The umpires strike back. The zero tolerance policy employed by baseball umpires has begun to turn nasty as a number of officials have taken a step too far in their zest to discipline players and managers.

Umpire Tom Hallion was suspended for three games without pay for bumping Colorado catcher Jeff Reed during an argument in a game at the end of June. It wasn't the first time an umpire had taken the law into his own hands. Umpire Joe Brinkman placed his fingers on the chest of Indians manager Mike Hargrove during an argument over balls and strikes. Hargrove was heard to bellow "don't you f***ing touch me."

On the night Hallion's suspension was announced, umpire Larry Barnett poked Orioles manager Ray Miller. Had the cleats been on the other feet, Barnett would have been tossed from the game. The controversies are compounded by allegations that umpires are often over-weight and therefore not as good at their jobs as they might be. Like some of the players in fact.