Umpire Gone Way Wrong

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Sorry, was on travel this week.

I question the umpire's actions because he must adhere to a higher standard.

This manager chest-bumped him. He didn't cock back his fist or head-butt him. And he did this after the umpire turned his back to him and vocally said, "I'm turning my back," in obvious defiance. You honestly don't have a problem with the umpire grabbing the manager by the throat in response?

He did not say he didn't have a problem ... he just implied he had equal problems with everyone else here too.

PS - this happened in China, where apparently this is not as uncommon as we think.

[bluehair]

Originally Posted by Manny A

He didn't cock back his fist ...

Not this time, but this guy has punched an umpire before (apparently common knowledge). This umpire wasn't going to let it happen to him. Should he have waited for a sucker-punch? Damned if you do (hold him off by the neck), damned if you don't (and get bitch-slapped by this AH).

Originally Posted by Manny A

And he did this after the umpire turned his back to him and vocally said, "I'm turning my back," in obvious defiance.

I don't think PU wasn't being defiant. I think he was trying to communicate the best that he could (given the language barrier) that a manager is not supposed to be arguing balk calls. Over here arguing a balk call is asking for an EJ. "I'm turning my back" is body language (though also misinterpreted at times) meaning we're done here, you need to go. The manager asked for an explanation of the call. PU obliged him with a brief one. Then again tried to communicate not to be arguing balk calls...we're done here. But apparently some of the baseball protocol that we follow is not done so much in the far east.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by bluehair

Not this time, but this guy has punched an umpire before (apparently common knowledge). This umpire wasn't going to let it happen to him. Should he have waited for a sucker-punch? Damned if you do (hold him off by the neck), damned if you don't (and get bitch-slapped by this AH).

Well, there are more appropriate ways for someone to fend off a potential opponent, IMHO. A hand to the chest is better than a choke-hold to the throat.

Even he himself, in the article that Dave Reed linked, said that what he did was unprofessional and not handled correctly. With that, I do agree.