Jen Pawol Ejects Confused Coach After Conflicting Calls

[Lindsay]

Triple-A umpire Jen Pawol ejected Norfolk's manager and right fielder after she and 1B Umpire Kelvis Velez made conflicting calls on the same check swing play—Pawol as the home plate umpire ruling "swing" and Velez, mistaking her point at the batter as a point to him for an appeal, signaling the batter did not swing at the pitch.

With one out and a runner on second base, Norfolk Tides batter Peyton Burdick attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 fastball from Jacksonville pitcher Eli Villalobos. 

The circumstance of R2 and less than two out is important to note for this Triple-A game operating with a three-person umpire crew. In this situation, the 1B Umpire shall position themself within the infield, in front of second base (well, not directly in front of 2B, but still in the vicinity of Deep B/C), meaning there is no field umpire down the right field line anymore.

While the plate umpire assigning fair/foul responsibilities to right field in this crew configuation, the 1B Umpire retains check swing appeal responsibility for right-handed batters.

Accordingly, when Burdick tried checking his swing, HP Umpire Pawol pointed to the batter as part of a two-part "yes he did" mechanic to call the batter for a swinging strike.

1B Umpire Velez, however, saw Pawol pointing beyond the batter and near second base, where he was standing, and assumed Pawol had appealed the matter of Burdick's check swing to him (after all, the catcher requested an appeal by gesturing toward U1).

Thus, as Pawol completed her two-part mechanic ending with a fist, Velez signaled safe with outstretched arms, leading to confusion as two umpires had different calls for the same play.

Although the Official Baseball Rules do clearly state that the plate umpire has primary responsibility for all decisions on the batter—including half swings—which makes this Pawol's primary call, a more apropos response is found in OBR 8.03(c) pertaining to conflicting calls by multiple umpires: "If different decisions should be made on one play by different umpires, the umpire-in-chief shall call all the umpires into consultation, with no manager or player present. After consultation, the umpire-in-chief (unless another umpire may have been designated by the Office of the Commissioner) shall determine which decision shall prevail, based on which umpire was in best position and which decision was most likely correct. Play shall proceed as if only the final decision had been made."

With little doubt that the plate umpire's call of swinging strikeout would prevail (it was Pawol's call to begin with), that left one confused coach arguing to the point of ejection.

How to Avoid This Situation: The best way for a base umpire to avoid a situation where they might signal "safe" on a check swing where the plate umpire signals "out" is for the base umpire to pause momentarily. By waiting a beat, U1 would have been able to see the totality of UIC's swinging strike mechanic, and avoided ruling on a check swing appeal that was never indicated.

Exception: The one exception to this is an MLBUM interpretation known as "Voluntary Strike" in which the base umpire does signal on their own, with or without appeal, on an uncaught third strike, and only if they are going to rule the play a swinging strike.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Plate & field umpires make opposite calls on same play; manager & batter ejected

View the full article

[The Man in Blue]

Oooofff . . . 

PU: Be loud, be obvious, and be clear.  (This one was NOT on the PU.)

BU: Be patient.  Nobody came to see you!  😉

I worked with one of "those guys" during a celebrity co-ed softball game (well, we had one celebrity and a lot of local folks having fan).  After the game he was carrying on about me missing his ask for help on a check swing.  I asked him if he stepped out to ask.  He said no.  I asked him if he took off his mask to ask.  He said no.  I asked him if he yelled, "Did she go?"  He said no.  He then said I was busy looking at my indicator. 

Uhh . . . don't think so.  I don't ever look.

 

I was nice and didn't say: Dude, you are 5'6".

 

[umpstu]

14 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Oooofff . . . 

PU: Be loud, be obvious, and be clear.  (This one was NOT on the PU.)

