[lawump]

Replacements would never let non-routine situations get out of control. They would never be perceived as handling a non-routine situation so poorly that a team manager would pull his entire team from the field and refuse to continue the game.

AMLU has been in existence since around 2000 or 2001. So we have had 5 or 6 years of games being umpired by AMLU members and not once did any manager perceive an AMLU umpire (or crew) as handling a non-routine situation so poorly that they felt compelled to pull their entire team off the field and refuse to play.

Replacements worked, what, two months or so?...far, far less number of games than the number of games AMLU umpires have worked in the history of MiLB...and yet, they managed to have that exact situation occur.

H'mmm, I'm sure those replacements' experience had nothing to do with that incident, of course.

Of course, I'm sure the pro-replacement posters' response to this will be that the manager who pulled his team was "wrong" and an "idiot" and "it wasn't those (replacement) umpire's fault."

Yet, in the same breath they'll say that the story involving the AMLU "AAA" umpire ejecting the third baseman, pitcher and manager was the "umpires fault" because he was "inexperienced" and he doesn't know how to manage "men".

And let's make one thing clear: I'm not blinded by loyalty to the AMLU. In all my posts on this topic this spring I have (1) used the word "scab" sparingly, preferring to use "replacement" and never calling any poster a "Scab" (2) never criticized or attacked any poster on this board (or umpire.org) for working as a replacement, and (3) I have even criticized the AMLU for some tactics and/or statments they've used/made.

However, we are now entering the land of the delusional when posters start thinking that any amateur (or the replacements) is/are as good as the AAA umpires. (Yes, even current amateur (college) guys who are former AAA umpires are not as good. Simply put when you work a lower level (and NCAA Division 1 is lower than AAA...let's not even go there) one's umpiring skills do not remain at the same level they were at while in AAA, period.)

Some say top amateurs are better than long-season "A" umpires...I disagree, but I can see their point of view. Some say top amateurs are better than "AA" umpires...I totally disagree, but yet the other side can still make a rational argument in support of their position. But implying that top amateurs (and replacements) are better than "AAA" umpires can be supported only by a delusion.