Kernels manager swears he won't swear

CEDAR RAPIDS – Bill Mosiello is the antithesis of the stereotypical baseball guy.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels manager has never had a drop of alcohol or used a tobacco product of any kind. No smoking, no chewing.

And here's the big one. He doesn't curse.

“Oh, I have,” Mosiello said. “But I can't tell you the last time. When I do, it's not pretty, I'll tell you that much.”

What is this guy doing in pro baseball?

Using a four-letter word is as common as a grounder to shortstop. The typical postgame meal for home and visiting coaching staffs at Memorial Stadium includes at least a couple of cans of Coors Light.

But not for Mosiello.

“That doesn't make me a saint,” Mosiello is quick to point out. “Trust me. I've got enough other vices. Thank goodness I don't have a few of those other ones.”

You've seen Mosiello in a few rhubarbs with umpires of late. Maybe it's just the summer heat making him cranky or the exasperation of some bad calls against his team.

But despite some demonstrative arguments with the men in blue, you haven't seen the skipper get ejected from a game.

That comes back to that not swearing thing. They say there are two words that get you bounced by an ump.

“You” is the first one. Never make an argument personal.

And … well, you know the other one.

“The one time I really go out and make a scene is if they 100 percent miss (a call),” Mosiello said. “I can't go out there and just talk (to an umpire). I can go out and ask a question, but if I'm going out to argue, you missed the call. If I chirp (from the dugout), it means I think you missed it, but if I'm actually going to all the way out there, then you missed it.

“There's enough close ones that I'm not just going to go out on the field. I know how hard their job is, especially with a two-man crew. I understand that. If my team played perfect all the time, then maybe I'd think I'm perfect.”

Mosiello was ejected once last season and has yet to get the heave-ho this season. Should we mention again here that he doesn't curse?

“It's who I am, it's who I've been for 45 years,” he said. “It's what I believe in. It doesn't make me better or worse (than anyone else).”

Here's video of Mosiello arguing a call in a game two weeks ago:

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