[WhatWuzThatBlue]

WWTB -To answer your question, no I've never been offered a contract by PBUC. I've never been to one of the schools (I would like to go just to learn though). I've never considered trying to make umpiring a career. It's certainly not a feesable line of work for someone with a family, travel more than pay playing a part in that.

Yes, most of us realize that if you want to make a decent living, one should not think of MiLB as the answer. That is why I cringe when I see posts from AMLU supporters that demand a living wage for a man and his family.

I was offered to be a replacement by my college assignor, but declined for various reasons. First was the fact that my younger brother is (was, he resigned with the ratification of the curren contract) a professional umpire, second is that I have friends that are professional umpires, and lastly, because I am a member of organized labor and believe in supporting other organizatios.

You made a noble decision based on your values. However, we know that what you belive is just and worthy may not be what I find appealing. (think Al Qaeda, Jihad, KKK or Black Panthers)

Many of us were offered jobs as replacement umpires. I turned down several requests and was then offered a position of evaluator. I was honored but again decided against it. realizing that I am past my prime and that many others deserved a chance to challenge themselves were the only factors in my decision.

The fact that you are part of organized labor is not a surprise to anyone who has read your comments. Most of us supported the actual umpires on the field, but hated the actions of the AMLU brass. The membership was sold a bill of goods and some of us saw through the charade long ago. While we understand that they deserve more, we also recognize that every employee believes this. We all think we are more valuable to the system than we really are. The MiLB umpires discovered this the hard way.

I'm an associate member of the AMLU, and visit their website daily, and I have never seen these stories of amature woes that are posted. Maybe you could send me a link to one of these. The postings of amature woes that I've seen all occured while amatures were filling in as replacements. They were also mostly (95%) newspaper articles posted by the mother of one of the striking umpires.

This is what made me want to respond in the first place. Come on...take off the rose colored glasses and read the site again. The tales of the Barons forfeit, a spoiled bat flinger, the 'Scab' photo section with commentary and countless press releases are there - if you really want to see them. Prior to the strike, there were surveys and a couple stories about how they found the idea of using 'high school' umpires preposterous. Numerous references to 'high school and college' umpires not being trained properly and that even the best of those couldn't replace a Rookie ball umpire were there for all of us to see. Many of us dismissed the newspaper articles for what they were...spin from an out of control union. Andy and Brian were repeatedly quoted, so you can't claim that an overprotective Mom was the evil genius. During the strike, the claims and spin became outrageous. I too have full access to that site. I read many things that would sicken the average amateur umpire.

Now for the "good job" that amatures were doing as replacements. I work with at least 7 of the replacements in my area doing NCAA and below and I can tell you that although they are good umpires, they are nowhere near the quality of every professional I've ever seen. Keep in mind that prior to the start of the season, MLB sent a memo to all of the farm directors and staff members in MiLB and specifically requested that they be "patient with and respectful of" the replacements. If the amatures were expected to do just fine, then why the need for such a memo?

Who said that they were equal to the AMLU guys? They were equal to the task, that is all that is, was and will be important. Umpires make mistakes and I have yet to see a perfect game called. These are 'professional' ball players in name only. They make ridiculous mistakes and many don't know the rules. The umpires are also expected to use this time to train and become better.

The memo you mention was sent to defuse the potential uproar over the strike. MLB has a similar gag order in effect for the players and coaches - if they get out of line and question/mock the umpires, the league jumps in and fines them. The MiLB memo was a preventative measure for any hotheads who might find the strike a convenient way to make a name for themselves. It also kept the employees in line - does your company allow you to publicly ridicule other employees? The umpires are the arbiters of the game - questioing their judgement is not tolerable in the professional ranks. Mr. Young displayed his tolerance with AMLU and amateur umpires.

I'm not posting here to bash the job the replacements did, I probably couldn't do much better. My real beef is that many upper echelon amatures think as if they are just as good as the professionals. This is simply not true. Every umpire, amature and professional, at any level needs to realize that there is always room for improvement. What caught my attention here was the initial sarcastic tone in the first posting in this thread. It seems as though this individual is hoping for the failure of others to validate his own abilities. To me this is a sign of some sort of inferiority complex.

I will not speak for the original posting member. I can say that I can still umpire rings around most A level umpires. I am older and slower, but my eye is better trained than theirs. The best NCAA umpires can hold their own in the AAA. Watch the CWS and you'll find that the reaction time to a metal bat is much faster than that of the wood bat game. Too many people assume that once a player has made it to AAA he is ready for the show. Is that why so many wash out or realize that they have spent six years there and will never get the chance. How many umpires make it to AAA and never get the call? Yes, the game is demanding and more challenging than what most amateurs will ever see. Having been there, I know it is far easier for me to call a pro game than an amateur game. The pitches are better, the fielding remarkable and the consistency beyond anything most us ever see. The truth of all this is that the AMLU umpires think they are irreplaceable. The world has seen that this is not the case. Like I said, MLB replaced their umpires before, why didn't the AMLU realize the folly of their gamble? If an amateur can step onto Fenway, Busch, Wrigley or Arlington's turf and do the job, it shouldn't be a surprise that it could happen in San Jose, Lynchburg, Racine and Springfield.

Amateurs have improved through dedication, training, fitness and clinics. Like you wrote, you would like to attend a pro school but have no intention of making it a career. Many amateurs do the same thing. They pride themselves on the thankless job they do - day in and day out. Some work for a hot dog and cola others make great game fees. They still know that when it comes time to make the call, they can and will do it.

Respect the fact that many of us saw another side to the union. Some of us are part of organized labor and others disdain it. We simply love the game and don't like to see it taken hostage. The AMLU tried to steal that from all of us and some of us stepped in to prevent it from happening.