[PeteBooth]

I would like to thank all for posting. As I believe most of you might agree by now there is NO CLEAR CUT guidence on when to Eject - but it is a matter of Style and Preference.

The reason I posted this is the first place is that if one GOES BY THE BOOK, a manager / coach / player has NO RIGHT to question a judgement call, yet it is allowed.

IMO, the toughest part of umpiring is GAME CONTROL. We can go to Clincis and learn the Rules and proper Positioning by repitition, but when it comes to GAME CONTROL - We in a way our on our own.

Each of us has our own LINE and IMO like I said in the first place should that really be the case? If F3 impedes the progress of B1 going from first to second we have obstruction - no question about it but when it comes to Ejections - Hey wait a minute not as clear cut.

In reading all of these posts, to me it's like a catch 22. If you eject - it's hey Blue you have a short fuse and if you do not eject - it's hey that umpire lets us get away with murder.

Let's face it none of us are Krescan (at least I didn't see his name posted here yet) and one never knows when the Game will blow-up in one's face, especially in todays environment.

When the third base coach sends home r2 on a base hit by B1 and F9 (who the coach knows has a gun) throws out r2 by a mile - do we question the coaches decision? (in our minds we might) - the answer - NO.

Many people watch TV and IMO the reason amateur coaches get on the men in Blue is because it has become the accepted norm over the years because of TV exposure.

I am not a GURU of the rules as some who post here but to date I have not found anything that says an umpire must take grief from a coach and be ridiculed.

With all our varied opinions on when to eject - one can see the confusion this brings rather than going by the book or at least coming up with specific guidelines as to when to eject.

To me if the coach acts in a professional manner, they earn their due up to a point, but if someone comes out of the dugout and starts screaming (even if they have a point) - to me "THEY GOTTA GO". If you let the coach scream - then pretty soon the players / fans will join in.

Also, I guess the area where one comes from also dictates how to approach the game. I'm from NY and I've seen the littliest of things turn into a brawl. Therefore, I do not let things get out of control and I might eject quicker than most, but that's because of my personal experiences.

Someone mentioned the key to moving up is less ejections - if thats the case than the H@@@@ll with moving-up. If you have to kiss a@@@@@s to move-up - who wants it. I think thats the main reason there aren't more ejections.

Individuals want that prestigious playoff game and the less coaches they p@@@@s off the better, however one day we read that there was a real brawl in so and so's game and wonder why.

I'm not preaching Eject just to Eject, but there needs to be more uniformity, especially in the same association when it comes to this.

Good discussion for the winter months. And BTW Warren I am jealous that you are in beautiful summer weather when Temps here the east are below 0 counting the wind-chill.

OK gang lets keep it going - Someone else "pick up the ball" and start a new 4 - 5 page thread.

Pete Booth