Devil Rays prospect throws bat at plate umpire

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by Clint Lawson

Justme,
If that guy was hit by a college player in a college game i would have been on his side. It very well could have been me or one of my friends that work in that league. But I have tried and i can not make myself look at the guys working these game as my umpire friends. Just can't do it. I have a lot of friends that umpire high school and college baseball. They got me started so I will do anything to help other umpires. But I can't feel bad about what happened to this guy. Sorry.

Okay Clint, you've proved that you enjoy opening Pandora's Box, so here goes. Prior to the walk out, you and many others sent emails to encourage amateur umpires to join your cause. These messages spoke of the concern for all umpires and the need to stand as one against those who give little value to our work. Then Andy's Kids walked out and threatened those that accepted games as replacement umpires. The sense of camraderie and espirit de corp went out the window. "How dare they take those games!" All along, your blinders and ear plugs prevented you from understanding what we all said. Some of those guys need the money just as badly as you do. You can't begrudge them for taking the assignment. Others who accepted those games realized that the first rule of umpiring is 'The umpire is not bigger than the game.' They did the job, under more intense scrutiny than you ever did. Your cactcalls and photo gallery were the height of hypocrisy.

No one forced you to begin this journey. When you undertook the training you were aware that the salary and benefits were truly sad. The AMLU brethren took a gamble that they may have the mettle to make it. Most of you were aware that no promises were made and that in eight to ten years you would be in the Show or finding another job. Yet, some of you still hang stubbornly to the premise that your avocation is a career. It is not and has never been considered so.

I did your job, without the benefits of a union and at a lot less money. Some of us know far more about the roach filled locker rooms without hot water, eating meals out of a bag and sleeping in a car because the game went extra innings and our next stop is four hundred miles away. Stop pretending that every umpire that replaced you was a sandlot buffoon.

The umpire who worked the Young game was a seasoned NCAA umpire. From what I've read, he had worked all divisions and was rated very well. Delmon Young was the reason that this incident occured, not the umpire. History shows that this punk enjoys intimidating umpires and opponents. By your logic, if a MLB umpire had been working the Southern League game two years ago, Young would never have bmped him in the chest. It's a good tale but one without logic.

You stepped up onto the stump and fearlessly told us that you don't respect the umpires who worked in your stead. I hope you appreciate the sentiment in return. I can't respect men who claim to be professional, yet cast apsersions about amateur umpires. How many incidents of ill behavior occured during the last three weeks? According to Yund, when the AMLU boys were working there were more. Hmmmm?

Respect is a double edged sword. You should learn that while your talent may give you a place atop the heap right now, some day you will begin sliding and that is when you will truly be judged. How many friends will you have when your hobby is in decline? From the statements you made, it seems that not many will be there to support you.