MiLB Sprng Training

[dontcallmeblue]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

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.

That's where I disagree. The game will change. All the field personnel will know that those umpires are not professionals and they will be treated as such. The game will actually be MORE difficult to officiate than "usual" because of this. At its crux, MiLB is about player development. You think an A ball manager is going to stand for inconsistent umpiring night in and night out? I'm not saying that everyone who works as a replacement will be incompetent, yet one of the biggest differences b/w a pro and an amateur is that the pro does it every night, and does it well every night. Don't kid yourself, it will be an entirely different game.

[SAump]

What would Ronald Reagan do? He was a REAL strikebuster on the righthand and a trickle-down economist on the left-hand.

Yeah, some people working around the ballpark are living paycheck to paycheck. I also support their rights to gain a respectable LIVING WAGE even if it means walking out to find a NEW job.

I also saw the Texas League All-Star game, played in Frisco, on FSN-TV. Has anyone discussed the possibilty of a new MiLB TV-deal? The BIG Leagues got a very lucrative ESPN-deal. I think it came after the current contract. Who knows what lies down the road?

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by dontcallmeblue

That's where I disagree. The game will change. All the field personnel will know that those umpires are not professionals and they will be treated as such. The game will actually be MORE difficult to officiate than "usual" because of this. At its crux, MiLB is about player development. You think an A ball manager is going to stand for inconsistent umpiring night in and night out? I'm not saying that everyone who works as a replacement will be incompetent, yet one of the biggest differences b/w a pro and an amateur is that the pro does it every night, and does it well every night. Don't kid yourself, it will be an entirely different game.

That is absolute rubbish...the players don't care if it's Joe Brinkmann or Joe Smith out there. The managers may try to test them and see how far they can go, but that's the same story on any field with new umpires. The league will support the umpires in almost any hairy situation. Team personnel will be warned that behavior will be strictly monitored.

Do I think that an A level skipper will stand for inconsistent umpiring with replacement umpires? Yes, since he has no choice! Come on...admit it, that's a really bad argument. Most MiLB umpires at that level are anything but consistent.

The game will still be the same...the same players will be out there and the same coaches will try to pull the same nonsense. Water seeks its own level.

We are not talking about sticking underlevel umpires out there. The guys that will get more than one assignment will be hand picked and selected from the best available in that area. I've been called to go to Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. I've declined all invitations and encouraged them to look locally.

Better pitchers mean it is easier to call strikes, not the opposite. Better fielding means you have to anticipate closer plays. The batters are all able to hit and want to swing the bat. A kid straight out of pro school is less proficient than a guy with ten years of college and high school varsity under his belt. Pro umpires don't work every night by the way, but I know many amateurs who do.

[BCT]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

That is absolute rubbish...the players don't care if it's Joe Brinkmann or Joe Smith out there. The managers may try to test them and see how far they can go, but that's the same story on any field with new umpires. The league will support the umpires in almost any hairy situation. Team personnel will be warned that behavior will be strictly monitored.

HAHAHAHAHA Yes they will support the scab umpires, just like I was supported last season when a manager busted my lip with his bill. You're on your own out there pal, just like we are.

[FTWthEmAn]

Better pitchers mean it is easier to call strikes, not the opposite. Better fielding means you have to anticipate closer plays. The batters are all able to hit and want to swing the bat. A kid straight out of pro school is less proficient than a guy with ten years of college and high school varsity under his belt. Pro umpires don't work every night by the way, but I know many amateurs who do.
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers.
You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
~Naguib Mahfouz


I guess working 161 games in 178 days in a dozen different cities is not working every day!!

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by FTWthEmAn

Better pitchers mean it is easier to call strikes, not the opposite. Better fielding means you have to anticipate closer plays. The batters are all able to hit and want to swing the bat. A kid straight out of pro school is less proficient than a guy with ten years of college and high school varsity under his belt. Pro umpires don't work every night by the way, but I know many amateurs who do.
"You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers.
You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
~Naguib Mahfouz


I guess working 161 games in 178 days in a dozen different cities is not working every day!!

Uh, no...maybe I understand the problem with the contract now. Math lessons may be in order. 161 is less than 178, right? By the way, a Rookie and Short A season is not six months long. AA and AAA sessons are only five months - 5 times 31 equals 155. Double check it, if you want. Or are you saying you are really a WUA umpire?

Thanks for copying my signature, by the way. Read it and think about what it means.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by WhatWuzThatBlue

Better pitchers mean it is easier to call strikes, not the opposite. Better fielding means you have to anticipate closer plays. The batters are all able to hit and want to swing the bat. A kid straight out of pro school is less proficient than a guy with ten years of college and high school varsity under his belt. Pro umpires don't work every night by the way, but I know many amateurs who do.

Exactly right.

The arguement that the strike zones will be horribly inconsistent just doesn't wash. I would put my strike zone up against any umpire straight out of pro school. It seemed pretty damn good when I was calling pitches for Prior, Zito, Loiza, Silva, Harang, Mitre, and many other pro prospects. They could bring it and bend it just as good then as today, and I rarely heard any complaining about my zone.

Also, a banger is a banger at any level. If you have solid mechanics, positioning, judgement, timing, hustle, and game management skills, then filling in for A or AA guys shouldn't be that big of a problem.

I don't want the job, and personally would not cross the line, but to think there aren't capable replacements out here is foolish. There are many pro school and PBUC grads, as well as some just flat out good umpires out there that could do just fine, despite what some of these MiLB guys think.

But what do I know, I'm just a "Charlie."

[Sal Giaco]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It seemed pretty damn good when I was calling pitches for Prior, Zito, Loiza, Silva, Harang, Mitre, and many other pro prospects... .

Oh no - here we go again. First it was Tim C and his name dropping of MLB umpires. Now we have SDS name dropping big league pitchers.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

...But what do I know, I'm just a "Charlie."

No, not just a "Charlie", but an "Internet Charlie" - they're even worse

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Sal Giaco

No, not just a "Charlie", but an "Internet Charlie" - they're even worse

I was actually being sarcastic, Sal. I don't consider myself a Charlie at all. I am not an internet umpire either. I am a real umpire who happens to be on the internet (for some stupid reason....the abuse I suppose).

[big]

BTW... Here's the link for the article that was posted.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/kansas/...=kansas_sports

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by PWL

No you didn't, Sal? I think I pulled something laughing. Watch out for BigUmp56 & Garth. Your life will never be the same again.

Judging from the private emails we've exchanged, I think Sal knows me better than that Mr. P.

Ball/Strikes. Fair/Foul. Out/Safe.

Everything else is just window dressing.

Which is why you work what you work.

That's just my opinion.

And we all know what that's worth.

[Clint Lawson]

Guys! I'm going to tell you that if you think the league is going to back you on almost anything. You are WRONG!!!!!!!!!! You are going to be on your own just like we are everynight we walk on that field.

Clint Lawson