[WhatWuzThatBlue]

I guess it depends on what level of ball you are working. The comments you mentioned in the original post wouldn't get more than a smirk from me. We call it gamesmanship and he may be doing it to see how far he can push, to get a rise out of you and get dumped or to rally his team. If I tossed a guy for those comments, it would be me that would be looking for other assignments. My assignor would be stupified and I would be embarassed.

Most of us have a breaking point and developing it is the sign of a talented umpire. As you become old and grey, you've heard most every jab and learn to let most of them go. Few words get my coaches ejected; their actions are a different story. Players are a much different matter - I take very little grief from the soldiers on the battle field. Your limits should never be set in stone though. They will evolve over the years.

I used to say that if I ever heard the F-bomb on the field I would toss a kid. Then I saw a third baseman get stung by a yellow jacket. I didn't eject the kid who used the ol' M-F when a pitch ran in and broke two of his fingers. He was already out of the game so I saw no need to compound it with a multi-game suspension when he returned. Discretion is the name of the game out there boys. Knowing when to pull the gun out of the holster is what makes you sheriff, not having the badge.