[Tim C]

Since I was mentioned by name I feel it my duty to be one of the first to respond:

Thanks for your points they are very interesting since they begin to define the difference in umpiring levels.

Canuck commented:

"One thing I find quite astonishing is the attitude of some of the "Internet umpires" on this board and their use of the term "rat"."

and added:

" . . . but isn't amateur baseball around for the players and, to a lateral extent, the fans. The game is not for the umpires."

I am not sure that these two points can be in the same paragraph.

I would guess that not many umpires here that "write" about rats have ever called one that to their face.

"Rat" could be considered an endearing term for some of the coaches/managers that I have worked over the years.

I am sorry to say that at all levels of play coaches/managers attempt to manipulate umpires and therefore the "rat" name will always stick.

Your second point about who the "game is for" is a little more muddled.

While I agree that the game is not "for" the umpires I will always intone the followng:

"If players and coaches/managers didn't lie and cheat you wouldn't need umpires."

Canuck went on and asks:

"Another thing that fascinates me is the refusal of umpires to learn anything about scorekeeping, or the infamous rule 10."

I am assuming that you have never attended a five week professional school. If you had you would understand that Rule 10 is NOT considered an umpire rule.

Many of us have, of course, scored games in an an official mannerat some time during our career but WE (the umpire) have no reason to know any of Rule 10.

I am not umpiring for any "love of the game" any, frankly I know as much about baseball as both I need to and want to. Your post seems to be quite condscending in nature but I allow that . . . it is your philosophy.

And finally Canuck asks:

"I ask, how could an assistant coach not exist? They are people that exist on the baseball field that should be treated with respect. Is your status out there so high that this lowly rat does not deserve the time of day?"

Again I can see that your training is not in upper level baseball in the US. The college umpires are TAUGHT "assistant coaches" don't exist. That concept is to make sure that head coaches/managers understand that THEY are the ONLY person allowed on the field to discuss anything with umpires.

Some of us take it farther than that (personally I wind up in about two conversations a year with a base coach that isn't game related -- other than that I don't speak to assistant coaches).

So as I read your post you have attempted to take some of us to task with how YOU THINK the game should be officiated. I can accept that.

Games of non-shaving aged players should be called in one fashion and for each level higher the rules and attitudes change.

In the previous thread about arrogance I tried my hardest to fulfill the feelings of the original poster. I tried to make sure there was no question of who the MOST arrogant poster on the umpire boards is . . . I accomplished just what I wanted and didn't even use smilies!

Canuck, there are several ways to umpire games -- if your way works for you, naive as it seems to me, then do that . . . you just won't change many of us that do it differently.

Regards,