[aceholleran]

Funny, Garth, but out of bounds.

Ridiculing fellow umpires--which happens on all boards--is babbling I don't brook.

Tuss, I do agree with most of the others on the "are you going to argue?" sitch. Simply put: Don't ask a coach a question like that.

I will usually give a terse explanation on a call like your balk. No conference, no time out. A civil rodent might get a more throrough explanation between innings.

If I hear someone say he wants to get tossed. I will quietly go over to him and grant him his EJ as quietly as possible, sparing him the "motivation" he wants to give his team.

IMHO: Too many ump-coach conversations. Try to be more curt, crisp, concise.

Relax, take a deep breath and let the rats make the mistakes. Then react.