This brings up the question of: Are the best D-I umpires better than some MLB umpires?

I think that would be a case by case basis. Most MLB umpires took a completely different route to the Majors than a D1 or any NCAA Umpire. It is not like the Majors Leagues goes around looking for umpires at the D1 level or HS ranks and groom them into a pro umpire.

Peace

Well, since I put my foot in my mouth to start with, I'll go first.

Most umpires (these days) who go to umpire school, go through the gruelling years in the minors, and then get the call to the majors, are outstanding officials. But I feel that many do not possess the same kind of "crappy baseball" experience that the seasoned amateur umpire does.
The lowest levels, i.e. Rookie, or Short A, etc., are still a notch above High School or College ball. So, while we are seeing every possible situation known to man, they sometimes aren't experiencing the same things. Does this make sense? These guys might not have ever seen some of the idiotic plays that we see on a daily basis at the lower levels.

So, that being said, to answer the question, yes, I think that it is possible that SOME College, and even SOME High School Varsity playoff quality umpires are as good, or better than SOME Major League umpires.

HS playoff umpires?

Where's Tee and his usual response to something like this when you need it?

It's been over a month since I posted here, but I just had to sign on for this.

HS varsity playoff umpires?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA

Stop. You're killin'me. (giggle) You're just too much (snort, guffaw). I can't stand it. My ribs hurt. (cackle)
You're a hoot. (snicker) A real fargin panic!

This is almost as good as you missing being a pro because, in your world, you were three years too old (30) to go to proschool, even though there HAVE been honor grad picked up by PBUC over the age of 30.

In reality, you'll never know, because you didn't posses the huevos to even try.

Oh, I know. You're a good umpire. I'ver heard that some place. Oh, that's right it was you. You've told us so a number of times.

Funny, the internet is similar to prison in that regard. Just like there are no guilty people in prison, there are no bad umpires on the internet.


Thanks for the entertainment. With apologies to my good friend Tee, your post ties for the dumbest in the history of the internet.

But please, keep'em coming. The laughs are priceless.

You mean to tell me that you don't think you are good enough to work the bigs? I know I am. I'm not bragging. I know I'm good. You, on the other hand have never seen me work, so you don't. I've been working High School ball and other various levels for about 20 years, 6-7 days a week, from March to October, 150 to 200 games a year. I'm pretty much what you would call a full-time umpire. I have worked very hard to be a good one. Paul Runge thought so when I worked his boy Brian's Palomino tournament game in 1988. Critiqued me himself. Timing, judgement, hustle, mechanics, game management...all excellent.

I don't need your approval, or your sarcastic comments, or Tee's, or anyone elses, because I know just how I umpire, and you don't. Is that so hard to believe? I know some Division 1 umpires who I wouldn't assign to a varsity tiddlywinks contest, including one hotshot from my associtation who thinks his s*** don't stink, who works in the Mountain West Conference, and is the most horses*** umpire you can imagine.

If you'll notice, I said SOME. Even capitalized it so even you could understand, Rich. Not all. SOME. I fail to see where that statement is illogical. There are plenty of High School officials who could be pros easily.

Like I have previously stated, the only reason I'm not a big league umpire is that I started way too late to get a pro job. I regret that fact.

And Garth, the same goes for you. I am sure your the ace of your association or some such bull. I had plenty of huevos, I had the stupidity to believe what I was told at the time. There may have been a 30 year old honor grad. How often does that happen. You don't know my circumstances, financial and other at the time, so shut your ignorant pie hole. Thank you, and glad my life amuses your sorry one so much.

[Edited by SanDiegoSteve on Oct 17th, 2005 at 01:12 AM]

"Paul Runge thought so when I worked his boy Brian's Palomino tournament game in 1988."

That was SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO. Are you going to live (and brag) about that ONE critique, forever?

Bob

<b>Like I have previously stated, the ONLY reason I'm not a big league umpire is that I started way too late to get a pro job. I regret that fact.</b> SanDiegoSteve

It just keeps getting better. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA!!!

