Do you talk to players - Joke with them

[dani]

If you talk to one team you better be equally talking to the other. This could make for a lot of combined talking throughout a game.

To talk during a game creates an opportunity for you to be viewed as lacking focus or interest. There are enough hurdles to get over during a game that bringing more unfavorable attention to an umpires character or ability is not a good idea.

If you talk to players on one team only do you think the opponent, especially an out of town team, would feel at a disadvantage.

Our responsibility, sometimes paid, is to be neutral arbiters for however long each game takes. In my opinion we should make EVERY effort to be not appear to show favoritism during each game we umpire.