European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes thursday february 28, 1991baseball �?T91 zone a. A a a modern umpires seem equipped with Short fuses by Ross Newhan the los Angeles times it was 1971, and Preston Gomez was managing the Sain Diego padres. He was under pressure from then general manager Buzzie Bavasi to shed his passive Demeanour and become More aggressive. One Way Battle the umpires. Gomez got his Chance on a close play at third base. He approached Umpire Harry Wendel Studt and said a a in a sorry Harry. I know he was out but Buzzie wants me to put on a show.�?�. Wendel Studt smiled and replied a i done to mind Preston. Take As Long As you want a a a \ a Quot. A a a a take As Long As you want Only 20 years ago but definitely another time and place. Now most managers and players seem to believe that one wrong word or look can result in ejection or prolonged Dehate. They contend that the umpires have become More belligerent arid confrontational More Apt to carry a grudge. A a in a like to think arid i do that they All have the ability to be outstanding umpires but attitude has gotten in the Way of performance a said Lee Thomas Gen Cral manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. A they act embarrassed if someone gets on them. Did no to their mothers Ever Tell them that umpires get called a lot of names a generalizations Are dangerous but the perception  temperamental and aggressive udi Pire is so widespread that some owners privately recommended the hiring of an entirely new staff when collective bargaining talks with the umpires Union began in november. Short of a dramatic move that would have evoked memory of then president Reagan a firing of the air traffic controllers the american and National leagues initiated those talks seemingly intent on a regaining some control from the umpires  reestablishing accountability by the umpires. V. A a  an american league general manager citing the  involved in any attempt to fire or option a poor Umpire to the minors. A the Way it is they think they work for the Union and riot the leagues a a they have so much Security that there a Little Pride in performance and.  v. It is difficult to determine where the negotiating issues Are now. The talks have been conducted without Public displays of rancor emotion or explanation. Robert Kheel management a principal negotiator downplays the control and accountability aspects. He Points out that those Are not really bargaining issues because the leagues already have significant rights under the current agreement and because the negotiations Are essentially tied to it economic proposals. Union counsel Richie Phillips who began briefing the umpires on the status of the negotiations monday in Orlando fla., recently sent a letter to his constituents claiming the leagues Are prepared to ban the umpires from working exhibition games if there is not a settlement by March 7. During the current negotiations the american and National leagues have had the support of a rare ally a the major league players association a a a a. Executive director Don Fehr believes the umpires have become a too contentious too emotionally involved in the  n a a we Haven to been directly involved in the talks but we have made our feelings known a Fehr said. A something has to be done. A a a the level of player complaints goes up every year a whether it involves calling the game carrying a grudge following a player around the Field or picking one Iro by the neck and throwing him Down a Joe West did last year. A i know4to going to get questions this Spring from players wanting to know what they should do if that happens again and i at no to know what to say. I mean the impression that umpires can to be criticized that their conduct is inviolate is silly. They should have thicker skins. They re not automatically right even if they re wearing the Blue  take As Long As Yew want its a delicate subject with most managers and players to concerned about retribution a a unwilling even to discuss it. Oakland a a third baseman Carney Lansford hesitantly went on record late last season saying a a there a probably just one or to umpires who let you question a Call anymore. Most of the time the Only response is a no it was a Good pitch a or a shut up and get Back in the  and the worst thing you can do is argue. Then  hold a grudge sometimes for  a a a. A a. Said one National league manager a i got ejected last year and the Only thing i said was that a pitch was Low. They turn on you now for no reason at All.�?�. Take As Long As you want. The camera of the mind focuses on the 1990 season. Are the snapshots those of dramatic moments great catches. Or do we see Umpire Terry Cooney ejecting Roger Clemens Frorer game 4 of the american league playoffs and West putting a Bear hug on Pitcher Dennis Cook during a Bea Ball fight in a Juila Delphia and throwing him to the ground is what we see perhaps the first two weeks of May consider a May 7 in Boston. Seattle Mariner manager Jim Lefebvre is ejected by Home plate Umpire Dale Ford for Yelling a Bear Down a a common phrase. It is yelled at Ford maybe but maybe not in reaction to a called strike. A May 21 in Baltimore. Umpire Drew Coble reverses baseball tradition by running to the Oriole dugout to quiet manager Frank Robinson after Robinson has merely signalled with his hand that a called strike on Joe Orsulak was High. A May 22 in Seattle. Gary Sheffield of the Milwaukee Brewers takes a called third strike and flips his protective foot shield toward the on Dick Circle As he walks toward the dugout. Plate Umpire Don Denkinger does not even see it but second base Umpire John Shulock does a and ejects Sheffield. Take As Long As you want reds manager Lou Pinilla and ump Gerry Crawford separated by the Arm of an unidentified ump Exchange views prior to Piniella a ejection from a game last season. Umpire Rocky Roc tosses Yankee manager stump Merrill after a dispute last season. There were 84 regular season ejections in the american league last season compared to 75 in 1989. There were 105 in the National league compared to 77 in 1989. The statistics might not be conclusive but the consensus is that the attitude of the men in Blue has changed that they no longer believe their role is to blend into the action but to upstage it. Why what has happened nothing the umpires insist. They contend that they Are actually doing a better Job with fewer arguments than Ever. If it appears that they Are More confrontational they say it is Only because of the television exposure that 1 makes one debate seem to be several through replays on every Channel and 2 compounds the jobs inherent Tress via reruns of controversial Calls. They also say that its a two Way Street that players have become More aggressive because of Quot a incentive contracts that make every pitch every swing financially critical. A an intolerance for the inside pitch leading to More fights and an attitude among younger players that charging the Mound is the accepted response a the exposure Given College players who now come to the majors with the attitude that they done to have to take anything from anyone. Club and league personnel concede that there is truth in All of the umpires Points. But they do not quickly dismiss the confrontational question and the de a a Ter oration in the Overall relationship Between the game and jts umpires. A indeed american league president Bobby Brown said last season that he was embarrassed by the recurring incidents. And it remains a popular theory that the umpires have gained so much Security and Independence through the Union that for the most part they no longer have Pride and incentive in their performance or appearance. They know that there is Little the leagues can do to discipline or demote a bad Umpire once he has a tenure clause a automatic after four major league seasons. Take As Long As you want a Nice memory but apparently nothing More