Rotating umps for extra frames might make sense. But why confer? Who had a better view than he did? He was right there. And anyway, he got the call right :-P
Rotating umps for extra frames might make sense.I think it could be done along the line I cited earlier---rotate the plate ump with the field up who made the least number of basepath calls throughout the first nine innings. He'd be bound to be the most fresh set of eyes among the three basepath umps. If the game got as far as the Braves-Pirates games, he, in turn, could be rotated with one of the other two umps who likewise made the least number of calls in the second nine, leaving the original plate ump out of the equation.
But why confer? Who had a better view than he did? He was right there.It would depend on the play angling. In the case of the McKenry/Lugo play, if you need to confer you'd probably get your best help from the second base ump, who's looking straight down the pipe at the play, especially if the pitcher isn't anywhere in the sight line when the play happens. (Properly, the pitcher would be backing the play at the plate, I think.) Assuming there's no concurrent or followup play at first base (intriguing codicil: The Pirates actually had a shot at a double play on the play---Scott Proctor stumbled up the first base line and could have been nailed on a relay throw, assuming all going right at the plate), the first base ump could offer another perspective as well.
Clearly, if Meals thought he saw the glove go for the right shin when the glove was above the right kneecap and on the thigh, he most certainly didn't have the best view. And in a controversy like that play, with the winning run to be involved, you damn well better call in your crew mates to confer on it. The idea is not to get it "accurate," not to get it "consistent," not to get it "professionally" (Joe Torre's words in sticking up for the human factor, in a statement about the play), the idea is to get. it. right.
Which Meals didn't. :p
After coming into the locker room, I reviewed the incident through our videos that we have in here and after seeing a few of them, on one particular replay, I was able to see that Lugo's pant leg moved ever so slightly when the swipe tag was attempted by McKenry. That's telling me that I was incorrect in my decision and that he should have been ruled out and not safe.---Jerry Meals, speaking Wednesday afternoon.Even Meals admits now that he got the call wrong.