[WindyCityBlue]

I will address your post, since it contains the least amount of vitriol and directs charges that can managed without the thread getting locked.


From Peter:
I usually can get a fairly accurate impression of an Internet umpire from his writings. However, there are a number of things that have started to bother me about your postings.

1. For someone who remains anonymous, you have made an lot of claims about where you work/what kind of ball that you do. I assign 300 umpires directly (within a 50 mile radius of where I live) and have access to an additional 150 or so umpires for high level ball from a 200 mile radius. If one of them were to get on the Internet and anonymously make the claims that you are making, I would be able to identify that person. You have simply given away too much information not to be identified. That fact that you have not been identified indicates to me that you are not telling the truth.

That must be the reason two members of one of my groups, contacted me about filing grievances! At least a few people here, know what I do and who I am.



For instance, you have told us that you are a member of UMPS. I do not know how big that organization is but it cannot have more than a dozen super big dog members unless it is unlike any umpire organization that I have seen. Add to that all of the specifics that you have given us over the last three months and you are down to a very short list at best. Even someone of limited intelligence who lives in the Chicago area should be able to identify you. (like you know who.)

Ibid

2. I do not know any senior umpire that would take your position that you have taken in this thread. PU's will not overrule a BU on the type of play that you describe at any level above coach pitch.

I don't recall using the word "overrule" in regards to this thread. You know better than to put words in my mouth. Read it again, carefully - I suggested that Gordon’s partner ask if he SAW the pitcher’s tag of the base. If he was adamant, you don’t have a consensus, leave it alone. Otherwise, you may have the opportunity to get it right. I fault any umpire that sees a blown call and doesn’t at least talk with his partner about it after the game. Too many members have suggested that they would keep mum, that’s sad.


3. Top level umpires are usually too busy to post at the rate that you post. We have games to work and jobs to do. You have made over 300 posts here in less than four months and that does not count the ones that have been deleted. You are posting as fast as Rut. Your posts are not one or two sentences like what Mick posts; they are lengthy epistles.

Ah, here we go with the suppositions. My business is not a desk job. I am on the road an awful lot and usually have time to surf. (These Starbucks are amazing - wireless technology and awesome lemon bars!) If my free time bothers some of you, I suggest a career change that affords you the same luxury. It doesn’t take long to formulate my thoughts and put them into text. Again, I can’t help being efficient.


There are several other things that are starting to bother me, but I will leave it at this. We use to have a poster here from down under. He was able to get away with all sorts of outlandish claims because there was no way that anyone could check up on him. You are from the center of our country. It is time for you to come clean so that we can verify your credentials.

Why? So that the same people that find my opinions to be caustic can f*ck with my life. You should know better than that.


Carl's credentials are easy to verify. You can do Google searches and verify the levels that I work. Likewise, the other senior posters here have people that can vouch for their authenticity. You, OTOH, are a wannabe like Jurrassic Referee or any of dozens of anonymous posters. Until you come clean, I will join Carl, Garth, Rich, Tee, etc. and assign you to the wannabe tribe.

Stop...the flattery is making me blush. If you need an identity to support the advice or opinions I offer, then that is your dilemma. Dear Abby and Ann Landers seemed to do alright without using their legal names. Come to think of it, much of Hollywood manages just fine with pseudonyms. My nom de net was borrowed from someone already using it on McGriff’s a few years ago. In fact there is an organization called Windy City Blues in our area (nudge/wink). Those are the only clues I will provide.


My operating assumption from now on is that you are a Chicago area umpire with an axe to grind against Rut. Or perhaps you are in a political war with local organizations and are using the Internet to settle scores we know nothing about. You are one or two rungs below the top of a local organization with access to senior umpires. Therefore you know what to say and what not to say. Maybe you are an assignor, so you get constant insight into the game without having to work the top levels.

That is an excellent deduction, Clouseau! I couldn’t possibly be someone who currently sits or did sit on a Board that runs one of the groups in Chicagoland. It is a near impossibility that I have current and past minor league experience. Who would even suggest that I work for any major college conference? I am aghast at the thought that I even know what an indicator is. As for Jeff Rutledge, I’ve actually met him at a meeting a year ago. He’s a nice kid and from what I gather, a pretty decent basketball and football official. I took to busting his balls when he made a couple of missteps. It became a self-perpetuating dramedy. Jeff and I share a few commonalities and I have tried to let the past slip away. He too, has learned to judge the thread on its merit. I may disagree with him, but I admire his tenacity.


I am willing to be proven wrong but until then, I will operate under the assumption that you are a JUCO umpire who may have worked a couple of D1 games and perhaps went to pro school. Along the way, you may have filled in with the minor leagues when someone got sick. That is the best that I think that you are. At worst, you are a FED umpire who hangs around with a lot of college umpires at the local watering hole.


Okay. Can I go cry on my giant pillow, now? This war of words has me tied in knots.


You are not an NCAA D1 conference umpire with extensive minor league experience. You are not the top big dog or even a top 10 big dog in your local group unless your group only has 20 umpires.

You forgot to number the last few graphs. But I was able to follow along anyway, HHH.
I’m not sure that “top big dog” isn’t a tad redundant, but I may be wrong. I hope that my use of language has impressed Mr. Lyle this time. Papa C. won’t reply to me, but feels comfortable quoting my words. Lah me!

Finally, this really didn’t take that long to answer. Illinois baseball is damn near nil at this time of the year. But, that doesn’t mean I will disappear, much to some member’s chagrin. Take your best shots when you disagree, as I will certainly do the same. Until then, this umpire has no problem having my crew assist me when I have blown a crucial call. The MLB boys seem to have adjusted, as well. If you choose not to follow the course, don't ask why you can't get my schedule.

Gordon, you started a great dialogue. I've been known to toss some zings and barbs Name calling doesn't bother me, I'm an umpire.