Visual daily double #1: The masked man

[Jim Porter]

Originally posted by tcarilli
If you leave your mask on during an argument (not a discussion that started and appears calm) the player looks the agressor. You look as if you are ready to go back to work and he is holding up the game. If you take it off, you appear to be on the aggressive. You took an action to continue the argument and demonstrated that to everyone in the yard. You are no on the aggressive.

Leave it on.

I whole-heartedly agree with Tony.

In today's baseball, it is of utmost importance that we strive to attain body language which is completely and utterly non-confrontational. Anything which gives the appearance of aggression should be avoided. Removing the mask mid-argument is an example of aggressive body language.

The juxtaposition of a calm, cool, and collected umpire listening to the rants and raves of an angry coach gives us great power. Either the coach will realize he is the only one acting like a fool and calm down, or his support will crumble when he is finally removed from the game.

Anything we do which even gives a hint of aggression, like removing the mask mid-argument, moving toward a player, coach, or bench, or raising our voice will simply give fuel to fires of the supporters of the offender. Once the offender has been ejected, we need peace for the duration of the game. We are more likely to get that if only the initial offender looks utterly guilty. If we show even a hint of guilt, the problems of the day will have only just begun.