tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13271520.post-1119843707922362622005-06-26T21:39:00.000-06:002006-09-04T13:57:49.436-06:00I dislike the fact that umpires have such a quick trigger when throwing a player/manager out of a game. <br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I know they have a tough job. I wouldn't even want that job at a Tee ball game. <br /><br />Umpires are becoming too much a part of the game. For example, tonight while watching the interleague rivalry between the Mets and the overpaid team from New York. <br /><br />Late in the matchup Gary Sheffield pounded a pitch off the glove of Mets fireman, Aaron Heilman. Second baseman, Marlon Anderson stretched out to get the ball and made an excellent snag. He throws to first for a bang-bang play at the first base bag. <br /><br />C.B. Buckner, the first base umpire immediately calls Sheffield out. Sheffield reacts by slamming his batting helmet into the ground. Simultaneously, C.B. ejects Sheffield from the game. The heat of the moment, playing for the struggling pinstripers, Sheffield overreacted. That said, he was showing passion and determination that he has for the game of baseball. Fans drop a ton of cash to attend a game of this magnitude and they are obliged to see a player with the desire to win. There is simply no way Sheffield should have been thrown out of the game. <br /><br />As soon as Sheffield realized he had been tossed, he turned on C.B. and got his moneys worth. Veins popped out and words, that I choose not to repeat, flew from Gary's mouth. It was truly a sight to see.<br /><br />Having that said, I'll repeat myself. Gary Sheffield should not have been thrown from the game for his origonal reaction to the out at first base. If C.B. had made the call, as an umpire should, Sheffield may very well have gone directly to the dugout. He threw him out of the game before the player said a word. He threw him out, almost before the helmet left the head of the runner.<br /><br />Not only do you have umpires calling balls and strikes with an ever changing, personal strike zone, they also get way too involved by ejecting players. Their objective should be to keep order in the game. They should not alter the entire game by using "the power" to punish players, teams, AND the fans.Uncle Charlie Yakkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219012947338536164noreply@blogger.com