Quote:
Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve
You don't believe that Brian Runge and Hunter Wendelstedt are capable MLB umpires? I don't think the fact that these guys are sons of big league umpires means that they aren't doing their jobs. It may have influenced the hiring decision, but it is not what keeps them in the majors, it's their ability. Ed Rapuano is a terrific umpire, which goes to show that we all screw up calls once in a while. I don't see any of the MLB umpires blowing calls on a routine basis, or they would be out on their butts.
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If they cannot get this call right the first time, then they need to get someone that does not have the same last name of a dad that umpired at that level. And my comment was really not about them, but the fact that this involved sons of former umpires is telling if you ask me. And if guys had to make calls with their job on the line, the quality in my opinion would improve. Other sports get rid of officials that cannot do the job no matter what their last name is. MLB seems to be stuck in whom once was an umpire and hiring their sons and not getting rid of guys that need to be replaced. I think this is the reason many of these obvious calls are missed. There is no competition and these guys can screw up without a threat they will be jobless next year. And just because these guys are decent umpires and their dad was once there does not make them better than others that also worked hard to get to that point.
Peace