BU: Be patient.  Nobody came to see you!  😉

I worked with one of "those guys" during a celebrity co-ed softball game (well, we had one celebrity and a lot of local folks having fan).  After the game he was carrying on about me missing his ask for help on a check swing.  I asked him if he stepped out to ask.  He said no.  I asked him if he took off his mask to ask.  He said no.  I asked him if he yelled, "Did she go?"  He said no.  He then said I was busy looking at my indicator. 

Uhh . . . don't think so.  I don't ever look.

 

I was nice and didn't say: Dude, you are 5'6".

 

I agree with your plate umpire observation. She did everything right. Only thing I can think of is the catcher might have been in the way of her strike 3 call and the base umpire might not have seen it. I would think that if she did ask for help she would probably have called out the base umpire's name.

[The Man in Blue]

Yeah, I should have been more specific:

1.) Step out from behind the catcher and the batter.

2.) Take your mask off.

3.) Point to your BU.

4.) Simultaneously yell, "Hey Ol' Smitty!  Did he go?!"

Optional: 5.) Hope Ol' Smitty didn't read some secret body language as a code that you want a specific call.

[Velho]

I asked a local senior umpire I worked with about help on check swings. He gave me a look and said "I don't". I gave him a cocker spaniel look and restated my qeustion expecting a little bit of "this then that" but not much since he not a big talker.

He finally responded, "if I'm forced to ask, they better agree with me". 😂

[BLWizzRanger]

I am confused though.  CCS's video says the 1U was in B but the video shows him with a white line behind him like it was the foul line as it ran more vertical than horizontal (like you would think the line would run if denoting the infield).  Meaning, maybe he was in A? If he was in A, no way was she pointing at him asking for help.

Anyways, back to watching video of my association's president get caught walking to the D position as a batter is swinging at a pitch... oof.

[The Man in Blue]

2 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

I am confused though.  CCS's video says the 1U was in B but the video shows him with a white line behind him like it was the foul line as it ran more vertical than horizontal (like you would think the line would run if denoting the infield).  Meaning, maybe he was in A? If he was in A, no way was she pointing at him asking for help.

Anyways, back to watching video of my association's president get caught walking to the D position as a batter is swinging at a pitch... oof.

 

There was no actual footage of the BU.  They used stock footage.  If the disclaimer on the screen wasn't a clue, note the BU was wearing an MLB uniform.  Damned umpires can't see anything!  🤣🤣

[Richvee]

41 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Yeah, I should have been more specific:

1.) Step out from behind the catcher and the batter.

2.) Take your mask off.

3.) Point to your BU.

4.) Simultaneously yell, "Hey Ol' Smitty!  Did he go?!"

Optional: 5.) Hope Ol' Smitty didn't read some secret body language as a code that you want a specific call.

Maybe a nit pick…. I’ve never been taught, nor have I ever taken my mask off prior to asking for an appeal on a check swing. 🤷‍♂️

[The Man in Blue]

4 minutes ago, Richvee said:

Maybe a nit pick…. I’ve never been taught, nor have I ever taken my mask off prior to asking for an appeal on a check swing. 🤷‍♂️

Maybe a nit pick on my part, or I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.  I was taught you should only wear your mask behind the plate.  It drives me nuts to see umpires walking around with their mask on.  I wanted to break things when that magazine ran a picture of an umpire talking to a coach and marking down a lineup change with his mask on.

[Richvee]

11 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Maybe a nit pick on my part, or I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.  I was taught you should only wear your mask behind the plate.  It drives me nuts to see umpires walking around with their mask on.  I wanted to break things when that magazine ran a picture of an umpire talking to a coach and marking down a lineup change with his mask on.

Oh I’m with you there. Drives me nuts when I’m on the bases, no one on, clean hit to the outfield, I turn as the ball returns to F1 and my PU had his head in the indicator with his mask on. 

[SeeingEyeDog]

OK, here's how we keep this from ever happening again...

PU, please...if you have a swing, POINT with the LEFT index finger and say, "Yes, [insert pronoun] did!" loudly and clearly. Then make your strike mechanic.

