It's time to crack down on baseball.

Not the game itself, but its fans.

The fans in attendance at major league baseball games have deteriorated in quality to the point that some new rules need to be put in place.

Therefore, without further ado, I give you fan rules for attending a ballgame. Some of these are serious. Others are more tongue in cheek.

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Rule No. 1: Bring your glove to the game. That's fine. It's much easier to get a foul ball that way.But if a foul ball comes your way, you have your glove on and you miss it anyway, there's no retrieving the ball. You had your chance to catch it and failed. Let someone else have the ball.•

Rule No. 2: Also along the line of foul balls, if you catch one barehanded, be proud. Hold it up high for the world to see.But if you don't catch it barehanded, then pick it up, or if it just bounces into your lap, don't hold the ball up. You've done nothing special, you've just got lucky.Hold the ball up under false pretenses and the usher should take it away from you.•

Rule No. 3: Don't ask people to get out of their seats so you can get through the aisle to your seat while play is going on. This is an inconsiderate act. Wait until the inning ends or there is a pitching change before making your move.•

Rule No. 4: Late arrivals to ballgames should be penalized. If you get to the game in the third inning or later and somebody is sitting in your seat, too bad. Find another place to sit.•

Rule No. 5: If your ticket is for a box seat, it begins to rain and you head for shelter toward the back of the stadium, only to watch another fan sit in your seat and endure the precipitation, you lose.That fan wanted the seat more than you, is a more passionate fan than you, so reward that passion by finding another place to sit.•

Rule No. 6: Don't put up an umbrella while in your seat. The person behind you can't see.•

Rule No. 7: Don't boo unless you know why you're booing. A lot of fans hear a faction of people booing somebody or something, so they join in.Know what you're booing — or just don't do it.•

Rule No. 8: Any fan caught trying to start the wave should be ejected immediately.•

Rule No. 9: Don't put your beverage on the ground by your seat. Use the cup-holder in front of you or simply hang on to the cup.Beverages placed on the floor invariably get kicked and spilled. The liquid flows down onto the feet of the fans sitting in front of you.That stuff is sticky.•

Rule No. 10: Accept where you are. If you enter a ballpark wearing a jersey, T-shirt or cap of the visiting team, prepare to be abused.Physical abuse? Of course not. That's always unacceptable. Verbal taunting? You're going to get some of that.Should Steelers fans ignore someone wearing a Browns jersey at Heinz Field? I think not. And just try wearing a Steelers jersey in Cleveland.