Do they usually stick with the same 4-person crew for the spring? for a while? or do they all switch? how does that work? im just curious about what the pros do.

Do they usually stick with the same 4-person crew for the spring? for a while? or do they all switch? how does that work? im just curious about what the pros do. [/B][/QUOTE]

No, during spring the umpires do not work with the same 4-person crew. They usually work with several different umpires during the spring. In addition, they often use a 3-man crew in the spring.
During spring some umpires stay in the say general area. Bruce Froemming, for example, umpires a lot of Dodger spring training games in Vero Beach because he lives in the area.

How much do these guys make per year? Anyone know?

I don't know exactly, but I believe it's six figures.

Plus all expenses paid trips to all the ballparks right?

<b>Once when the Yankee's Lou Pinella was batting he questioned a Palermo strike call. Pinella demanded, "Where was that pitch at?" Palermo told him that a man wearing Yankee pinstripes in front of 30,000 people should not end a sentence with a preposition. So Pinella, no dummy, said, "OK, where was that pitch at, a$$hole?"
</b>

So many different umpires, coaches and players are credited with this over the years with many going back far before Pinella's time. In reality, it probably is a myth.

Yup, hotels, airlines, etc. The works! :) But they've earned it!!

So many different umpires, coaches and players are credited with this over the years with many going back far before Pinella's time. In reality, it probably is a myth.


But it seems to fit Lou Pinella just right! Probably is just a myth though.

Where can I purchase a 2005 MLB Umpire Media Information Guide?
I didn't even know that they made such a thing.

Except that their perks are slowly being taken away. For example, under the new contract, if MLB Umps wish to set aside tickets for friends/relatives, they now must pay for each ticket. The cost will be the face value of the ticket plus taxes.

I was talking to an MLB ump friend of mine recently about this, and he believes that the direct result of this will simply be no more tix set aside for people. After all, who wants to pay thousands of dollars per year for tickets for people? Not the umps, that's for sure. There go the tickets being set aside for the club house people, the restaurant manager, the guy at the hotel who does them a favor, etc. Plus, what about the guy who has his whole family visit him? He's going to have to shell out some major bucks to get them tickets. It just isn't worth it anymore for them.

UMP25
 

Ask your MLB friend if he would rather have complimentary tickets for friends or his salary based on the new agreement?

If I ask my company to do work at my home I have to pay for it . . . why wouldn't an umpire?

Just asking . . .

You're missing the point. Their salaries weren't adjusted to accommodate this loss of a perk. You also don't understand what it takes to umpire at that level, with all the tips and comps you give to certain individuals who help to make your life on the road that much easier. With more of these disappearing, it makes their road life that much more irritating. The umpire who doesn't see his wife and kids but a couple times a season during his 1-week break is not going to be happy having to pay for tickets for the family when until now they've been provided complimentarily.

No one here is going to have sympathy for MLB umps, who make good money and have good benefits, but we also cannot claim to fully understand just how their jobs are off the field until we've walked in their shoes.

1. This was a negotiated contract approved by the umpire's union. All provisions of a labor agreement are result of give and take, compromise, if you will. Obviously the union felt the benefits of the new agreement outweighed the loss an old traditional freebie.

2. You are making terrible, nay, fatal, assumptions about Tee's familiarity with MLB umpiring and umpires. Many of us know or are acquainted with one or two MLB umps. Tee is on a personal friendship basis and has worked with several, and I mean SEVERAL, MLB umpires. His contacts right up to and including the MLB office have proven impeccable in the past. If anyone on this board "understands" and communicates with professional umpires about what "it takes to umpire at that level", it is Tee.

[Edited by GarthB on Mar 28th, 2005 at 01:26 PM]

Ooops!
 

"You also don't understand what it takes to umpire at that level, with all the tips and comps you give to certain individuals who help to make your life on the road that much easier."

Back the truck up!

I don't understand?

Ahem, I think I understand just as well as you do.

I understand the amount of travel that umpires USED to have compared to what they have now.

I understand the amount of vacation time umpires USED to have compared to what they have now.

I understand the amount of money umpires USED to make compared to what they have now.

I understand that you tip the clubhouse guy to make sure your gear is cleaned and in place each day.

UMP25, I think many, many of us understand how hard it is to be an MLB umpire. I think many, many of us understand how well paid they are. I think all of us understand that it is great to be able to give a cabbie free tickets to games to be sure that he will be parked outside the stadium to take you the hotel after a real late night game, I think all of us understand that it is great to be able to give tickets to someone at the hotel to make sure your dry cleaning is returned in time for your departure, and I am sure we also recognize that it is great to give out free tickets to someone you meet in the hotel bar that is a big baseball fan.

I don't think you should try to lump any of us on this page with "someone who doesn't understand" -- we understand and we get it.

MLB umpires are highly paid because they are the best they do in a highly competitive field.

I just think you are pressing the point that they have to pay for tickets.

Then I and T.C. have much in common.

I'm not trying to make a federal case out of this. I'm just relaying some thoughts shared by some MLB Umps who aren't exactly happy about this.

Say what you want about the CBA's between MLB and its umpires, I personally have zero respect for the folks running the game, and this includes people like Sandy Alderson. It's not just related to umpiring, either.