When I was an apprentice umpire, my mentors taught me to make the call and promptly forget it. If a player or a coach had something to say, I was to listen respectfully, explain what I saw, and end the conversation. If the player or coach continued to argue, I was told to keep my mouth shut except to warn the individual when he was getting to close to "the line". If the individual persisted, eject him, but never, ever, ever say anything personal or disrespectful to a player or a coach. We also were taught never to say anything to another umpire about a call or situation unless that umpire asked us for a comment. Winters going up to Brian Runge with the tale of the thrown bat is on a par with your third grade classmate who tells the teacher that you were passing notes behind her back. There are too many umpires in the game who seem to need to exhibit their machismo in order to control a game. The way to control a game is to hustle, be in position, make good calls, and remember that you are just part of the playing field. I've never bought a ticket to watch an umpire.
Maybe -- but if so, maybe it's a trend that needs a hard second look. Running your mouth is a part of sports, to some extent -- between players, between fans, between players and fans -- but I don't think officials should be playing this game. No one pays for a ticket to see an official. Refs are there to make sure that the rules and regulations are enforced, not to participate in a profanity-laced screaming match with an athlete. Yes, that's probably all true. But it's just basic human fallibility - guys working in an all guy environment will just naturally tend to a certain level of jerkassery. If Bradley didn't get hurt would the umpire be even under this much scrutiny? I imagine umps bait players, players bait umps, guys call each other motherfuckers, you know - Sports! It's mostly professional, but it also a pretty elite private club. They can get away with stuff that would be considered in bad taste elsewhere, I imagine. Hell, I read Ball Four. Anyway - my point is it's an overreaction.
I can't believe a professional umpire would say just a thing. Needs to be thrown out of baseball.
We still don't know exactly what the umpire said... but we all know that Bradley has a short fuse. While I feel Bradley is the least wrong between the two, he didn't have any buisness trying to charge him like he did- which is going to cost him, and his team a chance in the playoffs. Getting back to Winters, I dont see how he will be able to keep his job. Knowing how Selig is, a long suspension or firing is definately in order.
Winters apologized to the umpire's Union over the indent, but has no intention of apologizing to Bradley... He admitted he did in fact say it, thats why the union isn't appealing the suspension.
If that's him holding his cool, I'd sure hate to see him flip out. I most certainly have. I was at the game at Dodger Stadium a few years back when Bradley, still with LA at the time, went absolutely bonkers after getting a plastic bottle tossed at him from the bleachers. I had heard for years before this (going back to his days with Cleveland) that MB used his inner rage to inspire his play, but after witnessing that utter meltdown (screaming, throwing the bottle back in the stands, ripping off his jersey, actually urging the fans to boo him louder) I knew this dude had some serious anger management issues... That said, the umpire was out of line. Winters' comment was asinine and obviously intended to bait Bradley; why would he declare Bradley a "fucking piece of shit" unless he knew he was a complete mental case? I have no problem with trash talking, but maybe a little wit could be involved, not simply a recitation of expletives. The umps are supposed to be the level-headed ones on the field, and I don't think that reflexively dissing Milton Bradley is a level-headed move.
