I'm surprised that the ump didn't ask the other umps for their opinion even for a second on that one. It was rather fast, but couldn't he had just reversed the call instantly?
I'm surprised that the ump didn't ask the other umps for their opinion even for a second on that one. It was rather fast, but couldn't he had just reversed the call instantly?He could have done just what you suggest---call in the other umps, especially when Hurdle bounded out to question the call. There's plenty of precedent for it, too, if you still remember how the umps conferred often on close or weird plays during the 2004 American League Championship Series and, where needed, actually did reverse calls.
I also saw another great suggestion regarding umpiring and extra inning games---why not rotate the umps if the game goes to extras and get a reasonably fresh set of eyes behind the plate. One writer suggested rotating the home plate ump with the infield ump who'd had the least calls to make on the bases during the first nine. That'd be worth considering, too. (Extended to the postseason, if a postseason game goes to extra innings, you could rotate the plate ump with one of the outfield line umps . . . ) Though good luck selling that idea to a malcompetent such as Joe West . . .