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UMP25:

This is just the growing trend.

When does a little fish become a big fish?

The IRS is going after funds received on deals on eBay. While they had not done it before it is nothing more than an additional revenue string. It is all about money.

I really have tried not to be too judgmental on the issue of the tickets. I am simply trying to explain that there is a deeper story than, "the MAN taking down the employee at the MLB level."

Shoot, I hate Qestec, I hate the way MLB handles eliminating minor league umpires, I hate having a quota system in MLB umpires . . . and I hate the way the professional game is run as a business.

HOWEVER, I only try to worry about things that I can change.

BTW, Sandy did not get any smarter during the time it took me to write this little ditty.

Peace Brother,

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim C

HOWEVER, I only try to worry about things that I can change.

BTW, Sandy did not get any smarter during the time it took me to write this little ditty.

With this I wholeheartedly agree (especially with respect to the last part). :D

Quote:

Originally posted by GarthB

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim C
The tickets are income because they have value.

Let's say that a Red Sox ticket sells for $60.

Let's say that umpire Mr. Friendly gets four tickets . . .

The IRS values those tickets at face value. Someone would pay $60 for the individual tickets so they are "of value" . . .

So let's assume that an MLB umpire works 125 games a year with time off for vacation. That means that the same four tickets (I know at some places it could be hard to give away tickets) could equal $30,000 in "services rendered" to Mr. Friendly.

Taking a longer look:

If an umpire can give away tickets to a game where there is a charge to attend it is almost the same as being given the money.

Also remember the issues faced by several NBA Officials (some even went to jail) and Al Clark.

Blame MLB if you want . . . this is driven by the IRS.

This isn't a new decision by IRS, they're just late in getting to baseball.

Kinda like the drug laws... :D :) ;) Sorry, I had to.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim C

Shoot, I hate Questec, I hate the way MLB handles eliminating minor league umpires, I hate having a quota system in MLB umpires . . . and I hate the way the professional game is run as a business.

HOWEVER, I only try to worry about things that I can change.

BTW, Sandy did not get any smarter during the time it took me to write this little ditty.

Peace Brother, [/B]

Call me stupid (or curious), but what is your problem with the way MLB eliminates minor league umpires? And what is the "quota" among MLB umpires? I'm just trying to learn more and based on what I'm hearing I'm liking this potential career less and less :-(

Of even more interest to some

2005 Minor League Call-Up Umpires
The following Minor League umpires worked at the 2005 Major League Spring Training and can be called up for Major League duty if needed:

No. Umpire
70 Armendariz, Ramon
86 Aschwege, Dave
67 Barksdale, Lance
61 Davidson, Bob
81 Dellinger, Dusty
93 Dowdy, Adam
82 Drake, Rob
79 Durfee, Peter
75 Fairchild, Chad
80 Fichter, Mike
85 Fullwood, Troy
68 Guccione, Chris
62 Hallion, Tom
64 Hickox, Ed
92 Hoye, James
87 Kelley, Kevin
91 Knight, Brian
73 Moser, Casey
76 Muchlinski, Mike
74 Reininger, Travis
89 Samuels, Jack

Just an interestering question for myself...

We were discussing when an AAA guy gets released, like Hollowell and Spagnardi this year, what do these guys do when they get released? Do they work college, find a "normal job" in their hometown, stay in umpiring somehow?

Quote:

Originally posted by mrm21711
Just an interestering question for myself...

We were discussing when an AAA guy gets released, like Hollowell and Spagnardi this year, what do these guys do when they get released? Do they work college, find a "normal job" in their hometown, stay in umpiring somehow?

Yes to all of the above. They also might work indy ball.

mrm, it really depends on the individual. For example, one gentleman who left the game when he realized he wasn't going to get a contract now works college ball in the area. Another I know who was released was turned down by several college assigners and the supervisor for one of the major independent pro leagues. His rationale for saying no to the guy? This super explained that most--but not all--AAA guys who get released tend to have a chip on their shoulders for everything that is baseball. Their attitudes tend to be poorer and more gruff. Those guys who leave on their own tend not to be this way.

Again, this is what I was told by this super. It's also an opinion shared by several college assigners I know. I'm not stating this as some universal fact that is common nationwide. It's just observations based on experience.

Scott Higgins (released 2 or 3 years ago) is a college evaluator in my area and still teaches at several umpire clinics around the nation.

He no longer umpires.

(This is incorrect, see information below. Scott ended his stint as an evaluator in my area as of March 1).

[Edited by Tim C on Mar 31st, 2005 at 12:40 PM]

This will be the first time I have told Tim C he is wrong.

At 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 24, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Scott Higgins worked the bases on the game on field number 1 at Indian School Park.

Contrary to what I had heard about him, he was pleasant to talk to; in fact he introduced himself to me after the game. His partner, Mark, however, took the prize for the jerk of the decade.

Walter

I was going to mention that I saw Scott in Arizona in November and it was my understanding that he lived there and had a job.