If only you started three years earlier. For sure you would have been among the 25-30 graduates out of 300 from the two schools to go to PBUC. And, of course, you'd have been one of the 10-15 who were offered pro contracts. Then it's only common knowledge that you'd have survived rookie ball, short season A, long season A, double A and triple A over the ensuing ten to 12 years without being one of the 90% who got released and after working vacation relief for two or three years, you would be among the two or three moved up to the majors. If only you had started earlier. That's the ONLY reason it didn't happen.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA
You slay me, man. You're just too fargin funny.

oh yeah, thats not bragging. sorry i thought you were bragging.


...

No, but thanks for asking. That certainly isn't the only one, it was and example, and for the sake of brevity, I only included one. I know that nobody wants to hear someone's life story here, God knows that would be rather boring, now wouldn't it? I could have listed a resume, but that would be tacky, huh?

I was called out, and ridiculed, for my opinion on the subject of who's as good as the big leaguers. I could provide much more background. Suffice to say that I work baseball in an area that provides many of the star ballplayers of today, and I have umpired over 35 current, and former major league players, worked many wood-bat leagues with former major league players, and have a vast amount of experience with top level athletes. So, yeah, I could probably step in in a pinch if necessary! People can laugh, or whatever, it's all good.

Does everybody here worship the ground the pros walk on?
It seems like everyone's afraid to say anything at all negative about them. Just about their peers, I guess.

Now, I know the major league umps have much more top level experience, obviously. But it doesn't mean that all of them are "better" umpires.

Hey, wise ***, do you know that I wouldn't have? I don't think so. Okay, one of the many reasons, is that better. Jeez, I said only, my friggin' mistake. By the way, I know the road map to the majors, you didn't need to rehash it.

Ali said "if you can do it, it ain't braggin'".

I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was.

Oh, sh!t, you're serious. I thought you were pulling our chain. You really believe you're that good! Damn.

Okay, let's get to the truth of it all. It'll take some time, but what the hey.

I've seen several internet posters work games and several have seen me. I haven't seen you, but we can fix that.

Proposal 1:

I spend three weeks in Southern California each winter. Just post your winter schedule and I'll come and video one of your games. We can download it to a website and let everyone bask in your wonder.

Proposal 2: I'll be attending Jim Evans' Desert Classic again next year. Come and join me, and, if at the end of the week Jim agrees with your assessment of yourself, I'll pay your clinic fees.

I'll put my money where my mouth is and you put your "talent" where your mouth is. What could be more fair?

Edited to add: BTW, is it true you post at umpire.org as "Augie Donatelli?"

[Edited by GarthB on Oct 17th, 2005 at 02:43 AM]

You're wrong Brian. You forgot that Steve would have got that pickoff at first right 10 times out of 10. When you are that good, it ain't bragging.

Okay, Garth, here's the deal

proposal #1: If you want to wait until around February, when our high school pre-season gets underway, fine. I'm not going to be working before anyone else here gets to.

proposal #2: Let me get this straight: You mean you want me to subject myself to a strenuous week of running and sweating my old a$$ off in the damn desert, just so you could see if I could umpire around 40 plates a year, work a 4-man crew all season, sit around hotels drinking Mai-tai's til game time, and get vacations during my season? Bring Bruce Froemming with you, not me. My umpire school style boot camp session days are way behind me. Just sign my fat butt up for the show.:D

You gotta admit, how hard is it to be better than Bob Engel, or Fred Brocklander, a couple of scabs? I never said I was freakin' Doug Harvey, did I? I said some umpires, not the best ones. Lighten up a bit there, sport.

Bob Engel was a scab?? Explain please.

Okay, I am a HS umpire and I don't feel that we can hold a candle to our brothers in MLB. Maybe, we could get some work in Rookie or AA ball but nothing above. There is a world of difference between doing HS vs. MLB. Most HS is done under FED rules (except in 2 states). The players are far from Minor league caliber let alone MLB.

Good HS umpires can aspire to become D3 or D2 eventually becoming D1. Good HS umpires can go to one of the 2 MLB schools and maybe, possibly, on the outside chance get a Minor League job. Sometimes you get lucky. Ed Rapuanno is still a member of our HS board (honorary) and made it all the way to the Big's, so it can be done. But to say that HS Playoff umpires are as good as MLB is just a ridiculous statement!

