Crabby_Bob wrote: The OP claimed to have seen it.
I don’t understand what OP you are talking about.
The Original Post (OP) concerned a BU giving a safe call on a tag of R1 going to 3rd base. After the inning was over the PU approached the coach and told him the way he saw it was, it should have been called an out.
If you are talking about the quote within your post, the originator of that post was DunninLA who watched the USA vs Australia softball game on TV. I too watched the game.
DunninLA’s discussion was pertaining to the Australia coach complaining to the PU that he should not have called a strike on a very close check-swing. The Australia coach said the PU has 3 BUs in the field and he should have gone to one of them for help. PU told the Australia coach he didn’t go for help because it was not necessary. He saw a strike and called a strike.
I believe there was a mix-up in some of the posts. The coach wasn’t saying, after the called strike the PU should have gone to a BU for help. I believe the coach was saying on such a close check-swing the PU should have called it a ball and then gone to a BU for help.
Crabby_Bob wrote: There is nothing in the RS to preclude a request for help being granted when BU is out of position. I'm thinking of 2-man, no runners, left-hand batter, or, runner on third, right-hand batter. Is there anything else to preclude granting such a request based on BU position? If asked as BU, which is the most difficult to judge?
In ASA and LL a PU does not have to go for help, even when asked. RS #10 states “the umpire should ONLY ask for help if there is doubt in their mind as to whether or not the batter swung at the pitched ball.” It doesn’t matter what position the BU is in, the PU doesn’t have to ask for help.
In NFHS, some say, on a check-swing, upon request, the PU
must ask for help. Others say, the PU doesn’t have to go for help, even when asked. The NFHS umpire manual says “If in doubt, ask for help”. Our local umpire association has told all us, when asked, go for help, period.
That being said, it doesn’t matter what position A,B,C or D the BU may be in, he may be called upon to make a call on a check-swing. I would think, obviously, B and C are the most difficult positions to rule on a check-swing.
Jalamander