I think paying extra for working the plate is bush-league. In these parts, the pay is the same, and if a guy refuses to work his share of games behind the plate, he doesn't last long. I PREFER to work the plate, and I prefer to work games with other umps that feel the same. That way, I am confident that my partner really wants to be there. If I work a game with a guy that has a reputation of not wanting the plate, I feel like he is just there for the game fee. When I work a big tournament game, or a late-season game with post-season implications, I consider it a privelege to work the plate.
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