I'm guessing that there are about 75 ML umpires and about 100,000 HS umpires. So, it's possible that the "best" (if it could be determined) HS umpire is better than the "worst" (ditto) ML umpire.

But, I don't know of many good HS umpires who don't also work college, and you seemed to separate the groups. So, let's say that there are 5,000 HS playoff quality umpires who don't work college ball (that number seems high to me). The odds get a little longer.

Add in the increased speed of the game, the pressure, the game management issues and the fact that you're looking for more than one such umpire (you used the word "some"), and I'd say that it's extremely unlikely. I'd rather take my chances on a power ball ticket.

Now, if the question was "are there HS umpires who, if they had chosen to pursue a ML career would be better than some of the current umpires?" you'd get a different response.

more to it SanDiegoSteve
 

Here is the plan facts - Getting a call right 10 of 10 times, that is a great kudos to have and I am so glad you can have the confidence to say something like this.

However, the big big picture of what I assume to be a MLB (or other leagues') umpire goes well beyond just making calls. Just like in almost every aspect of life - knowledge, experience, and communication plays a huge role on how situations reveal themselves.

Knowledge:
Knowlege of the rules is obviously the one point that everyone feels that an umpire must know. But, there is more to that. Interpretation of the rules probably transcends the knowledge in importance. Being able to apply the right rule to the right situation - now that takes skill, training, and experience that far surpasses most "part-time" umpires. Thank goodness for the MLB umpires and trainers.

Experience:
Experience pretty much says what it says. Understanding where you have been and knowing how to move forward from there. Applying experience is not just because you have umprired for 30 years, but rather applying the lessons you learned over those 30 years. This does not just happen on the field either. This is passing the knowledge via your partners, organizations,..

Communication:
The skill to communicate can make or break a solid leader in any aspect of life. I believe if there is one attribute an umpire MUST have, communication is a must. To be able to "verbal and non-verbal" calls, relationships, situations,... goes a long way to making a great umpire - and leader.

Now SanDiegoSteve, unitl you have walked the walk I would just keep on moving along if I were you. I do not post many messages, but I do frequent this message board a ton to gain some knowledge and experience. I do not profess to be in the same "photograph" as many on this board as far as umpiring skills go - nor should you. This board is about adding value for others to discuss and learn. Unitl you add that value - I AM NOT LISTENING TO YOU!!!!

Just my 2 cents,
Jeff

Like I have previously stated, the only reason I'm not a big league umpire is that I started way too late to get a pro job. I regret that fact.

And Garth, the same goes for you. I am sure your the ace of your association or some such bull. I had plenty of huevos, I had the stupidity to believe what I was told at the time. There may have been a 30 year old honor grad.

[/B][/QUOTE]Far be it for me to get involved in an argument, but......

I heard of one MLB umpire who went to four camps in a row before he got offered a job-- 2 months before he turned 30. Worked his way up through the minors to AAA and actually got into 95 games in the Bigs as a fill-in. Then he got shunted back to AAA permanently in '93 for a year, and ended up getting fired. He lived with his Mommie for 3 years and then went and begged to get an umpiring job back- at the age of <b>forty (40) plus</b>. He started all over again at A ball and worked his way back up to AAA again. Finally got his chance in '99 when Richie Philipps made the biggest mistake of his career and MLB ended up replacing 22 <i>veterano</i> blues and opened up their jobs for rookies.

With a little perseverance, you coulda been <b>"that guy"</b>!

Phil Cuzzi, come on down! :D

http://www.referee.com/sampleArticle...mplisting.html

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Oct 17th, 2005 at 11:51 AM]

My mistake, Engel was not a scab. I didn't care for his appearance as I remember, nor his plate mechanics, but he was a fine official.

Let's try Blake Cullen, or Steve Fields, or John Shulock then. Pallone even.

LOOK GUYS, I'm not trying to say that I could go right out there, with no pro ball experience, and take their place on a permanent basis. I am saying that in a pinch, I could fill in in case of an emergency, and the quality of the game would not suffer noticeably.

