[aceholleran]

A conversation between myself and a well-known sports radio personality, re: MLB:

SRP: "No one pays to see the umpires."

Myself: "But people cough up the ticket price with an expectation of seeing a well-officiated game."

QED.

This notion of "umpires shouldn't be noticed" is so shopworn.

We go unnoticed until actions by players force us to insert ourselves into the game.

I once had a batter-out-of-box call that caused great consternation among offensive coaches and fans alike. It was a "1000%-er." If I chose to go unnoticed, then I don't make the call. But then I am committing a huge ethical and vocational mistake by not doing so.

The batter forced me to make this call. I didn't bang him out for fear of being "noticed."

Bring it on.

Ace