It may be a time honored tradition amongst fans, but when your livelihood depends on not upsetting the Ump you may want to take a lesson from Astros pitcher Paul Clemens. On April 15th, 2013 Mr Clemens argued the balls and strikes a bit too vehemently when he came on in relief and had to [...]
Editors Note:
Perhaps the most clichéd heckle of all time, “Kill the Ump!” was first recorded in Ernest L. Thayer’s 1888 poem “Casey at the Bat.” Today, perhaps because of the legal repercussions of screaming a threat on a man’s life, the term is seldom used. The majority of Umpire heckles revolve around two common themes:
1. The Ump is blind
2. The Ump is partial
Although umpires are seldom within audible range of the bleacher loudmouths, they are within earshot of the box seats behind home plate. For optimum results, umpire heckles are best kept short enough to bellow and should seldom exceed one line. Umpires who hear everything and everybody – from Dad in the stands, coaches mumbling under their breath, and the players fussing in the dugout are referred to as having “Rabbit Ears”.