As for the HS/OBR differences, I work so many different levels besides HS, and none of those use Fed rules. I work top level games in the 17-18U and Adult Ball. These adult leagues have been 9 inning, wood bat, and include former major league players. I have umpired Mark Prior, Barry Zito, Troy Glaus, and over 20 other current players, plus many former players, so I have the basic skills.

Yes, I should have worded it differently so here goes, and let's just drop it after that, OK?

If I would have gone to umpire school, gotten a pro job, made it through the BS years, I might have had a chance of being a Major League umpire.

Damn, I guess that describes just about anyone. I guess my opinion of myself is overinflated. Well, at least I have confidence, huh?

P.S. At the time in 1986 when I contemplated Harry's, I had just enough saved for the school tuition, and even had sent the money in. After I let people talk me out of going (big mistake), I got my money back because my family really needed it at the time, and the prospect of getting the pro job seemed unlikely, so economics won out over the dream. Now I sound just like the "coulda been a contender" people. Great.


[Edited by SanDiegoSteve on Oct 17th, 2005 at 11:50 AM]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ozzy6900

Quote:

Good HS umpires can aspire to become D3 or D2 eventually becoming D1. Good HS umpires can go to one of the 2 MLB schools and maybe, possibly, on the outside chance get a Minor League job. Sometimes you get lucky. Ed Rapuano is still a member of our HS board (honorary) and made it all the way to the Big's, so it can be done. But to say that HS Playoff umpires are as good as MLB is just a ridiculous statement!

Ozz,

I'm from CT too so I've heard that Ed is from the area. Do you know if he started out by working HS games in the CIAC? I've heard from guys I played with that his father still works- do you know if this is true? I just graduated HS so this info is fairly recent. I'm just asking because I love the way Ed works and think he is one of the best in the bigs today.

Thanks-
Matt

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mattmets

Quote:

Originally posted by ozzy6900 Quote: Good HS umpires can aspire to become D3 or D2 eventually becoming D1. Good HS umpires can go to one of the 2 MLB schools and maybe, possibly, on the outside chance get a Minor League job. Sometimes you get lucky. Ed Rapuano is still a member of our HS board (honorary) and made it all the way to the Big's, so it can be done. But to say that HS Playoff umpires are as good as MLB is just a ridiculous statement! Ozz, I'm from CT too so I've heard that Ed is from the area. Do you know if he started out by working HS games in the CIAC? I've heard from guys I played with that his father still works- do you know if this is true? I just graduated HS so this info is fairly recent. I'm just asking because I love the way Ed works and think he is one of the best in the bigs today. Thanks- Matt

Yes, Ed Rap started working HS ball with the New Haven Board, went to MLB school (I don't remember which one) sand got a minor league job. He got placed in the Bigs to backfill a vacationing MLB umpire and they liked his style. He was called up and the rest is history. His father is still a member and active umpire (not a bad one either, if I may be so bold).

I think there are very select amateur umpires that could step in and work games at that level and perform just as good if not better than a few select MLB Umpires. That does not mean most or all could make that transition. The major difference between a pro umpire and an amateur umpire is the route they choose to take. I saw some calls in the playoffs just yesterday that looked like "rookie" mistakes on calls that I know certain umpires would not make. Let us face it, working the bases are not the most difficult thing for an umpire to do. Most of the time we sit around and have to make one call, especially if we are working more than 2 Man mechanics. All the 3 Man games I worked this past season I was lucky to get one really close call, let alone a tough call. I think the hardest transition would be for someone to work the plate. I just think it is not out of the realm of possibility that amateurs would do a good job if they are given a chance. I feel the same way that if you gave amateurs in my other sports, some would be able to handle working the. The difference is the individuals at the pros were given a chance or pursue that level. Not everyone can pursue the pros.

Peace

<b>The difference is the individuals at the pros were given a chance or (to) pursue that level. Not everyone can pursue the pros.
</b>

With all respect, Jeff I disagree. The individuals at the pros were given nothing. Their desire was equalled by their dedication and effort and they found a way to go to proschool. Some borrowed the money, some mortgaged their houses, some lost their wives and families over their decisions.

They were not given a chance. They chose to pursue that level. They chose to do without while making near minimum wage for years in rookie ball, short season A, Long season A and even double A. They worked their a$$es off, first to not get released, and second, to move up.

