MiLB Sprng Training

[dokeeffe]

The Tigers (Lakeland FL) contacted a locally well known assigner/college/HS umpire to book the minor league spring games. It's a combo of experienced HS and small college officials.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

You can find all kinds of things on the web:
"Friday, March 24, 2006
Associated Press

Minor league umpires plan to strike when the season starts next month and filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

The Association of Minor League Umpires, which represents about 220 umps in 16 leagues, said it filed the charge in the NRLB's Florida region, alleging the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation threatened to fire employees who went on strike and asked several of the unionized umps to work as replacements during any strike.

Minor league umpires unionized in 2000.

"A strike is a serious step and it's not what we wanted to do," union president Andy Roberts said in a statement Friday, "but reports of league officials talking about firing umpires who strike has backed us into a corner. The AMLU has to take a stand against PBUC's heavy-handed tactics."

George Yund, management's lawyer, did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

The union said management told the union in February that it thought talks had reached impasse and that it would implement its last offer when the season started. The union's last proposal, made March 10, was rejected by management three days later.

Umps say their salaries average $15,000 at Triple-A, $12,000 at Double-A, $10,000 in full-season A-ball and $5,500 in rookie leagues. Yund earlier this month likened minor league umpiring to an educational program rather than a lifetime career.

The union said it would not supply replacement umps to the major leagues during a strike. Minor league umps routinely fill in for major league umpires who are injured or on vacation."

Fired??? You mean...as in we won't have jobs??? Yeah, that's what can happen when you go on strike. Some of us have been telling them this for months now. Mr. Roberts seems shocked by the news. Restructuring the union will take time but they need to do something or their dreams will die. I don't think any of us want to see the really talented guys lose out on a chance to make it. I recognized a couple names on their board as frequenters of our little domain. Maybe you can pass it along...bite the bullet for a year and restructure quickly. Take the small increase and realize that they won't blink! Go back to the table with fresh faces and realize that they are in the driver's seat.

The quote from the MiLB lawyer sounds like management believes that those guys actually are apprentices. Hmmmm...where did we hear that before?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by btman

Or on That Other Site, eh Windy?

Yes, Walter. We all know that the Associated Press has given Officials Unlimited the exclusive rights to paste their sports articles on the WWW. There's no way that Windy could have read that anywhere else but on OU. Maybe you should have read some of what Windy has written about the situation before you ramble on about taking his advice. I believe that Windy has been a voice of realism here. He doesn't advocate crossing the line, but he understands that others will and that can't be stopped.


Tim.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Actually, the article was forwarded to me from the MiLB umpires website - amlu.org. I found it ironic that the President of their group has just realized the ramifications of striking - umpires should e familiar with strikes and the balls it takes!

I pay little heed to WJR and his many noms de net. He once believed that I haunted his hallowed halls, yet could never find evidence of me to justify his convictions. For someone who stalked his own brood, you would think that he was more adept at researching the facts before publicly humiliating himself.

For those not incluned to pursue the truth: I advocate doing what is in the best interests of yourself and family. If the money is important, go for it. If you are an excellent umpire and want to challenge yourself to a supreme test, put on the gear. Maybe you crave the adrenaline of a more advanced game or the rush of performing in front of a crowd - whatever your motive, you may soon have the opportunity. If you choose to work these games, rise to the occasion and represent yourself well.

To those who choose not to work these games out of loyalty to your brethren, I don't begrudge your decision. We all must make decisions and I understand why you take such a stand. I encourage you to not let your emotions get in the way when judging someone who happily decides to umpire those contests. We all do what we need to do. They may have just as pressing of a need as the MiLB guys.

If the WUA boys went on strike - what would you do if a local MLB representative called and aksed if you could work the Yankees series in two weeks? I don't know an umpire out there that wouldn't jump at the chance to work in their favorite big league park with the heroes of the game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

If the WUA boys went on strike - what would you do if a local MLB representative called and aksed if you could work the Yankees series in two weeks? I don't know an umpire out there that wouldn't jump at the chance to work in their favorite big league park with the heroes of the game.

I would turn it down in a heart beat. Not all of us are clamoring to work a Major League game or even better a Minor League game. I am sure there are people that would disagree, but there are many things bigger than just me. I live for principles that are more important from getting a one time shot that is not going to help me in the long run. I fell the way about this situation and I felt the same way when the NFL was in a similar situation about 3 years ago. I do not believe in cutting the throats of people for my own personal gain.

I agree with you on one thing, this is an individual decision, but that is not a decision I am going to make. I would hope others will feel the same way, but if you want to sell your soul for a shot that will not be there when everything is settled. Be my guest.

Peace

[SAump]

"It's a combo of experienced HS and small college officials.
Hell, I guess, now even I am qualified.

Nah, no PAY INCREASE.
Nah, no signing bonus.
Nah, no travel bonus.
Nah, no fill in/temp bonus.
Nah, no need to spend every night in a hotel.

There is a brotherhood in big business.
Do you actually have the experience to deal with the mess?
I would tell YOU that I would rather not CROSS that line alone.
There is another cold wind blowing out of there.

What you do is your business.
It's one thing not to support your big brothers.
It's another thing to CRY FOUL when he's back to take your job.
I show BALLS with my left and support the STRIKE with my rights.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by orangeump

"well kids, I was a scab. A dirty, low life, back stabbing piece of trash who waited until someone that earned a spot in the majors stood up for something they believed in. When those people stood up for their beliefs, I went ahead and snuck in the back door and was able to ump. Arent you guys proud that I have such high morals and standards?"

Thanks!

Give me a break. When one has to stoop to unabashed appeals to base, unthinking emotionalism in order to attempt to make his opinion known, that opinion is not worth very much.

If you are convinced you are correct, try expressing your opinion intelligently, logically and free of bleeding heart rhetoric.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by orangeump

if someone thinks that is not a good definition of what a scab is then say so. Sounds like you might go to work for these guys, Garth....just a random observation.

sorry if my "heartless rhetoric" or whatever you called it doesnt use enough big words to sound intelligent. I am kind of a shoot from the hip kinda guy

You're also an "Assume what you know nothing about" kinda guy, too, I see.

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

For someone who stalked his own brood, you would think that he was more adept at researching the facts before publicly humiliating himself.

This amused me because you obviously do not have all the facts, yet that did not stop you from posting the article and your feelings in your original post on this thread. The minor league umpires are without a contract, and if they DO strike, it will be a LEGAL strike. Therefore, they CAN NOT be fired for striking. Granted, they can be replaced until an agreement is reached, but they can't be fired. That is why they filed an unfair labor practices charge with the NLRB.

[jumpmaster]

so has anyone heard anything about the proposal that was rumored to have been submitted yesterday?

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

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!

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

If the WUA boys went on strike - what would you do if a local MLB representative called and aksed if you could work the Yankees series in two weeks? I don't know an umpire out there that wouldn't jump at the chance to work in their favorite big league park with the heroes of the game.

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.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by PWL

LMAO/TSFS

Prozac ain't cuttin' it anymore!!!!

It appears you finally found your soul mate here, Walter. I think you and PWL would do nicely together. Maybe you can get him to go to rec.sports.officiating and start making stuff up along with you. Then, you won't have to keep posting back and forth to yourself.


Tim.

[bobbybanaduck]

Whatever your own definition of "scab" is, rest assured, that is what you will be if you take an assigment and work a minor league game in the event of a strike. 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!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

Whatever your own definition of "scab" is, rest assured, that is what you will be if you take an assigment and work a minor league game in the event of a strike. 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!

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.