[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by mcrowder

Where the heck did all these advocates for extending our ears beyond the fence come from?


but you guys are really pushing the envelope on what an umpire should deal with. In my experience, opening up the rabbit ears makes it WORSE, not better.

No -one is talking about Rabbit Ears, but at least from my Experience, when Fans are Out of Control , it does have an EFFECT on the GAME which is inside the diamond.

I am not a major league umpire so in no rule that I know of does it say an umpire must take abuse from fans.

It's one thing to have the normal "hoopla" that goes with the terriroty it's another to have a bunch of Obnoxious people behaving like barbarians.

If you as an umpire keep "closing a blind eye" eventually some other umpire crew will "pay for it". It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bushel..

I agree in that it's not my job to EJECT, etc. but I can stop the game and have the particpants removed or it's and easy pay-day.

This year alone in our association about 3/4 games were stopped in inning 2. Our association is sending "a message" to the leagues we service in that "if you cannot control your fans" you will have NO UMPIRES. It's time to stop taking unnecessary abuse.

In addition, if you do Nothing as you say I hope you have body-guards ready to escort you to your car.

Pete Booth