I'm fairly certain I'm going to ripped for this, but I just want to express an opinion on something...
I recently read - either here or on another board - that PBUC and MLB (maybe it was MiLB?) have made an agreement with the Coastal Plains League to fill their umpire positions with those what didn't get a contract from PBUC at the end of their camp. I've thought about this hard for a few days, and I have to say, I think it stinks.
As I mentioned earlier on this board, I went down to Evans this year. I had a great time, I think I learned things, and I should be a better umpire for it (hard to say yet, as I've had all of five games this year). I also didn't make the cut for a pro job. Fair enough; I had some hopes, and thought the numbers might turn out, but I wasn't good enough. I have no regrets going, and I don't know about anyone else, but MY mid-life crisis will end up being tax deductable.
With that, though, a door has closed on part of my umpire career. I'm not getting into the pro game, unless I work my way into being a fill-in in my area. So I'm limited to college, and the college summer leagues, and the like. But my organization used to do the Peninsula Pilots games in Newport News, so now, another door in my umpire career has been closed, but not necessarily because of talent or lack thereof.
Full disclosure: I am not at the level in my association to do those games yet, but it was an aspiration of mine. Despite fittyump's accusation of my ego being fragile in a (since deleted) recent post, I think I have the ability to get there, but I'm a 2nd year guy in this association. I've long games with college-age player in Australia; maybe not quite to CPL level, but certainly above the average HS game. So I could have probably gotten a game there one day, but now that's over.
I don't think it's right for the pro aspirants to take jobs from we amateur lifers. Yes, I'm aware there are college summer leagues that take pro school grads, to give them some more seasoning for another try; we had several at Evans 2008, and it must have worked, since what little I know of "The List," several of them were 2nd years with Northwoods League experience. But, and this is important, those that go to Northwoods and the other leagues that were in Kissimmee recruiting, still competed for those jobs. Yes, pro school grads - those that came well regarded, at least - got top priority, but it was still in theory a competitive gig. This CPL deal is pushing out qualified people with the PBUC people.
And yeah, on that part of my disappointment, I'm sure it's some "sour grapes" - it potentially closes a door to me, so I don't like it. I wanted a shot at something more than just FED games. So, I'm human - that's how most of us generate our opinions on something.
The other part is where I'll probably really get ripped, since some have made it very clear where they stand on unions and all that. I know the AMLU probably had no say in this, and their current members wouldn't be the ones bumping people from slots; I get that. But at the school, during group discussions, there was a lot of talk about the union, and some talk of solidarity within the umpire community. No one was overtly political about it - that happens more here - but it was all understood.
Let me say that although I didn't get to know the instructors THAT well at Evans - that's not what you're there for, to socialize - they all were very hard working, and were all approachable, and seemed genuinely happy to answer a question or explain things. And they generally seemed likable guys. AND I know they get paid f--k-all to do their jobs, and that is a huge shame for a $6B industry.
But it does make it hard for me to man the barricades and show my solidarity, when something like this ends up happening. Again, I know it's not current guys, but some that work the CPL will get tapped by PBUC, so it's an issue of pro guys pushing amateur guys out. At least, that's the way
I read it. If it turns out the AMLU pushed against it, either publically or behind the scenes, I'd love to hear about it. But when one wonders, if it ever happens again, how a person might decide to scab down the road, these are the things that get filed away for when it comes time to decide.
Go ahead and fire away, forum. But please know that although I'm unhappy about this development, I'm genuinely conflicted about it, as my above paragraphs might show. I just wanted to vent a little "publicly," since writing to MLB or PBUC to voice displeasure would be the biggest waste of my f'ing time, ever.
....and besides, the weather and physics discussions were getting boring.