Given simething? No. They earned everything they got. Baseball umpiring is one profession where you work to earn your place every day. How often do accountants perform in front of 30,000 plus people who critique their every move. How often do insurance agents have their supervisor go on television to call an opinion "at best inconclusive"?

Lastly, Jeff everyone MAY pursue the pros, at least at the beginning level. One doesn't even have had to call a single game to go to proschool. Not everyone, however, chooses to pursue the pros. Some have different callings and some just don't have what it takes.

But if one choses not to pursue the pros, for whatever reason, if they do not choose the hard work, the long road, the uncertain future, the crappy pay and proving their worth in public, they forfeit any right to the "I coulda been there" claim. If you "coulda", you "woulda".




[Edited by GarthB on Oct 17th, 2005 at 02:31 PM]

The question was not whether anyone gave these umpires anything. The question is whether some amateurs could do as good of a job as a pro. I agree no one just "gave them something." But they choose to go to pro school and put themselves in the position to get work their way through the ranks. I know I never considered going to pro school mainly because I have a job and had other obligations and goals that umpiring minor league baseball for a chance in 10 or more I might get a sniff at the "Show." I also officiate other sports and I would rather try to achieve in those other sports. I also know several umpires that are in a similar situation as I am.

First of all I do feel that people "earn" their way, but I also feel that people have to believe in you or think you are better than others you are competeing against. I know in basketball and football, you have to have people pulling for you and giving you an opportunity. Of course the people that got to the Majors had to earn their way, but they also had to have people to "give" them an opportunity to show they are capable to work. Before the current system, umpires were picked largely based on the recommendations of retiring and outgoing umpires at the Major League level. So if the right person like you, you got moved up. Of course they had to perform when given the chance, but to act as if someone was not pulling for them is not the reality. It is not the reality in other aspects of life, it is not the reality in officiating either. The more people pulling for you, the better. If you have no one in decision making positions pulling for you or no one that can speak on your behalf with influence, it is going to be harder.

Once again the issue is not whether the achieved that level, the issue is whether they could do as good of a job. I know when I watch college and pro basketball there are officials that I know could do just as good of a job as the people you see on TV. The difference is they were not given the chance (yet) or they did not pursue working that level. There are a lot of reasons why people decide not work the higher levels, but that does not mean if given a chance (which is usually unrealistic BTW) they could work just as good of a game as those. The one thing about baseball is there is a much bigger risk-reward element to getting to the Majors. You have to work really hard for years and hope you survive long enough for a dream that only a select few will ever get an opportunity. I will never believe that only 50 (or whatever the size of the MLB umpire staff is) people in the world are the only ones capable of working that level. I am sure there are hundreds of umpires all over the country that could do just as good of a job.

Peace

I'm sorry Jeff. Your first post wasn't nearly as clear. I responded only to what you said:

<i>"The difference is the individuals at the pros were given a chance or (to) pursue that level. Not everyone can pursue the pros." </i> Those two statments are not simply true.

I had no way of knowing you meant something different as you pointed out in your next post.

Well Garth, this is why it is an opinion. You do not have to agree with my point of view or anyone's point of view on the topic. I said that it was a case by case basis and I feel that there are amateur umpires that would do a better job than some pro umpires. Many D1 umpires never attempted to go to pro school or wanted to work in the Major Leagues. We can debate of why, but I am sure there are some D1 umpires that make more money than many Major League umpires currently and it would not be cost affective for them to end up like Eric Gregg when the Majors decides to get rid of you.

Peace

Jeff:

You are confusing me. As I said I was responding directly to what you said. I even reprinted what you said for reference. What you are saying now is different regardless of your philosophy of "opinion".

I don't wish to start a pissing contest with you. I'm dropping the whole matter and writing it off as a communication malfunction. Best of luck this basektball season.

Why do you have to think this was a pissing contest? We are just sharing opinions amongst friend’s right? Why does a simple disagreement have to be a hateful, contentions situation?

