Whatever the reasoning or motivation that drives you to that decision and gets you on the field is, it will have driven you to be labeled for life as someone who crossed a picket line and worked somewhere that you did not earn the right to be.

If you have accepted an assignment and plan to work on opening day, be prepared to be face to face with the men you are crossing. The minor league umpires, their family, and other supporters (including myself) will be there at the games. They will be holding signs, and they will be distributing informational flyers. There won't be a soul on the field or in the stands that doesn't know who you are and what you are doing. With that said, enjoy your game, and maybe I'll see you there!

Good Lord, I had never actually considered working one of these games, but I may now feel compelled. I'm freezing my *** off, watching my games get cancelled and praying for a break in the weather so that I can get out there and do some games. I'm old enough to appreciate the warmer climates now, so maybe I should head on over to your state. Which backasswards town are you calling home? I hope someone like you approaches a guy like me or better yet one who is trying to feed his family on even less than what those MiLB guys make. You can tell him that you think he is a scab for taking those games and he can tell you to kiss his ***. Those watching will laugh at you drag your sorry behind to the nearest reporter to whine about mistreatment. No one forced them to take the job. If they don't like the wages, let them flip burgers, wash cars or drive a taxi. Those guys are rolling in the bucks.

I can't imagine anyone being dumb enough to think that MiLB umpires are bigger than the game. If you ever had a chance to work in some of those small town ballparks (I did) you would know that some of those dirt sweepers, ditch diggers and laundry keepers make less than the poverty line. To go to the ball park for 25 cent beer night takes a big chunk of their income. They want to see a ball game and don't care who umpires it. Your blinders forget the fact that the small ballpark employs vendors, ticket takers, groundscrew, announcers, local administration among others. If those games go unplayed, those others take it up the kiester because of a poor business decision on the part of 230 guys. Yes, the umpires deserve more, but if they abandon their dreams, they deserve to be replaced. I don't know too many workers that can tell their boss that they want more or they will quit and expect to have a job after they do; see ya' dumb ***- don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Screw you and your inflated sense of importance. Guys who talk like you find there face on the pavement more often than not. Even the MiLB attorney came out and said that they have long held that MiLB umpire stewardship is akin to an educational program. Replacing the guys at AAA will be difficult and they have the most to lose. We all saw what one of the best AAA umpires looked like recently. I saw a college game last week that had a better crew than what I see on many A fields.

So go ahead and stand there - all 230 of you at over fifty ballparks. That'll be a hell of a picket line. Did you notice the big unions jumping in to back you? Even they are laughing at the fools that put themselves into this position.

By the way, the guys from school who just signed on, if they go on strike, they can be fired. So, like I said, open your eyes before engaging your mouth. You are an embarassment to logical thinking.

"Hey, it's more important for those guys to feed their families, then it is for you." I rarely swear here, but you are a f-ing hypocrite! Most of us agree that MiLB umpires should make more, we all should for what we do. But if I turn back my schedule, someone else is going to take it and quickly. I won't be so presumptuous as to think that others should honor my commitment and stay away from them. What a bunch of crap!

I can answer this because it essentially happened. Several years ago when it appeared that MLB umpires would get locked out or go on strike, I received a call from the wife of an MLB umpire. She, her husband, and I have been longtime friends since the days I attended his school. She did all the administrative stuff for the school and was involved with a lot of stuff that went on with the guys. On behalf of her husband and one of my other MLB friends, she asked me what my association and I would do if MLB came a-callin'. We discussed it and she politely asked me for the support of both myself and the association of which I was president. I assured her that while I couldn't force any of our guys to not do such a game(s), none of us, myself included, would accept such an offer. As I told her then and as I believe now, the few hours of being in the spotlight is not at all worth the many years of a friendship.

To me, some things are too important.

I'm convinced that the system is broken, right down to the (essentially) monopoly system in place with the umpire schools and PBUC. No other sport requires officials to follow such a narrow path into the professional ranks. The current system benefits organized baseball and mostly benefits the owners of the umpire schools who are able to fill classes because the turnover is intentionally built into the process. And the process is designed to keep the pay terribly low for the existing bodies that work the leagues.

I hope the umpires do go on strike. And I hope then that the minor leagues blow up the current system and decide to hire their own umpires permanently. The umpiring would suffer initially, sure, but it's how every other sport hires officials and the officiating would eventually improve as good umpires are identified and retained. And eventually the pay would have to increase to retain those people.

Enjoy your picketing. And hopefully someday maybe you'll see how the process and its implicit turnover is the reason why you get paid so little.

maybe you should consider a job in politics. you did a great job of posting a long-winded reply that didn't address the point that was made. you called somebody out for speaking without having the facts, and then you were called out for the same thing. what'd you do? ranted, raved, and whined about everything but that, save for your addressing of the newly hired guys and their situation. way to skirt the issue.

MiLB players understand that they need to work hard and get paid peanuts for the shot
 

The one thing that is certain about this issue is that it is passionate. Those siding with the MiLB umpires believe that they are the only ones that matter. Their jobs are at stake because of a poor business decision and now they want others to bail them out. Months ago, another member wrote that even the WUA isn't supporting their cause. The reason was that the WUA guys know that the Minor Leagues is a training and proving ground. Simply paying for pro school and doing a good job is no guarantee of a financially secure future. Yet, they seem to think that they are entitled to things that many Americans do without.

Orangeump has jumped into this fray before. Do you really think that their strike will be meaningful? Being called a scab by a dozen people is not the worst thing an umpire can face. You won't see hundreds turning out for the picket line because people simply don't care. When is the last time you saw it being discussed on ESPN?

As for your comment about that AAA crew, I guess you didn't see Bob Davidson's shining moments in the WBC.

