So, Tim C
 

In your last "blog" entry, you made the following comment:

Crossing a picket line of a strike is neither a moral or an ethical decision. It is nothing more than a business decision.

I disagree.

I would "scab" for FAR less money than I am being paid. Indeed, I would not work PCL games for free, but, I would not work ANY level of baseball for free.

Indeed, my decision to "scab" wasn't based on morals or ethics in any direct way.

Simply, it is an opportunity of a lifetime to umpire the best baseball I will ever get to umpire.

It is also a chance for me to get an idea of how good I currently am, and how good I might have become had I made different decisions many years ago concerning my umpiring career.

I just thought you should know. ;)

A braggart and a fool...
 

I just thought you should know.:(

LOL....I love envy.

Have you seen the scab photos on the AMLU site or read some of the articles about the "fill in" guys? Envy is not the correct word.

Did anyone see how horrific a call Mark Carlson made in the D'Backs/Padres game Monday? Doug Eddings revisited. If you didn't see it, you are lucky, because it was BRUTAL.

I have seen better umpiring from replacement umpires!

Read the articles about the terrible calls in MLB. There are plenty to choose from.

And being a curious sort, I did a quick search of PDX too and found the story that you cited. The funny thing is, though, that the story didn't come from the Portland Beavers or anyone affiliated with them. It came from a fan-based and fan-maintained web site. Imagine that, fans dumping on umpires. Now who could be better qualified to judge umpires than fans of the home team?

Methinks your post doesn't rate very high on the credibility chart, lorenzeugene. :D

When the regular umps come back, I am SURE we will never see a call they make contested!

;)

PDXBlue
 

Well let's see:

I don't write a "blog" . . . I write a column which I am paid for.

Also, I don't understand your point other than attempting to clarifiy the "whys" of your decision to work. My column is VERY clear that all information about deciding to work (or not) is about my personal decision.

Last if you would read the entire column and just not the tease you might understand what the column is about and my position. You would also find that I criticize both the striking umpires and the replacement umpires: however that would take effort on your part and you rather sit back, hide behind a screen name and take shots . . . that's OK it just keeps my name and column in people's minds.

Again, I recognize that I probably work games with you in Portland . . . and that you are the source of complaint to our mutal assignor . . . for that I am sad.

Regards,

I was going to say it's a fine line between envy and disdain, but come to think of it, it's a rather thick line, isn't it?

the circus is in town...
 

I have a job that I am qualified for and earned- what would I (or any of the AMLU umpires) have to envy you?

They pay you? My oh my......:(

Tim, there is no need to twist this all around. In your "article", you state the opinion that there is only one reason to cross a picket line, and go on to state that reason. This does not come across as your reason to whether to cross a picket line or not, it comes across as anybody's reason. So, if you meant that statement as your reason, then you didn't make that very clear at all. I am fairly well used to your comments not being very clear in their meaning. :(

Tim, I paid the $50 and read the whole article. That is an interesting "shot" you take at me accusing me of not. Why the hostility?

So, can you clarify your comment "and that you are the source of complaint to our mutal assignor . . . for that I am sad."? I won't touch this until you do.

As to hiding behind a screen name.................you should try it some time. ;)

If you wanted to pick a fight with Tim why not grow a pair and do it face to face away from this board. Your thread does nothing to further the cause of either the men who chose to cross the line, or the AMLU members who are on strike. It is a cowardly attempt to disrupt this board.


Bob, Mick, or whoever, this thread needs to be shut down.



Tim.

Gee PDXBlue,
 

In closing . . .

I have said often that "crossing a picket line is not a moral or ethical decision it is a business decision." That goes for ANY picket line crossed.

By crossing a picket line a replacement umpire allows the "business" of minor league baseball to continue. Crossing any picket line (say a grocery checker line) allows that business to continue.

You need a better platform to sully anything I have said than half-baked discussions such as you are bringing to this board.

Have the cajones to contact me in person the next time we see each other . . . yeah, I didn't think you'd have the guts to do that.

Regards,

So who's the sucker now? :D

I don't care who ya are, that's funny!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_216.gif

Well, with all the extra money I am making doing PCL, I could afford the expense!

I will just sucker myself right on down to the bank! ;)

Tim, I find it amazing that you are so hostile towards what I wrote. Try stepping back from your ego a bit, and read it all again.

Pdx, may your 5th post be your last!!

Bob P.

