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Originally Posted by BenedictArnold
So let me get this straight. A guy worked as a replacement and now thinks that the AMLU instructors are going to want this person in their union? You are suprised by this? I think this guy got some bad advice. Did you say he was your student, WWTB? I say let him reattend Evans Academy. If he is good enough then so be it. But if this guy thinks he will be accepted with open arms, he will be sorely mistaken. Of the few AMLU guys I still talk to, none of them have treated replacements poorly. They are good guys that understand that someone was going to work their games. But I wouldn't expect any of them to want someone that worked to enter their union. The guys I know are good people that were caught in a bad situation. But your student needs to realize that his decision to work those games was not a good decision if he intended to go back to umpire school.
I am trying to be more civil here since I am trying to move on from this subject. But tell your student that if he thinks he is good enough to go back. But odds are he wasn't selected the first time and he won't be the second. Not because he was a replacement, but rather because he probably wasn't good enough. Again, not a jab at the replacements, this is based on the fact he wasn't selected in his first year of umpire school. The odds are not in his favor to get a job the second time around.
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I appreciate the honesty. He was a student of mine long ago, when he first grabbed a mask and I was fleeter of foot. Since then, he has worked his way up the ranks and got the bug a few years ago to attend Evans mini school. He received high marks and was eager to prove himself but like most kids his age, didn't have the money. He got a taste of the action and that thrilled him. I have spoken with him about a dozen times suring and after the strike. He feels that he is ready to make the jump and wants to prove it in pro school. His mistake was that he approached a couple of AMLU guys and asked if he could tak with them after the game. They agreed and tore him a new one. These are single A guys and have little room to toss around any attitude. You and I were both there...most A umpires are mutts.
He then found his name on the website that was mentioned in another thread. This guy called everyone he knew and asked why he was being treated so badly. Word got around and he recieved an email telling him that if he showed up at either school, they would ride him into the ground and make sure he never got offered a chance to work in the Minors. That is totally classless and not the least bit professional.
I've taught guys that got good enough to merit my assignments. I didn't resent them and am mature enough to know that being passed by is part of life. He was offered games based on his ability. He accepted them and was encouraged by the League Director to go to school and get hired. If these schlubs stand in his way, the tirade against AMLU will endure. I cannot fathom how you can justify those guys not wanting the best available umpire out there in teh field with them. I've worked with guys who do all kinds of crap off the field - I don't care. I only want the best umpire along side me when the deuce hits the fan. These AMLU guys are fooling themselves if they think the next batch of hires doesn't think they made a huge bargaining mistake. Like my friend, he just wants a shot to prove himself. Maybe that will be the downfall after all. Enough guys will realize that they don't want any part of the union so it will implode. Unions do that you know.