Posted on 06/06/2013 2:51:59 AM PDT by rawhide
Of all the umpire-related stories we've seen this year, here's one that's just really odd: Jordan Baker is a rookie umpire who's getting noticed for tossing his gum into the outfield after every half inning. If he's umping — like he was Tuesday night in the St. Louis Cardinals-Arizona Diamondbacks game — you'll see wads of gum behind him.
The announcers of Tuesday's game noticed as much and talked about it on the air. That wasn't the only reason Baker was noticed. He also threw Diamondbacks bench coach Alan Trammell out of the game after an argument about a stolen base call. (For what it's worth, it looks like Baker blew the call). But back to the gum-throwing: You'll hear it described by TV announcers as Baker's "tradition" and a "salute" to baseball.
If you ask a group of fans in San Diego, however, they'll tell you something different. A blogger from San Diego-centered sports site Lobshots took notice of Baker and his gum-throwing last weekend. What followed is well documented on Lobshots, including the blogger giving Baker an ear-full because the ump was "a disgrace to the game and disrespecting the players, the field, and umpires everywhere."
After Lobshots posted all this, it says it received an e-mail response from Baker's wife defending his gum-throwing. The blog said it would post her retort, but it hasn't yet. It has, however, kept an eye on Baker.
There hasn't been any comment from MLB about Baker and his gum-throwing. His fellow umpires and their bosses couldn't have missed it. So that has to mean the powers that be think it's OK.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Wow...I feel for you. It’s no wonder your angst against gum chewing is so pronounced...
If you had been tormented by somebody who deliberately did something because they knew it bothered you, you’d be pissed too. I don’t call it “angst,” I call it “hatred.” And if anybody else doesn’t like it, tough shit!! I really don’t care.
If you didn’t notice, I was acknowledging your plight, not ridiculing it. My condolences for the hell you were put through.
I can see why after that post.
Thanks. Didn’t mean to come across as so pissy.
No you haven't.
I was eating my grits at a Cracker Barrel restaurant and I mixed a little packet of grape jelly in it. I knew the waitress saw me do it, so I asked her if she thought that strange. She said "no, I have two women customers, both adults, mother and daughter, who come in here and order pan cakes and douse them with tartar sauce".
Now, you've heard everything.
Now, you’ve heard everything.
I am sure that if we wanted to we could pursue this further. But some things are best unpursued. Mayonnaise can be pretty gross.
That’s not a tradition, it’s being a douche. Especially chucking it in the field of play.
Forgot to mention... I can’t stomach the stench of gum chewing either. It’s not a refreshing scent. It’s about as welcome as a pile of hot, steaming feces, if you ask me.
I think putting grape jelly on grits is just as odd as tartar sauce on pancakes, but... I haven’t tried either that way, so both of them may be just fine!
Geez, I wasn’t really into revisiting this thread but I got another response from another poster and then read your further replies to an earlier one!
If your mother wasn’t wasn’t dumb enough to marry your bastard father, and if you didn’t have a twin, then we wouldn’t be reading your pitiful rant.
I can’t believe the stuff I read on here.
Whatever. Hey, maybe I should move to Singapore. They disapprove strongly of gum chewing there...
When I was attempting to date off the internet, I put in my profile that I wouldn't date alkies, drug addicts, or gum chewers. Yes, I got some crappy responses. But I didn't want to meet those guys anyway.
Their loss. I don't need people like them in my life.
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