Thank you for the update on Scott.

This is new (to me) information.

Does he still run "funny".

(That was what his evaluation said every year in professional baseball).

One more piece of info....

2/16/2005

Pleasanton, CA, February 16, 2005-- The Golden Baseball League today announced the complete slate of 40 umpires for the upcoming season. The umpire crews are led by three former major league officials, ten more with AAA minor league experience, the top rated umpire from the Mexican leagues, with the remainder having either minor league experience up to the AA level or Collegiate Division 1. Most of the umpires are based on the West Coast and will operate as 3-man crews which is the industry standard in AA and AAA minor league baseball. The GBL will not use 2-man crews which has been the standard in less competitive minor leagues and most independent leagues.

We are very pleased with the caliber of umpire that the Golden Baseball League has been able to attract, said Kevin Outcalt, Commissioner of the Golden Baseball League. Having these top umpires raises the quality of the games for the players, coaching staffs, and fans while complementing the outstanding former major league players who are managing our teams.

The three umpires with major league experience on the staff include Scott Higgins with 12 years of professional experience including four in the major leagues, Travis Katzenmeier with 14 years of professional experience including three in the major leagues, and Mike Jost with 9 years of experience in A,AA,AAA and 20+ games in the Major Leagues. Other umpires with significant experience include Joe Burleson - a current Major League Supervisor of Umpires with AAA and College World Series experience, Mike Pilato a AAA experienced umpire currently the Supervisor of Umpires for the Mexican League, Humberto Saiz considered the most accomplished umpire in Mexico with 22 years in the Mexican Leagues including 9 Mexican Series and 18 Caribbean Series championship assignments, Dennis Smythe who has 13 years of Collegiate Division 1 experience and is the Major League Official Scorer at Petco Park in San Diego, and Ray Belfiore with 20 years of Collegiate Division 1 experience and 17 years of AAA experience.

This is the finest group of umpires working below the Major League level in any baseball league, bar none, said Dan Perugini, GBL Supervisor of Officials. The first class quality of this league including the financial structure, experienced and respected team managers, and state-of-the art stadiums has been the primary reason for our ability to obtain these officials. The 3-man crew and National League rules with no DH along with our location in Arizona and California helped as well. Its amazing to see this level of umpires committing to a brand new league and it will be exciting to watch them in action.

2005 Golden Baseball League Umpire Roster:

Umpire; Home Town; Highest Level
Scott Higgins; Tempe, AZ; Major Leagues
Travis Katzenmeier; Mesa, AZ; Major Leagues
Mike Jost; Vail, CO; Major Leagues
Humberto Saiz; Mexico; Mexican Major Leagues (AAA Level)
Joe Burleson; Las Vegas, NV; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Ray Belfiore; Aurora, CO; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Bill Speck; Modesto, CA; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Todd Freese; Tempe, AZ; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Heath Jones; Manhattan Beach, CA; AAA Minors, College Division 1
John Bullock; Burbank, CA; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Mike Pilato; Huson, MT; AAA Minors, College Division 1
John Deluca; Las Vegas, NV; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Dale Luker; Plano, TX; AAA Minors, College Division 1
Pat Riley; Gilbert, AZ; AAA Minors,
Joe Yonto; South Bend, IN; AA Minors, College Division 1
Tom Hiler; Brea, CA; AA Minors, College Division 1
Ryan Bleiberg; Sherman Oaks, CA; AA Minors, College Division 1
Jason Venzon; Soledad, CA; AA Minors, College Division 1
Scott Cusator; Long Beach, CA; A Minors, College Division 1
Kevin Daugherty; Chandler, AZ; A Minors, College Division 1
Michael Gilmore; Newport Beach, CA; A Minors, College Division 1
Tony Padilla; Buena Park, CA; A Minors, College Division II
Rich Padilla; Glendora, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Wayne Neault; Marysville, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Kelly Gonzalez; Henderson, NV; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Jason Hutchings; Oakland, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Ruben Chavira; Ontario, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
John Kinard; Concord, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Spencer Mallinger; Chico, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
John OLeary; Concord, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Tony Norris; Anaheim, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Will Wood; Poway, CA; Independent Minors, College Division 1
Dennis Smythe; Chula Vista, CA; College Division 1, MLB Official Scorer
Phil Schlosser; Las Vegas, NV; College Division 1
Adam Faber; Ft. Wainwright, AK; College
Tim Hunt; Buellton, CA; College
Javier Navarro; Brea, CA; College
Tony Padilla; Buena Park, CA; College
Brett Svacha; Grand Rapids, MI; College
Clinton Trauter; Woodinville, WA; College
Michael Hemenway; Scottsdale, AZ; College

Mike Jost is listen in that league....isn't he still a AAA umpire?

ON EDIT: I lied...I just checked the roster and Mike is not listed.

[Edited by mattmets on Apr 1st, 2005 at 06:32 AM]