking too long it can be useful tool.

That's JMHO

[carolinablue]

I just feel like if you ask a fielder to show you the ball that's exactly what he's going to do even if he has to pick it up to do so. Most of the time you can just move closer to the play or take a step or two in one direction to see if it's on the ground. I can see your point that on a rare occasion it may be better to ask.

[mjr_2013]

Proper timing can eliminate the need, however there are times when it is just easier to ask than take 20 minutes with a dumbass fielder.