MiLB Sprng Training

[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.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by orangeump

I didnt assume anything. I simply said I am making an observation based on what you said and how strongly you are backing up scabs. I saw a post on umpire.org (can i say that on here?) and they asked who is going to cross the line. I am kind of wondering the same, as I wouldnt if contacted, although I probably never will be contacted since I live about 300 miles from the nearest minor league city...anyway, thats all, thanks Garth.

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.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by mrniceguy

I'm thinking I'm going to go. If they call. Which they won't. Who do you call to get those minolr league games. I'm pretty darn good.

Steve...is that you?

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

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

[JRutledge]

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

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

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

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.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by PWL

Pretty darn good doesn't equal Major League good.

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



Tim.

[dontcallmeblue]

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?

[MrB]

Just ran across this.


Wichita umpires for hire
Minor league strike has Wranglers and other teams looking long and hard for replacements.
BY JOANNA CHADWICK
The Wichita Eagle

When minor-league baseball umpires announced late last week that they would strike to start the season, Texas League president Tom Kayser started scrambling for replacements.

Josh Schepis, a college umpire, started receiving phone calls.

He's already contracted to umpire some Wranglers games and has been in contact with other teams, including the Springfield Cardinals. Most teams are trying to fill their crews with local umps for games beginning April 6.

But Schepis isn't doing this as a way to break into the majors.

"No way it's a break for us," said Schepis, who umpires games in the Missouri Valley and Mid-Continent conferences while also doing nonconference games in the Big 12 and SEC.

"They don't get paid jack (in the minors).... I'm doing NBC baseball a favor. We know those people down there; we work close with them during the (NBC World Series).

"It's a pain. I don't want to umpire the two nights I do have off. There's nothing to gain from this, except a little bit of cash."

Cash is what the minor-league umpires are looking for.

Umpires average between $12,000-$15,000 in Double-A and Triple-A.

The starting salary for a first-year umpire in the Rookie League in 2005 was $1,800 per month, $100 less than it was in 1997, said Brian Kennedy, a Double-A umpire who is on the board of directors with the Association of Minor League Umpires. Insurance deductibles also increased by $500.

Of the 222 umpires in the minor leagues, 91 percent voted for the strike, Kennedy said.

"This (strike) is something we've got to do," said Todd Tichenor, a Triple-A umpire who lives in Holcomb. "There's a dozen of us who are close to the big leagues. Could this (strike) possibly hurt me? Yes, but that's just looking at me. As a union, we're one big family."

Umpires in the major leagues come directly from the minors.

Regardless of where the negotiations stand or whether the umpires will see pay increases, Kayser's primary concern is staffing the games.

Is it a headache?

"I really can't tell you," he said. "I'm preparing for whatever eventuality might arise.

"The only thing I'm willing to tell you is we're going to have games, we're not going to miss any games, and we'll have umpires on the field."

The Texas League uses four three-man crews but likely will have to find many more than that to fill in.

The replacements aren't being offered much to fill in for the minor leagues.

Schepis said he was originally offered $90 per game, which is $110 less than he gets for working Division I games. Kennedy said he earns about $83 a game in Double-A.

But Schepis said that he has been offered more since.

That, he thinks, should make everyone happy. Even those who might call him a scab for being a replacement.

"The minor-league guys I've talked to feel that's helping them, because (the minor league's) cost to hold out longer is going to go up," Schepis said.