Bad Form, MiLB umpires should have more Class

[JIGGY]

Originally Posted by MrB

Jiggy,

Has anyone seen the gag order in writing? Or has it been confirmed by any of the AMLU members since on of the AMLU board members recently wrote that he asked players and managers about it at a recent game and every one said that it didn't really exist. That nothing more than "be patient" with these guys was said. Does the AMLU have hard data to support the triple fines rumor? I am just curious.

It has been confirmed by numerous players, managers, and club personnel (management), but in casual conversation and not "on the record" because they don't want to cause trouble for themselves. I know that sounds convenient, but the same stories have come from numerous sources and some that I personally trust. As a general rule such a thing would not be in open circulation in writing as it paints MiLB in a bad light. I think the message may have been communicated in slightly different ways from league to league, but overall it is the same general message: "Don't get into arguments on the field, and don't comment on the umpires off of it." There are also numerous news articles which document the players and managers hesitation to comment on the situation.

[mbyron]

The gag order seems to apply as well to the club media (such as radio broadcasts), since some bizarre things have gone completely without comment.

[kraine27]

If a "Scab" umpire didn't earn his job, then how is it that once a AMLU guy is not asked back another year, that he "Earns" his position in College Level games?

I find this really interesting, especially since, in my area, we have a AA guy who is taking all kinds of NAIA and Div II NCAA games and making mistakes all over the place. Not only does he have questionable judgement, he also misapplies rules. To boot, he is an instructor at a pro school!

I personally know Div I college guys who are much better umpires than he is and as soon as he is not asked back to minor league ball, the college guys will be out of a job. Did the AMLU guy earn his position?

Now then, let me state for the record that I have not attended umpire school, nor do I desire to attend. I currently call the JUCO, NAIA and DivII NCAA level on a consistant basis and am very happy to be where I am. With this in mind, is it not me that should be more upset about the AMLU guys takign my games? I can guarantee you I have earned my position.

[JIGGY]

Originally Posted by kraine27

If a "Scab" umpire didn't earn his job, then how is it that once a AMLU guy is not asked back another year, that he "Earns" his position in College Level games?

I find this really interesting, especially since, in my area, we have a AA guy who is taking all kinds of NAIA and Div II NCAA games and making mistakes all over the place. Not only does he have questionable judgement, he also misapplies rules. To boot, he is an instructor at a pro school!

I personally know Div I college guys who are much better umpires than he is and as soon as he is not asked back to minor league ball, the college guys will be out of a job. Did the AMLU guy earn his position?

Now then, let me state for the record that I have not attended umpire school, nor do I desire to attend. I currently call the JUCO, NAIA and DivII NCAA level on a consistant basis and am very happy to be where I am. With this in mind, is it not me that should be more upset about the AMLU guys takign my games? I can guarantee you I have earned my position.

Have you asked your assignor why he would chose a guy with professional experience and training over one who states "(I)...am very happy to be where I am." and "...I have not attended umpire school, nor do I desire to attend." ? What did you do to "earn" your college games that an ex- MiLB umpire hasn't?

[BigUmp56]

I just read that Dave Yeast has crossed the picket line in Indianapolis. WTF if that all about?


Tim.

[MrB]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I just read that Dave Yeast has crossed the picket line in Indianapolis. WTF if that all about?


Tim.

Tim,

Like everyone in this situation he probably did what he judged to be best for him. Right? Wrong? I don't know and can't judge, but he did and looks like he thought it was best for him.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by MrB

Tim,

Like everyone in this situation he probably did what he judged to be best for him. Right? Wrong? I don't know and can't judge, but he did and looks like he thought it was best for him.

It's nice to see Dave has the time to skip his evals and observations of NCAA guys to work minor league ball. It would seem apparent to me that his services to the NCAA aren't all that important after all.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I just read that Dave Yeast has crossed the picket line in Indianapolis. WTF if that all about?


Tim.

Whoa!

[JIGGY]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I just read that Dave Yeast has crossed the picket line in Indianapolis. WTF if that all about?


Tim.

No better an illustration of what a scab really is. He stands nothing to gain (and in his case, alot to loose) but chooses to become a part of a situation that doesn't involve him, stabbing other men in the back by doing so. He has proven a man of no integrity and low character time and time again, this just puts an exclamation point at the end of the sentence.

[Thatballzlow]

Yes, Mr. Yeast did work in Indianapolis, in fact, there is a photo on the AMLU website. He crossed the picket line in the MLB strike years ago, so it really shouldn't be a surprise that he did it here. I won't criticize him. He has experienced crossing before, so he knows what he's getting into. The bad part is he isn't a bad umpire at all, but he has no friends in professional baseball. Now, is he crying about that...probably not.

I've gotten mixed signals from my contacts in and out of pro ball in the past few days about college associations. The ECAC supervisor has told his guys that this may be their opportunity to get to the major leagues. The only fear I have in that rationale is that the guys who are in charge of supervising MLB umpires, i.e., the guys who hire you to work in MLB are all the old union guys from the Richie Phillips era...Richie Garcia, Frank Pulli, Palermo, Rieker...so tell me do you think this may be the shot at the big leagues? I've heard these guys talk in the past, and they're STILL loyal to Phillips, even though he cost them their jobs.

Thoughts?

[kraine27]

Originally Posted by JIGGY

Have you asked your assignor why he would chose a guy with professional experience and training over one who states "(I)...am very happy to be where I am." and "...I have not attended umpire school, nor do I desire to attend." ? What did you do to "earn" your college games that an ex- MiLB umpire hasn't?

First of all, don't assume that because I am happy to stay at my current level that I don't constantly strive to get better.

Second, the assignor (who has never been to umpire school himself) operates on the assumption that because a guy has gone through umpire school, regardless of if he is hired in the minors or not, he is a better umpire than the next guy. With that being said, I do respect a guy who has taken the oppertunity to make himself better buy spending the money and attending pro school. But, I don't think that attandance places that guy above the rest of us.

Third, I have worked my way into college ball through hard work and my reputation. I have worked several years of non-conference games and put in my time to get in. This particular guy has not "earned his stripes" in the college level. Much the same as you are stating that I wouldn't qualify to work a minor league game (not that I'm would or would have the oppertunity, I'm just using that as an example).

[Peruvian]

Originally Posted by JIGGY

I think the message may have been communicated in slightly different ways from league to league, but overall it is the same general message: "Don't get into arguments on the field, and don't comment on the umpires off of it."

I don't know how it is across the rest of the country, but at the few SL games I've attended, there seems to be all the normal jabbering that you'd see with the regular guys. The same disputed calls, pitches, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, it seems. I would agree, however, as some have already stated, that the honeymoon for these guys is about over and it will be ON shortly.