This isn't a vote.
Yes, Uniforms are meant to be worn properly - and that means shirt-tails in and hats with the bill in front. Coaches too.
That's really not the issue of a batter with his shirt-tails hanging between him and the plate/pitch.
For anyone that has knowledge of game management skills you know that you have much better luck ASKING for compliance rather than TELLING/ORDERING compliance.
ASK the player to tuck his shirt in. And do it in a method and with a tone of voice that inspires him to comply. Take the attitude of Hey, you probably didn't even know your shirt was out but "Will you tuck your shirt in for me?" If necessary say the first part of that to yourself and then vocalize the question part to the player.
Now for the real reason that we want batter's shirts tucked-in (I would never ask any other player - besides a pitcher, to tuck their shirt in. It's not a booger I want to pick and it has absolutely no effect on the game if the right fielder and the shortstop have their shirt-tails out.)....
The batter needs to have his shirt tucked in so he does not get UNWARRANTEDLY Hit By the Pitch - batter lift his arms and a pitch that's 8 inches aways from his body, hits his shirt. Coaches teach this kind of crap. It's your responsibility to stop it before it happens. (Rules: everyone plays within the same latitude of the rules. And you as an umpire establish that latitude. Do you want EVERONE to get HBP with a ball that is 8 inches away from the batter?)
The pitcher needs to have his shirt tucked-in so the batter can distiguish the ball location as soon as possible during the delivery. It is distracting for a batter to have a shirt tail flapping around with the pitcher's motion and with the wind and then have the ball suddenly appear from behind that distraction.
Again, ask the pitcher to tuck-in his shirt for you. Present your request as non-imperative (even though it is imperative/required) and make it as personal favor for you.
For a player to resist a personal, reasonable request is probably a bigger effrontery to the umpire than saying "show me the rule."
Just my opinion, Tony
[Edited by DownTownTonyBrown on Jul 31st, 2003 at 04:10 PM]