[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
This beauty comes from the person who said he gets his assignments simply because he is available! Even his assigner told him to shut up about that one. Thanks, Jeff - keep reaching for the stars; those goals will be in reach some day. ROTFLMAO

From J.Rutledge
The funny part is you keep saying thing hoping they will one day become true. I guess fantasy is stranger than reality. The problem is that assignor you keep referring to still hires me and he is not the only person I work for. Oh well, life must great to worry about what I am doing.

1) You wrote that you get your college assignments simply because you are available. FACT
2) You were told to shut up by your assigner. FACT

What exactly was not true about those statements? I never said that he was your only assignment director or that you don't get games from him. I'll let others judge whether that says more about him than you. You seem to be the one that twists the facts...again!

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
I have purposely stayed away from the last three or four threads regarding replacement umpires. I noticed that the same guys still perpetuate the myth that the league will come crawling back because the replacements are horrendous. How many days have they been out now?

From J.Rutledge
I do not recall that is what anyone said, but once again the fantasy is better than the reality.

Once again you prove that you are new to the game. Others have read about this for four months now and know the players. You see my name and it's like Viagra. I don't know how to break this to you, but your kind doesn't appeal to me. Good luck with that fantasy thing...I wouldn't let any of your partners know about which way your gate swings though.


For those who are actually paying attention, I received an email from a former student of mine who is working as a replacement umpire. He said that it is much more difficult than he thought it would be and that he appreciates the effort that goes into the job. I think most of us recognized that this level of baseball requires commitment and desire. The guys that served it well have decided to abandon their dream for good. The shame of it is that they did deserve more and we all know it. But many employees feel that way and are in the same boat when they fail to report for work. I have watched the news and don't see the horror stories that the AMLU gang said would occur. A few bad calls made by guys that may not look like Marines...that sounds like any ball park in the world.

I couldn't believe that a few of you are mocking the uniforms these guys wear. They ACTUALLY PAY FOR THEM and may have never worked together before. We've had countless debates regarding acceptable shades of gray in slacks, logos on shirts, black/grey/blue ball bags, white on shoes, etc. The motley crews that are working these games are just that...working these games. They get no points for style, the league doesn't subsidize their equipment...hell, they get paid to get the calls right. So far, it looks like they are doing a pretty good job of it.

The photos placed on the web by nefarious union types are suspect at best. I imagine that I could take a camera to a ball park and get dozens of shots of their best crews looking like LL volunteers. I've been to Minor League fields when the umpires wore green hats for St. Patrick's Day and I've seen MLB boys in blue jeans (my generation calls them dungarees) and home team windbreakers. I suggest that while some of the photos are unflattering, we should consider the source of the pixel propaganda.

More games and no movement from the MiLB boys - seems like that last, best offer was just that. What a shame...