Lookouts manager Tommy Watkins (8) gives a signal on opening day against the Birmingham Barons at AT&T Field on Thursday, April 5, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.On May 27 the Chattanooga Lookouts had two runners thrown out at the plate during a 7-1 loss to Montgomery at AT&T Field.
Lookouts first-year manager Tommy Watkins coaches third base and was responsible for sending the runners. After the second play at the plate that did not go Chattanooga's way, Watkins heard a not-so-friendly shout from the crowd.
"Hey, Number 8, you're garbage!"
Within minutes, several Lookouts players were playfully referring to their manager as "garbage."
"I try not to be rude to the fans, because it's a fun game we're playing out there, and we're trying to do our best," Watkins said, smiling. "We're not trying to mess anything up. There were two outs, and I've been doing that all year. I'm not going to stop doing what I do.
"When it works out, it looks like I'm a genius. When it doesn't, I'm the worst coach in the world."
Although being called "garbage" doesn't exactly rank at the top of the compliment list, that one-time shout hardly drew the ire of Lookouts general manager Rich Mozingo and his staff. For that to occur, the shouting would either have to be annoyingly repetitive or more vulgar in nature.
"We've absolutely gone up and talked to individuals," Mozingo said. "For us, the line of distinction is that once you start using curse words, we're done. There also have been instances when we've said, 'This is just getting old. Help us out a little bit here.' In those instances, 99 percent of the time, they're really good.
"If someone is having fun and being silly and a word slips out, we'll go down to his or her seat and have a conversation. If we've heard it three or four times, we'll ask that person to step out for the day."
Asked how often Lookouts officials ask fans to leave due to incessant shouting or inappropriate language, Mozingo said once a year, if that.
"The ones who can wear you out are the guys who will say the same thing for four innings," Mozingo said. "Again, though, once you've told them that they're past the line in terms of this being OK, 99 percent of the time it's understood."
The Lookouts have three days off due to the Southern League's all-star break and will open their 70-game second half Thursday night at AT&T Field against Biloxi. Chattanooga finished the first half with a 36-33 record, which placed the Lookouts third in the North Division.
Chattanooga players have moved on from calling Watkins "garbage," knowing that another reference could be right around the corner.
"You hear most of it, because in these smaller parks it's easier to hear people yelling and stuff," Lookouts first baseman Brent Rooker said. "It's obvious you've got to send the runners there. It's part of baseball. They made two perfect throws that game and got us out.
"You can't let that stuff get to you, because it's normally coming from people who are less knowledgeable than the people making the decisions."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.