Are you calling a Balk?

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

At some point, silence equals condoning the behavior. If a coach says, "That's two you missed," I'll probably ignore it.

Thank you. That was my point. The best umpires know this. It is what the schools teach and veterans preach.

If that's interpreted as, "He mustn't have heard me, so I'll yell it louder," then it has to get addressed. Not addressing it at this point would not be the right solution.

Did you read what I suggested? I wrote that a simple head shake his way (parents know this well!) or a stop sign (palm up and held his direction) are far more professional for the comment he made. Neither bait and both demonstrate authority. I think you'll agree that the job gets done without the umpire being the aggressor.

I still haven't gotten a response, either - how is a quiet warning the same as drawing a line in the sand and baiting a coach?

It isn't a warning. It is a threat. As stated prior, it is akin to the amateur philosophy of "Another word from you and you are done!" What happens when he says, "You're right. I'm sorry."? You look silly, that's what happens.

I'd never say, "one more word," but I have told coaches in arguments (at the college level), "you need to walk away now" and they did. If they don't, then they simply aren't getting the message and the ejection report writes itself.

That is a directive, not a threat. That is a reasonable response to many situations, especially at the college level. You agreed with my contention that the umpire lets the coach eject himself. There is no need to bait.

It's been three years since my last college/HS ejection, but if I had one tomorrow I wouldn't interpret it as anything but another day at the office.

Agreed. I don't worry about coaches who get tossed. It has been even longer since I ejected a coach. I don't bait and they don't feel a need to cross a line. Like you, I don't worry about comments like "That's two you missed." Silence can never be misquoted does not mean ignore blatant infractions of the rules. For me, it is a guiding principle - don't make a small problem become a big one by baiting a contestant. Enjoy your spring.