[BenedictArnold]

Redhaws manager Tim Ireland was the manager suspended by the PCL.

Please know that I am neither pro union or anti scab. I do not think that what they are doing is right. But they are not doing this to pay their insurance either. I still stand by my point that they are doing this because they have always sat on the couch and said that they can do a better job than the MLB guys. If they want my respect, however, I need to see them work 21 days in a row and travel throughout a league. Then take a day off. Then do it all over again. Then they will have my respect.

Thanks for your thoughts though. It is nice to have a discussion without someone trying to cut down your opinion. This forum is for debate. I often will look at umpire.org and remember that that site was once permitting anon. posts. Now look at it. This hobby we have is a lot of fun when you are on the field. But there are just too many guys out there that enjoy cutting people down when they know they cannot be identified. It reminds me of a coach...at any level...that waits until the pitcher has released the ball to take their cheap shot. To those novice umpires out there that don't know what I am talking about, they wait until they know you aren't looking at them to take a cheap shot. Let me give those new umpires a little advice.

The first time this happens, call the pitch. Then remove your mask and look directly into the dugout and say, "I am right here and I will be here all game. If you have something to say, be a man and say it to my face. But if you continue to act like a coward then I will start to throw people out of the game. And I will begin with you, (and point directly at the coach or player that you think is taking the cheap shot.) Now this is just my advice, say whatever you want back to them. But the one thing I will say, don't forget to call the pitch first.

Thanks for the thoughts Div2ump.

Before I forget...I was talking about the 2005 penalty for steroid use. I know they changed it now. So then I guess my question would be if they remain consistent, and WWTB is right about the system remaining with replacement umpires, are they going to increase that penalty next year to 50 for arguing with a replacement? I know it is extreme, but I am convinced baseball will do everything in its power to protect these umpires. Yet another example of how these guys are treated differently than the trained umpires. When I was in AA...many many years ago, I remember reporting to my league president about a fan that threw a cup of something at my partner. The question asked in return was whether or not the cup hit us. I asked if it mattered and the league president responded by saying, "Yes, it would have cost me a new hat if it had coolaide in it." Just another story to illustrate my point.

Oh yeah, about the scab gallery. I completely agree with you. Bringing that out during the negotiations was a poor decision. But I see that they have now eliminated access. So they must have seen their mistake. I guess the next question is whether or not they will put it up after this thing is over. Now that will be a true test to their character. But for the meantime, they have done the right thing and removed it. Even WWTB needs to recognize that. But who are we kidding, Jeff...I'm sorry again...I mean WWTB will never admit that the AMLU has done anything right because he is still angry with Andy and the others about being shown the door.