Garth, if you feel the statements are not true, I disagree. You can pay all the money to go to Umpire school, you still have to be picked to work pro ball. Many non-pro umpires never go to pro school or ever try to work any kind of pro ball. I know I have never attended pro school and I never will. It was not my goal. Now I am not saying I could do as good of a job as a Major League Umpire, I do not have that kind of dedication to the game. I only work about 50 games a season and when the summer hits I am basically finished with baseball until the next spring. But I know umpires that work hundreds of games and in my opinion would do a very good job if they ever decided to pursue that level or some strange reason they were picked to work the Major Leagues (which is not how the current system works).

Peace

There was nothing, NOTHING wrong with Pallone's umpiring. They just didn't like that he was gay.

And what was wrong with Shulock? He stayed in the majors for over 20 years and always seemed to do a good job.

Both were minor league umpires -- it's not like they were pulled off the street to umpire MLB.

Whatever, sniffer.

Weren't you supposed to be working a game tonight? Oh, I forgot....you were too old to get a job. Or was it too slow? Too dumb? Something like that, I think, but I've grown too bored to remember.

Back to the topic at hand. What was wrong with Pallone's umpiring that forced him out of the game? What was wrong with Shulock on the field? And how is it relevant HOW they got their jobs, Mr. High School Playoff Umpire?

And while we're at it - Blake Cullen wasn't even an umpire, let alone a scab. He was an umpire supervisor.

A word of advice for you, SanDiegoSteve - if you're going to start slamming people, at least GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!

my view
 

I had the pleasure of seeing a good number of games this year at PNC Park. I sat in the best seats I have ever had....2 rows back from the visting dugout........just to the right of the home plate umpire.

I got at least 90 innings of up close views of homeplate mechanics, timing and up and down consistancy...

I know a lot of good HS and college umpires....I know a lot of good youth Rec league umpires....None of us (me included) have the consistancy that I saw this year.....

I got my monies worth of other learning opportunities as well........from game management, to rotations..(not that I work much 4 man) to fashion......patent leather shoes and belts?.....some do....most I saw dont.....

My goal is to be a good HS/college umpire........I know I would have loved to be pro...but I'm not on their level..........nor is anyone else I worked with this year....

Stan


[Edited by piaa_ump on Oct 19th, 2005 at 09:22 AM]

SDSteve................
 

Please be careful !!!

At your advanced age, you might hurt yourself with the serious backpedaling from your positions when confronted with those little things called facts.


Doug

Steve,

Waht is your name? I evaluate at the D1 level and spent 2 weekends at USD this past season.

I would be glad to watch you work and pass on what I see.

If your work is superlative, or even ordinary, I will gladly pass it on to those on this board and will defend you.

Dave
****

SanDiego Steve:

I'm new to this board but you are clearly the best internet baseball umpire that I have ever seen...on any board.

Lance Cokalinski would take exception.

Okay, I sincerely regret what obviously is sour grapes on my part for being stupid, and not going to pro school when I had the chance. It was a once in a lifetime shot, but I didn't go. It was not for lack of huevos, as has been suggested. Nor was it that I was too slow, because I can still beat any runner to third on a naked triple, even though I'm sure not as fast as I used to be (I do travel a bit closer to the back of the mound than I used to). I listened to too many people discouraging me, saying that the school wouldn't give me a job, and they would say go back home and work HS and College ball.

I am certainly not an "internet umpire", that should be obvious since I wear my heart on my sleeve, and give up way too much information about myself. On the contrary, I have never been on umpire forums before very recently. Apparently, being new on forums is equal to being a new umpire, a phenomenon I hadn't expected. So I would say that I am more of a real umpire than an internet umpire.

Dave, thanks for the offer to check me out. That may or may not be possible, as I am expecting (hopefully) a great new job for which I will be testing for soon, which may conflict with my availability next season. If I am able to umpire, I will, and you would be free to check me out.

All in all, I deeply regret the factual errors in my posts, and in no way think that I could just walk in and take any of the fine MLB umpires place, just like that.
Had this or that happened in the past, who knows? I am quite sure that I'm not the only veteran umpire out there that has these same regrets.



[Edited by SanDiegoSteve on Oct 19th, 2005 at 03:13 PM]

as a proud graduate of the Cokalinksi Umpiring "Internet School of Champions," I can attest to that as well :D

One Interesting Tidbit
 

I find it very interesting that SDSteve has had three offers to watch him work and report to the masses YET each offer was met with "gee, I can't" . . . (Garth B & Dave's offers)

Does this mean anything? Could this be the telling issue?

