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Originally Posted by GarthB
I believe the school system and PBUC are strengths, not weaknesses. Currently anyone can attend proschool and put himself in position to make it to the pros. Doing away with that and moving to the system you propose inserts politics and more hoops into the process. We don't need NCAA or Baseball Canada involved in saying who may or may not be qualified to be trained as a professional umpire. It is far better to let those who aspire to that level select themselves as candidates.
Perhaps this is a cultural difference between our societies, but we value individual initiative over group control.
All of the umpires would be paid the same? The rookies up to AAA? Regardless of performance?
Another cultural difference, I guess. I don't think a socialist model would work in a capitalist environment.
This would benefit the umpires or their craft how?
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Garth I think I may have not been clear as to how MLB would recruit umpires. Local guys won't be selected by the local administration, however by ex-pro guys who have been in the system and would under my system as a part-time scout/supervisor for various regions. I would also suggest that MLB makes these guys not only accountable for their recommedations but also make them anonymous so that they face as little political pressure as possible.
I also think you may see the two schools continue to run camps open to the public as they have bills to pay as well and would hope that MLB would take a very close look at all the camps and clinics around the country.
The $40,000 I quoted as a salary is more of an average then an accross the board rate. There should be differences depending on what levels you worked and for post-season work.
The reason I would have guys move around during the season is very simple. I think working with different partners will allow things to be pointed out during the season that maybe another partner may have missed. I also think moving up and down levels during a season may help when an umpire has demonstrated that he can handle a particular level quite well and that moving him up maybe an option. However once he moves up if it becomes apparent that the jump is too big he can be dropped back down without having to wait it out a full year.