Another retired MLB'er giving back to youth baseball.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I ran across this article this morning on MSN.com: Mitch Williams reportedly gets into expletive-laced argument with ump at kids' game | FOX Sports on MSN.

MTD, Sr.

[Out]

Williams - a phool and a liar?

[Publius]

I always look askance at those stories, because there are always pieces missing. I wonder if that umpire's experience is like mine.

In 30+ years, I've had about a dozen of those in-your-face, nose-to-nose, spit-and-expletives-flying confrontations, nearly all in the first fifteen.

They all had one thing in common: my mouth and/or actions served to escalate the situation rather than diffuse it.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Publius

I always look askance at those stories, because there are always pieces missing. I wonder if that umpire's experience is like mine.

In 30+ years, I've had about a dozen of those in-your-face, nose-to-nose, spit-and-expletives-flying confrontations, nearly all in the first fifteen.

They all had one thing in common: my mouth and/or actions served to escalate the situation rather than diffuse it.

Lessons learned, let them steam and eventually they will say the magic words and everyone in the park will know why they were tossed (Bull Durham). This umpire needs to learn that a big argument toss is a big right hand javelin toss, not a simple point to sideline with left hand.