[Thump]

I have spoken with a couple of guys in that group and they are disoragnized to say the least.

I just don't understand who you are talking to, because the guys I talk to say the exact opposite, and I see no reason for them to lie to me.

At the IACAO clinics, the MiLB guys walk around with a haughty arrogance that wasn't present when I was in the ranks. Admit it, you think you are above High SChool and College ball. The way things are going, you may need those games to pay your bills.

I'm sorry you feel this way WWTB. We had Ed Hickox, Josh Carlisle, and Brian Reiley come help instruct a clinic for one of the associations i'm in. I had not met any of these guys before, but after meeting them I honestly felt like they honestly wanted to help me become a better umpire, and they NEVER acted cocky or like they were better than me. I've also worked some college ball in February down in Florida with some of the younger MiLB umpires, and let me tell you this. They were AWESOME to me. They did not come across like they were about the game, or above me. They were happy to answer any questions I had, and never made me feel like I was bugging them, because I asked a lot of questions. But they NEVER made me feel like they thought they were too good for me, or college ball. I am sorry that they weren't there to help you out in Chicago. I'm sure almost all of the MiLB guys didn't even know what was going on there.

All I can speak for is my personal experiences...so I'm not going to generalize and say "all MiLB guys are like this"...but the ones i've met are great guys, who are down to Earth, very personable, and have a love for umpiring that goes beyond anything i've ever seen. I have yet to meet a professional umpire who acts like he's above me or the level of baseball I work.


I've never met you before Derek, but good luck with everything. I really respect everything you guys are doing. It takes a lot of guts.