PU, also please...if you are executing a check swing appeal, hold out your your LEFT hand PALM UP just a bit above waist high and say, "[insert partner's name], did he go?"

Make sure you pre-game this and then there should be no confusion between the umpires about what is being called and or appealed. Also, OBR and FED differ slightly...

OBR 8.02c If a called ball on a checked swing is appealed (by the manager or catcher only), plate umpire is required to ask for help, then is obligated to take the partner's ruling.

FED 10-1-4a If a called ball on a checked swing is appealed, the plate umpire may ask for help on checked swing appeal, but is not required to do so.

So, under FED no other umpire should make any indication either way on a check swing until the PU requests the appeal. Sidebar: FED doesn't require PU to request the appeal. I always have. Can someone outline a situation where they wouldn't give an appeal of a check swing?

Finally, I agree with @The Man in Blue, I take my mask off on this and anytime I am stepping more than few steps out from behind the catcher, presuming it is otherwise safe to do so.

~Dawg

[Jimurray]

10 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

OK, here's how we keep this from ever happening again...

PU, please...if you have a swing, POINT with the LEFT index finger and say, "Yes, [insert pronoun] did!" loudly and clearly. Then make your strike mechanic.

 

I was taught to use the slot arm to point. 

[BLWizzRanger]

11 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

There was no actual footage of the BU.  They used stock footage.  If the disclaimer on the screen wasn't a clue, note the BU was wearing an MLB uniform.  Damned umpires can't see anything!  🤣🤣

Yep, snuck that high inside disclaimer by me, I was looking down in the zone.  (but she was wearing the MLB hat and shirt as well).

[beerguy55]

10 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Can someone outline a situation where they wouldn't give an appeal of a check swing?

When the coach is being a dick and appealing every pitch.

You're not going to eject him for appealing every no swing, which is his right...you are, however, going to eject him for arguing about it when you deny the request.

[The Man in Blue]

2 hours ago, BLWizzRanger said:

Yep, snuck that high inside disclaimer by me, I was looking down in the zone.  (but she was wearing the MLB hat and shirt as well).

Now you have me second-guessing myself.  I thought the logo was different.  Will check later.

[834k3r]

14 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Uhh . . . don't think so.  I don't ever look.

 

I love that indicator for that very reason.

[The Man in Blue]

MLB

MiLB

 

CCS                       😉

[Biscuit]

On 4/29/2024 at 10:00 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Maybe a nit pick on my part, or I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.  I was taught you should only wear your mask behind the plate.  It drives me nuts to see umpires walking around with their mask on.  I wanted to break things when that magazine ran a picture of an umpire talking to a coach and marking down a lineup change with his mask on.

I so this sometimes. It's pretty rare, but if I already have my mask on and the coach is right there and starts talking, in the interest of time, I'll pull out the book and take the change. It's pretty rare, but I've done it. It's kinda like taking the sunglasses off at the plate meeting (or anytime a coach talks to you). You can, I don't think it's bad, but it's not a requirement. Though, mask only stays on in very informal situations (or where I'm yelling at a dugout). 

Here's an example of where this could happen. Batter walks, next guy is coming to the plate. Coach wants to make a switch (running for the batter, pinch hitter, who knows). Making the switch is, IMO, easier if I don't take off the mask. So I grab my book, start working on the change. While I'm doing this, the coach comes down from third to make sure I have the switch. At this point, I have something in both hands, it's relaxed, I'm not taking off my mask. I'll confirm the switch with him, and then by the time I get back to the plate (3 or 4 steps), I'm ready. Yes, it's small, but injecting pace into games goes a looooooooong way.

On the same note, please, please get good at getting a ball to a catcher (or pitcher) quickly. The majority of foul balls are clearly foul and there is no play as soon as it comes off the bat. Catcher should be trained pretty quickly to be expecting the ball as soon as the previous (now dead, rip) ball is mercilessly bludgened. If he watches the foul ball for, and I'm not exaggerating, more than a second or two, I'm getting the pitcher's attention and throwing him a ball. 

