Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp
As it was explained to me, the very reason why SP umpires always start in B is because umpires were having troubles moving around the field. The average age of umpires is getting higher, younger guys don't want the job (darn sissies), and accommodations were made to the mechanics to allow for an aging crew.
Again, that's how it was explained to me. Don't shoot the messenger.  |
Well, that was a very interesting session at the UIC clinic the year that was announced. The NUS (not all involved or approving of the change) was pretty much confronted by people lining up in the aisle to have a say about the change.
If memory serves me correctly, it went down like this:
A portion of that discussion was "since when did we change mechanics to save the umpire's knees"? To anyone's memory, this was the first time Bernie was speechless. For that matter, it was the first two times Bernie didn't have an answer. Henry P had to take over the discussion. The reason given was that the majority of the time in the 2-umpire system, the BU is in the B, so why not just start them there so there was no rush to beat the BR inside on a hit to the OF.
Henry told us that if we, as a group, did not want it, they wouldn't shove it down our throat. It actually went to a vote and easily passed.
But the best part was when one of my friends/duic and I were standing outside the meeting room near the entrance to the bar (imagine that) and Bernie walked out and up to us. My friend says, "What's the matter, Bernie, cat got your tongue?" Bernie just threw his arms up in the air and walked away in silence.