Quote:
Originally Posted by jwwashburn
That is a strawman wrapped in a red herring.
Paying MILB umpires more money makes no sense for the owners because they don't have to pay them more money. People are willing to work for what they are paying.
The owners have no need or desire to give them more money. Business owners want to have less expenses, not more.
This is simple economics.
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With apologies to congress, nothing is simple in economics. Outside of th classroom there are always a number of considerations, including unintended consequences, in addition to supply and demand.
I find it amazing that some of the posters who b!tch the most about the quality of umpiring this year, particularly that of call-ups, are the most vocal about not increasing MiLB umpires' wages.
Consider:
Since the wages, per diem and benefits (or lack thereof) become well know during and after the MiLB umpire strike, the quality of umpires making it to PBUC, according to some proschool instructors and two PBUC evaluators, has steadily declined. This in spite of increasing numbers at both proschools.
Granted, there remains sufficient bodies willing to work for $1900 a month during the season to fill the vacancies at the lowest of levels. But there is evidence that as time goes on, and vacancies occur at higher levels, those spots will eventually be filled by less qualified umpires.
The "what the market will bear" philosophy in regards to umpirig applies only to bodies, not quality.
Even in the minors, players are rewarded for performance. Umpires are not. Granted, the primary incentive is a shot at the "show", but that incentive, more and more, is not compensating for the poor pay and dismal treatment.
Umpires who release themselves used to do so solely because they realized that they were not going to make it. Typically, an umpire who received a year-end rating that guaranteed him a third year at long A or a fifth year at AA saw the handwriting on the wall and quit.
Now, more and more umpires who have shown the potential to continue moving up are also releasing. The lure of potential big bucks no longer compensates for a lack of ability to support a family or even oneself in the off season. Add in a total lack of compassion that some experience during an in-season family tragedy, as, as I understand it, one of our posters here experienced, and even those being groomed for higher levels drop out. And remember, each time an experienced, talented umpire quits during the season, one of the lower level school grads, one who initially was rated as not good enough by PBUC, and at times one who didn't even make it to PBUC, gets the call when the vacancy filters down.
Members of a Triple crew told me that the poster here who released after incredibly shabby treatment from both his league and PBUC was seen at the time as a sure bet to make it at least to Triple A- call up.
Regardless of altruistic beginnings, money does matter and it matters more to the proficient than it does to the incompetent.
So, if you enjoy b!tching about the quality of today's call-ups, keep justifying the sh!tty pay and disgusting treatment of the youngsters being groomed for the future and you'll be able to double the pleasure you get from b!tching in no time.