|
|
|
Thu Mar 30, 2006, 12:42am
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
__________________
GB 
|
|
Thu Mar 30, 2006, 05:06pm
|
|||
|
|||
|
No, he's most often referred to by other names.
__________________
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. ~Naguib Mahfouz
|
|
Thu Mar 30, 2006, 05:17pm
|
|||
|
|||
|
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
|
|
Fri Mar 31, 2006, 03:10am
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
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.
__________________
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. ~Naguib Mahfouz
|
|
Fri Mar 31, 2006, 11:38am
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
One of these days you will realize that some of us are motivated by different things. I know umpires in our state (not sure this applies anymore  ) that only get an umpiring license so they can work their local rec. league. Some people like to stay close to home and work games at a certain level. As I said before if you want to go and work those games go right ahead. I know I would not be happy with that "accomplishment" if I had to wait for the regular guys to go on strike to get there. I know I would not be comfortable to put any of that on a resume. If you want to undermine those that worked hard to get to that level, be my guest. I just know that I am too competitive to work those games. If I ever were to get to that point or ever decide to get to that point, I would not be satisfied with just working a game or two. I would want to work the playoffs and many important games. Working a game and you have no idea if you will be at that level is not my idea of an exciting thing. Peace
|
|
Fri Mar 31, 2006, 07:15pm
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Also, I never said that working a Minor League game should be the zenith of your career in officiating. It is just another test and a chance to show your abilities. The Minor League players aren't on strike, so the game won't change. If you decide to focus on other levels or respect the AMLU walk out, I don't think less of you. I just asked the same courtesy be bestowed on those that may have to take those games. (I read the article, Wichita is a big town - lots of umpires available, but they still reach for the best college guys and they are accepting assignments faster than a few want to admit.) Quote:
Quote:
Another member said that it is not an achievment because you didn't earn it. Let's use the Wichita story as an example - that NCAA umpire certainly qualified as a worthy candidate. The leagues he works are just as competitive and the umpiring is outstanding. He was asked to work those games over many other umpires in his area. The fact that they thought enough of his talent IS an honor. Maybe he won't include it on his resume either, that is a decision that each guy has to make. Let's take another look at it - I know plenty of excellent umpires that are too old or not wealthy enough to attend pro school. Maybe they now have families and can't afford the way that the career path is structured. They have put in many years honing their skills and work excellent college schedules. Now they are asked to take their game to another level and a few of you say, "Don't do it - those poor boys that signed contracts will suffer." Do you see how hypocritical that is? Sure those MiLB umpires may be nice and they deserve better, but they made a business decision and no promises were made - not for pay or advancement. Remember that, NO ASSURANCES WERE GIVEN. They may want more, but that is secondary to the issue. They agreed to work for a certain fee and develop themselves according to a set protocol. Now they want more and the boss says, "No." That happens thousands of times a day across America. And yes, someone will happily step into the roles they abandon. Too many of you keep missing the bigger picture...the game is more important than 230 boys. If they concede and decide to work, the game will be better served - agreed. However, thousands of MiLB players make the same salaries at the lower levels and they can't afford to see their games cancelled. They need the chance to hit, throw, run and catch. They were not guaranteed a chance at the Show and their time and talent is extremely limited. Talk to a skipper some day and he'll tell you that it isn't fair what the Minor League umpires are doing. He wants them out there too and knows that they are better trained and deserve more, but so do his players. They deserve a chance to perform and be seen. If they decided to strike for better pay (Many haven't received raises either.) do you think the umpires would be saying, it's okay...it's a sign of loyalty and a stand for what they believe? N F W...they'd be scrambling for your jobs because they have bills to pay too. That is the argument after all, throwing stones at a few guys that may need the money - not the glory. What were those sayings about throwing stones?
__________________
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions. ~Naguib Mahfouz
|
|
Sat Apr 01, 2006, 09:11am
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
Thu Mar 30, 2006, 11:54pm
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
 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. 
__________________
Matthew 15:14, 1 Corinthians 1:23-25
|
|
Fri Mar 31, 2006, 08:27am
|
|||
|
|||
|
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?
|
|
Fri Mar 31, 2006, 11:34am
|
|||
|
|||
|
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.
|
|
Thu Apr 06, 2006, 02:10am
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