Hmm, that went on a tangent... Point is, make your life easier by cutting unnecessary formalisms (sunglasses and, in some situations mask) if you want to and can do it without being disrespectful, and GET THE PITCHER A BALL. You'll be shocked how big a difference it'll make to your pace of play. I'm pretty convinced it's a part of why I don't have a ton of long games, because Heaven knows it isn't my shoebox strike zone.

[RBIbaseball]

On 4/29/2024 at 11:16 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

 Sidebar: FED doesn't require PU to request the appeal. I always have. Can someone outline a situation where they wouldn't give an appeal of a check swing?

 

His bat moved like 6", your partner is in C on a RHB, and the team has tried to appeal every twitch of the bat all game.

"Coach it wasn't even close, don't need help"

coach: "Just ask"

"I got the call coach. Wasn't close"

coach: "Why can't you just ask"

"Why do you want me to ask coach, his bat barely moved off his shoulder"

coach: "Because I want to appeal"

all the fans behind the coach: "just ask, just ask"

"Bob, did he go?"

Bob: "No"

coach: "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" ... steps back into the dugout knowing he didn't go the whole time but he "won", so he gets to feel good about himself

-------

Happened to me my first year umpiring.

[johnnyg08]

I'm not, nor will I teach umpires to take their masks off prior to a check swing appeal. 

It's not happening. 

[Velho]

1 hour ago, Biscuit said:

Catcher should be trained pretty quickly to be expecting the ball as soon as the previous (now dead, rip) ball is mercilessly bludgened. If he watches the foul ball for, and I'm not exaggerating, more than a second or two, I'm getting the pitcher's attention and throwing him a ball. 

With you on this. Almost every ball that goes off the fence, I'm giving F1 a new one and telling F2 to give the ball to me. Likewise, foul ball down the line that stay in the field, I give F1 a ball and tell player to "give the ball to coach" (being LL we can't have a loose ball and/or player on the field between plays). They are all confused the first time (or three) but figure it out eventually.

If/when I do HS, those on deck batters are going to be moving their butt to get foul balls 😁. I see so many that are too cool for school and not doing it.

[Thunderheads]

39 minutes ago, johnnyg08 said:

I'm not, nor will I teach umpires to take their masks off prior to a check swing appeal. 

It's not happening. 

NEVER!!! PLEASE, NO, NOT THAT!

[Thunderheads]

On 4/29/2024 at 10:10 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Yeah, I should have been more specific:

1.) Step out from behind the catcher and the batter.

2.) Take your mask off.

3.) Point to your BU.

4.) Simultaneously yell, "Hey Ol' Smitty!  Did he go?!"

Optional: 5.) Hope Ol' Smitty didn't read some secret body language as a code that you want a specific call.

No, no, no ..... a thousand times ..... NO!   Keep that softball SH*# on the softball field!  

[Biscuit]

3 hours ago, Velho said:

With you on this. Almost every ball that goes off the fence, I'm giving F1 a new one and telling F2 to give the ball to me. Likewise, foul ball down the line that stay in the field, I give F1 a ball and tell player to "give the ball to coach" (being LL we can't have a loose ball and/or player on the field between plays). They are all confused the first time (or three) but figure it out eventually.

If/when I do HS, those on deck batters are going to be moving their butt to get foul balls 😁. I see so many that are too cool for school and not doing it.

I'll take it a step further. With no one on, if its much out of arms reach for the catcher, pitcher gets a new ball. Of catcher chases it, I'm throwing it back.

[concertman1971]

4 hours ago, Biscuit said:

On the same note, please, please get good at getting a ball to a catcher (or pitcher) quickly. The majority of foul balls are clearly foul and there is no play as soon as it comes off the bat.

I love handing the catcher a new ball and his response is "how did you even know where that was?" 

SMDH