[WhatWuzThatBlue]

My God, FVB9 you are delusional?

Where did I write that they don't deserve more money? Where did I write that they aren't allowed to dream? I've acknowledged that they are talented (even pointed out that DC was very good!) but will lose everything by walking away from their ST assignments. I have also written that this union is fooling themselves if they believe that they can make the Minor League powers blink. The contract should have been negotiated a year ago. I have spoken with a couple of guys in that group and they are disoragnized to say the least. They are seeking a laundry list of changes not just a few more dollars to live on.

Umpires don't dictate the game. They should have learned that from their big brothers, but they are letting egos get in the way. They can't have it both ways. Most rational people know that they are considered to be in training. If the word apprenticeship offends you then that is too bad. They are fighting to be one of 68. The odds of becoming a MLB umpire are not good. They learned in pro school that they need to be one of the best dozen or so to earn a MiLB roster spot. The learn in Short A or Rookie Ball that they need to be one of ten to be asked to advance to Full A. The progression and odds continue until they are left with a tiny shot at the brass ring.

Now, in all of my posts I have mentioned that while I respect that they want and deserve more, if they decide to walk away, any assignor that blackballs an umpire for taking those games is a major league a-hole. Who are you to say that it is more important for the minor leaguer to make ends meet than an amateur who is struggling to make ends meet? On one hand, you have a guy who signed on for the low pay in return for a shot at the dream. On the other you'e got a pretty talented umpire who could never afford to take that chance or is too old to do it now. He needs the money just as badly, but you say he's a scab for taking it. That's B.S.! I won't take those games, even if asked, but I will not hold it against someone who does. The Minor Leagues are proving grounds and if someone wants to test their abilities I say, go for it. Maybe they'll realize how difficult it is or maybe they'll shine. As an assignor, FVB9 why wouldn't you want the best games for your umpires? Oh yeah, loyalty to a few outweighs the betterment of the whole. When Chicagoland umpires were seeking pay raises for our games, did our Minor League brethren give a ****? I didn't see any of them standing up for our fights. If they made a bad business decision then they have to suffer the consequences. This next contract should ask for reasonable increases and recognize that they are apprenticing. Pretending that they control the league is tomfoolery.