Temper, temper

The manager of the Ashville Tourists, a Colorado Rockies Single A affiliate, has received a great deal of attention for a fit he pitched over the weekend. Some commentators were amused, while others questioned whether a man willing to flaunt such a complete lack of self-control should be left in charge of 18 to 20 year olds.

What I think is Joe Mikulik has spent too much time studying his Martin, his Weaver, his Pinella and his McClendon,* and not enough time developing his own moves. Despite the unusual length of the tantrum we don't see anything we haven't seen before -- besides that I-have-no-cartilage-left-in-my-knee dive into second base -- which I doubt will inspire imitators.

I thought he might be on to something when he dumped water on home plate. Mud-castles? Or even a mudball, which would give him something else to throw or spike. But he ends up using the water to wash away the dirt he had kicked on home plate. Which could be defined as helpful.

Mikulik's lack of originality is not all his fault. Managers and umpires have been feuding for over a century and there is a finite number of behaviors, short of physical contact or producing a firearm, that can be displayed in such a situation.

Sure, I'd like to see a disgruntled manager unroll the tarp, climb the foul pole or beat himself in the head with his own shoe, but Mikulik just wasn't the guy to introduce a new innovation. He's an A-ball manager, through and through.

On the other hand, the umpires handled themselves like big leaguers. There is no doubt Mikulik was saying it and spraying it, yet the umps had the discipline to stand there like they were on palace duty.

Contrast this to the excitable referees at the "word's greatest sporting" event, whose hands would spasm to their whistles if the ball boy tripped over his own shoelaces.

*I was prepared to link to videos of Billy screaming, Earl kicking dirt, Sweat Lou stomping and Crazy Lloyd McClendon trying to make off with third base but, it turns out, youtube hates old-school baseball managers. It's the first time its ever let me down.