|
Doug:
I ask simply for the respect to extend my position:
I think all umpires are less important than how we value ourselves.
The only way I can explain is this way:
If you have two NFL teams that are evenly matched you can have a great professional football game to view. But if you have two equally matched WFL teams you can also have a game that is fun to watch.
MiLB umpires are good, they are not MLB umpires.
Minor league umpires fulfill an important function but that function is nothing compared to the players.
There is a far greater gap betweem MILB umpires and players than there is MLB umpires and players.
We are talking about MiLB umpires . . . some are 19 years old and have worked less baseball than any 10 year high school veteran.
Give these guys credit . . . the have a passion and rake a huge gamble.
HOWEVER . . .
Ownership of Minor League teams know that umpires are kinda/sorta unimportant.
I am not downgrading MiLB umpires I am telling you the truth.
Minor league baseball would EVENTUALLY go right a long with or without MiLB umpires. They just aren't that important. The SYSTEM will eventually accept whatever the quality is of umpiring and the teams will adjust and move on.
Some people might tell you the following:
"Minor League umpires are nothing more that an expendable commodity.
"There will always be umpires to work games.
"It does not matter that a "Joe West" is hidden in the multitude of MiLB umpires as there will always be 'someone' to work the games."
These "same people" would tell you that MiLB umpires have vastly overrated their value to the system.
The cool thing is we will see how this shakes out . . . and we are not involved.
|