Hmmmm, what an interesting turn of events.

Re: One Interesting Tidbit
 

I'm not working any games right now, that's the telling issue, wise guy! I said that I am expecting a job which COULD interfere with my availability. If you want to fly me to where there's a game I can umpire for you right now, send me a ticket and I'll come work the game.

I'm trying to humble my egotistical self here, and apologize for my stupid remarks. You seem interested in piling on more misery. Kick the guy when he's down type of thing. Jeez, I said I misspoke, what more do you want.

I certainly am not making any excuses and I never said "gee, I can't". I said I'm not going to a Jim Evans Classic, because I'm not trying to prove I can have a heat stroke (hear it was cancelled anyway). I then jokingly (I thought) said just put me in the show. Said very tongue-in-cheek. As are many of the things I say.

Hey, Tee, when you worked your seven practice games for the Mariners, did they tell you that you weren't good enough? Just curious.

Here I am, trying to be contrite, and everyone wants to just keep it up. I think about 10 posts ago, I said drop it, but nobody did.

you came on here and flaunted the abilities you have, and abilities you once had, as well as the level of which you think you could attain had you gone to pro school. you didnt go, so it may have been in your best interests to just keep it in your dreams that you would be at the MLB level had you gone to school in the 80s or whenever it was. whatever though.

lots of people did go to pro school, arent in the MLB/MiLB, and the only time we hear about them is when someone is asking about what school to go to. you didnt even go and we have heard more about that fantasy than most people who did go's post-school experience.

Yes brian, I agree, I should have kept it to myself. No, I was busy putting my size 14 plate shoe in my big mouth. Like I said, I regret my foolish remarks. Like I said, I am new to this internet umpire phenomenon, and did not really understand that nobody was interested in my crap.

To get back to your first point--that some "varsity" umpires could do a better job than some mlb umpires. While there are some excellent varsity umpires, that might be the dumbest comment I ever heard. Actually, that stupidity might only be topped by your claim that the only reason you're not in the big leagues is because you didn't go to umpire school. You have no idea what it takes to work in the big leagues. By the way, post your real name and I'll ask Mike Winters if he's ever heard of you. If so, I'll let him know that you think you could do his job as good as him.

Yeah, buddy, what part of the previous post didn't you read, or can you? How do you know what I know? You don't, so STFU! Got it jont? I said I regret making the remarks. What, you didn't get to throw your fuel on the fire, so it's your turn to pile on? Bulls***. Yeah, Mike knows who I am, because we've talked at our meetings on several occasions. He is the probationary teacher for our association, so I don't see him in classes. But don't presume to think you know what I do or do not know. I know exactly what it takes to work the big leagues. I didn't say I could do his job as good as him, so don't put words in my mouth. Mike doesn't run around thinking he's special because he's in the majors. He's a regular guy, just like all the others are. I'll bet you know what Jerry Crawford had for breakfast yesterday. Jeez.

Check my qualifications with Dave Davies, who I PM'd on the other board. I certainly don't owe you a damn thing. I tried to take the high road here, but if you keep running smack, I'll smack you back.

How the f*** would you know whether or not I know what it takes to work the big leagues? You don't know me. Damn, I'm starting to understand PWL now, jeez, what part of my contrition did you not follow? I took back the stupid things I said. That includes my original point. So quit bringing it up. Cease. Desist. Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

P.S. Steve is my real name, is your real name "jont"?

[Edited by SanDiegoSteve on Oct 20th, 2005 at 01:51 AM]

http://www.popscorn.com/images/gold-tin2.jpg

Man, this is some good *** popcorn. :D

Peace

Steve,

My apologies. I've been eating too many beer tacos and forgot what other board I was on last evening. So, I didn't get your PM.

Remind me where I was last night, will ya?

Dave
****

Hi Dave, I PMd you at umpire.org. I am just tired of having to explain myself. I tried to say, hey look, I made a mistake, can't we just drop it and move on, but I don't think that's good enough for some.

Thanks, and I hope this helps.