Letters

THORNY ROSE
I was pleased that Cincinnati manager Pete Rose was suspended for 30 days for bumping umpire Dave Pallone (30 Days, May 9). What I was not pleased about was that National League president Bart Giamatti seems to be overlooking the role Pallone's actions may have played in the incident, since it does take two to tangle.

Umpires, referees and other officials are paid to enforce rules fairly and to maintain control of the game. If they can't do that, they should be subject to the same discipline as managers and coaches. At the very least, officials who are involved in too many controversial calls and incidents should be put on probation and their actions carefully reviewed at the end of the season. If they improve and show they can maintain control of the game, keep them around; if not, dismiss them.
JUNE E. COOLEY
San Jose

Steve Wulf suggests that Rose's 30-day suspension should be commuted, citing Rose's past contributions to the game and Pallone's contribution to the Saturday night fiasco.

I submit that Wulf—and Rose—missed the point. The Charlie Hustle of old never would have waited for an umpire's call before making the insurance throw to the plate; would not have let the presence of a coach on the field stop him from throwing the ball; and would have nailed Nick Esasky's hide to the dugout for that kind of sloppy play.
CHUCK STONE
Indianapolis

Rose's bad attitude and unsportsmanlike conduct are most certainly grounds for suspension. I wonder whether he shouldn't have gotten 90 days—for his lack of respect for the officials and for encouraging every Little Leaguer in the country to harass the umpire.
MIKE HENRY
Seattle

How can Bart Giamatti say he is satisfied that Pallone is an "objective and professional person," when Pallone has said that if players had not held him back, he probably would have hit Dave Concepcion in a dispute several years ago? Beyond that, he admits to having played mind games with Concepcion since then. If that is what Giamatti believes to be objective and professional behavior on the part of an umpire, I worry about Giamatti's objectivity.
ART TITZEL
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Giamatti should establish the Giamatti Rule: A manager may not enter the field of play to argue a call by the umpire.
MARK J. WOODBURY
Valley City, N.Dak.

Officials in football grandstand less, do a much better job of avoiding confrontation and are more content to let the players and coaches be the show. Baseball umpires try to become part of the act themselves.
JOE DALY
Stewart Manor, N.Y.

Rose's 30-day suspension is a travesty. In the same game, Darryl Strawberry charged the mound from the dugout and was fined $300, roughly one week's meal money. Pallone, who should have been fired earlier after his public admission of a vendetta against Dave Concepcion, is still umpiring.

Giamatti blew the call.
JOHN H. REDDINGTON
Indianapolis