With thousands of baseball fans sitting in the stadium, watching nine long innings of their favorite sports stars doing what they do best, the crowd pleaser moments are easy to see. Everyone is focused and engaged. There is the long ball walk-off home run, the topsy-turvy stolen base, the fast and furious squeeze play bunt, the foul ball catch by the kid with a glove in the stands, and the elusive pitching no-hitter. All of these generate a fan following interest.

Nothing, however, gets a tame home field crowd more wound up than a good old-fashioned power battle between the men-in-black umpires and the designated leaders-of-the-pack coaches.

The ejection is a crazy-funny fan favorite and this week, manager giant Don Mattingly showed everybody how it's done.

May 9th ejection

No doubt head coach Don Mattingly has not been in a great Miami Marlins mood lately, especially when looking at the month of May. Having won only two of the last ten games and currently on a three-game losing streak, the quality of the Marlins' play has been less than Mattingly has hoped.

Early this week, the Marlins hosted the St. Louis Cardinals, who are on a baseball rip, moving up rapidly in the standings during the same month that has moved Miami down at the same pace. It is common knowledge that coaches can not argue pitching calls without umpire retribution.

With no one on in the bottom of the second, the count on Derek Dietrich stood at 1-2. St. Louis Cardinals Carlos Martinez fired a fastball in and HP umpire Hunter Wendelstedt calls a third strike. Mattingly complains and Wendelstedt gives the sign sending Mattingly out of the game. The ejection awakens the crowd as they respond with the traditional boos and jeers.

May 10th ejection

This time, Mattingly was not alone in his ejection. Misery does love company. HP umpire Andy Fletcher, having been part of the umping crew from the previous evening, stood behind the plate and tossed out Marlins batter, Christian Yelich for questioning a similar called third strike. Mattingly charged out to the plate and Fletcher pointed to the dugout sending Mattingly walking out of the park in the bottom of the first inning.

Again, the crowd offered the perfunctory boos and jeers. Knowing that he would be ejected if he came out of the dugout, Mattingly most likely had an ulterior motive for his actions, a hope to spark some enthusiasm within his team. Sadly, the Marlins couldn't muster enthusiasm or the win.

Note to self, Mattingly. Perhaps under the breadth muttering would have the same effect and keep the coach on the bench for the entire length of the game.
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