Umpire confrontations: when players and managers clash with on-field officials, their battles are often more humorous than they are threatening.

NEVER MIND THE FEUD between the Hatfields and McCoys or the vendetta of the Montagues and Capulets which led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Those legendary conflicts were merely minor squabbles between mild-mannered neighbors in comparison to the warfare that has pitted indignant managers against autocratic umpires ever since baseball began.

After all, though not spelled out in contracts, it almost seems that among a manager's duties is the stirring up of ruckuses with umpires. Sometimes they do so to vent legitimate fury over a "blown" call on a play or pitch. Or to distract second-guessers and critics from a team's poor play by drawing attention ...