Challenging the integrity of an umpire who chooses to challenge himself with that assignment is cowardly. Why should a guy have to sacrifice his ambition because of a calculated risk that the union made? He may never have had the opportunity to attend professional school and is the shining star in his locale. His family and friends will come out to see him and make up for the two or three that stay away because of the umpires. When those MiLB guys start helping our program negotiate higher fees, then they can count on my support. When my granddaughter's school went on strike two years ago, many volunteered to substitute in order to keep the kids in class. Sometimes,the bigger picture is lost on those too close to the conflict.

Finally, bananaboybobbyduck, you would make a horrible lawyer. Even when your client is hanging in the gallows, you are writing to the judge for clemency. The fact that you don't recognize how little import MiLB gives to the umpires is sad. The dozens more that would be out of a job if games are cancelled is less important to you. Yeah, that makes sense...the guy that has put his life on the line to lease the ballpark concessions deserves to see his family starve. Maybe the guy who hawks souveniers should go without his salary and have to drop out of college because his summer job is gone. The lady who takes tickets and sells programs can explein to her children that they won't be able to get new school clothes because she was laid off due to the strike. Those are the real stories in the small town programs. Real people depend on that income - not just the boys in blue. Ask how many of the people in the stands at a Rookie League game would like to be paid $15,000 for five months of work.

Now, let's consider the player that needs one more game to prove himself and be called up to the next level. "Hey, dude - too bad for you; the umpires need more money." Some of those players make the same salary as the umpire! They are considered professional, but understand the complex nature of their training program. They are taking a chance that their skills will take them to the company of other elite individuals. But, I guess they are different than you, huh? Stop being hypocrites - get a clue before you are out of work and your investment is worthless.

I will happily escort any umpire across that imaginary line. None of you are going to do anything more than flap your gums. There will be no stigma attached to those guys, despite your pretense. Being ostracized by guys who couldn't carry my gear bag doesn't mean much to me. I've been called worse by better people. The game is and always has been bigger than the umpire. Maybe a few of you will recignize that before your egos cause irreversible damage. If you don't want to work those games, don't. Someone will and you'll be a fool.

Windy:

I can only confidently speak for the situation in my area. As you know from us discussing this in the past I am a long time member of the I.B.E.W. Here in South Bend we have the single A Silverhawks. The building trades unions of the Michiana area will support this picket line and will not cross even to watch a game. Yes, it may only be an imaginary line as I don't see the AMLU being able to pay others to picket for them. However, it has been suggested that we join in and set up what's known as an "informational picket" for the AMLU by proxy. I know it's not much, but it's our way of showing support.


Tim.

We all make choices.

We all need to live with our choices.

The AMLU is united in its cause. I'll walk the line with them. Not to call anyone else a scab. Those who work the games are free to do so for whatever reasons they see fit. Gotta respect their decision. Just want everyone to be informed.

True internships offer realistic opportunities at their conclusion. This one doesn't. What do you call the guy who finishes last in Medical School?

Doctor.

Even the Federal Minimum wage has increased 21% in the last ten years. More in pricier regions of the US. Seems the guy who sweeps the floor may be doing better in some cases.

Even if this strike doesn't accomplish what AMLU is looking for, hopefully, it will change the system enough for the better that, perhaps, an action such as this won't ever be needed again. A small victory for the current generation but here's to major improvements in a flawed system for the future.

There is a fine line between courage and foolhardy. I really hope this gets settled before next week's games.

DMAN

:D Your observation skills need work...or, perhaps your reading skills. Nowhere did I "back up" anybody or either side. I simply commented on your reliance of emotion laden rhetoric instead of basing your argument on anything factual or logical.

I have received a call. I said no. So much for your assumption/observation.

Steve...is that you?

No, he's most often referred to by other names.

If you pay for sex at a strip club does that all of a sudden make you a ladies man?

Does working a Minor League game during a strike make you an accomplished umpire?

You decide.

(Steve this is what we call sarcasm)

Peace

True, but I'll take pretty darn good over completely incompetent any day.



Tim.

No, Garth, it ain't me.:)

My ship has long sailed on that one. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Yes, he is often referred to by other names, and he keeps getting banned in those other names, so he keeps making up new names and personnas.:(

Just finsihed watching Caddyshack for the twentieth time...it never gets old.
I check in before bed and see one of my favorites has found time for our little old sport. (Basketball must be done.)

If you pay for sex at a strip club, it means you are stupid, desperate and probably pretty ugly. Unless of course, it's a gay strip club and then you are just wrong. ;)

If you work a Minor League game during the strike it means that you've accomplished something. But getting asked back, because you shined - well that's pretty nice. Whether it is an independent A or MLB AAA affiliate, being asked to do those games by them is still an honor. Don't think for a moment that it isn't. The players are still the same and the park just as nice. If you do your job, you can go home feeling pretty good.

My favorite umpires are the ones who ask for tougher assignments so that they can test themselves. Each year I see young guys stepping up and surprising me. They can't do a worse job than Bobby D. at the WBC.

Jeff, I'm not trying to start anything...I just don't agree with your post, that's all. You were excited to work the Juco All Star game at a nice field. That same feelng you and the crew had will be there for any replacement umpires.

How is it an "honor" to take something you haven't earned? I fail to see this correllation. All your doing is making it more difficult for guys who have paid their dues to get a fair shake. I'm all in favor of challenging yourself with new and tougher assignment, but if you want one of these assignments, sign up to be a fill-in when a MiLB guy gets hurt, or, here's a novel idea, GO TO UMPIRE SCHOOL.

Working next would would not be an honor, it would be an insult to the brotherhood that is umpiring. Also, I hope you'd realize the situation you'd be stepping into. The players, managers and other field personnel would realize you aren't a professional and treat you as such. Umpiring professionally looks tough enough, why make it harder?