he answer? Game management. While it is important in every sport, in baseball there is a catch.

In every sport, there is a fine line between behavior that is acceptable and not. Cross that line and you will be penalized. The problem with baseball is that there is no progression of penalties. There is no technical foul, unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, or yellow card. You are either staying or going. That is what can make managing baseball games so tough.

Editor's note: Canada does not use the NFHS halfway house known as "restriction to the dugout."

Nice guys need not apply

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with and teach many young and inexperienced umpires. The problem they all had was learning how to manage games.

Often, their biggest mistake is that they take too much crap. Many fear to do what often needs to be done, eject the offender. They are either intimidated or feel bad about someone's having to be gone for the whole game.

Well, if that is how you feel, then you may as well hang up your mask. You are already toast.

Continued...