Don't count on it! I love bulletin boards!

:p

Bob:

We've picked up another one. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!!!



Tim.

Oh my...I hope you aren't implying that you are an AMLU member. It looks like you are you saying that you are a currently rostered Minor League Baseball umpire that is out on strike? Be very careful what you write.

Most people have jobs that they trained for in some capacity. Whether you pick fruit, wash dishes, wait tables or fly the space shuttle - all are qualified and earned the right to work those jobs.

For the record, the AMLU members ARE qualified and did earn the right to work those games - THEY SIMPLY CHOSE NOT TO WORK THEM!!!!

Really, a better point is that since the AMLU doesn't want to work, I am now QUITE "qualified" and earned the position!

:D

Funny, that sounds just like another person I know.

Peace

* THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT SPRING ASSIGNMENTS.

* THEY CHOSE TO WALK OUT AND ABANDON THEIR RIGHT TO THOSE GAMES.

* THEY CONTINUE TO MALIGN AND TERRORIZE THE REPLACEMENT UMPIRES.

It sounds like the amateurs may be more professional - they honor their contract and complete the job. They don't discredit their position, no matter what you say. They recognize their place and value the game.

I reread what you wrote (not said). You implied that you are trained and earned your job and made specific note of the AMLU gang. I'm sure that others read that the way I did. You are a wannabe and neverwillbe; you aren't that clever. Your history proves that you don't move in successful circles. That's too bad, a little achievement might have made you not so bitter.

You make great efforts to sound intelligent in your post, and yet you fail miserably every time. The only wannabe here is you, you wannabe smart, you wannabe in the know, you wannabe in the game, BUT YOU ARE NOT! The system worked, in weeding you out of the game leaving room for quality umpires who know how to handle themselves and don't run their mouths only proving their foolishness like you always have. Look up if you wish to address me, I "move in circles" a few rungs above you now on the umpire food chain.

I did NOT post from a "look at me" position. I posted simply to clarify to Tim, who seemed to think he knows why I crossed the picket line, exactly why I did.

Also, if you go back and read very carefully, you will find NOWHERE that I made ANY claims about my umpiring skills. I simply stated that I wanted to see if I was "good enough", and might have made it in pro ball had I pursued that path. That is ALL I said. No claims about my quality. Only that I saw this as an opportunity to see where I am at in the realm of things.

Some of you guys can't seem to get a handle on that, and think that I am the type that has to go around "bragging" or what not. Indeed, I took some liberty and appeared to "brag" after the vicious, and unwarrented attacks by a few. What is funny is that NONE of you, except Tim C know me, and have absolutely no clue what you are talking about when you start discussing my attitude!

I can tell you this. The pdxbeavers crap is simply that, crap. Some of the situation described are totally inaccurate to what really happened out there. Anybody using a fans blog as a accurate meter as to how the crew did is just plain ignorant and silly!

What is amazing is not ONCE has anybody asked me what I have thought about the quality of the officiating of the games I have done. Everybody assumes that I somehow think everything has been perfect and nobody needs to improve. Let me tell you something, I did not get to the level or umpiring where I would be considered for being a "replacement" ump at the Triple A level because I am unrealistic about the job I do, or the job my partners do! I know my strengths and weaknesses! I have sat through many post game reviews from ex pro umpires and have had the obvious to the most subtle things they felt I am doing wrong pointed out to me.

I am glad I am doing what I am doing. It has been a tremendous challenge, and will only make me a MUCH better umpire. For your information, I feel I have done an adequate job out there! :)

And to touch on the original subject again, which was WHY "I" crossed the picket line.

If it was a "business decision" on my part, it was a VERY poor one! On afternoon games, I pretty much can't work that day, and I make about 1/3 to 1/4 doing the game as I would working my regular job! Business is about money, and in essense, Tim C is saying I crossed the picket line for money.

That is not true.

PDXBlue:
 

Following your request I went back and read EACH post in this thread.

I read (trying to surpress my ego) what you really said and tried to decide what you really meant. That is what you have done with my column (it is not an "article" -- "Strikes & Outs" is arguably the oldest column of any type on the internet) and my thoughts.

Strikes & Outs is an opinion piece. Since I sign my real name and have my picture (out dated since I am soooo much thinner now) attached it is obvious that everything I write are my feelings about issues. I do not use your specific example as a starting or ending point . . . my audience is much larger than a local Portland Umpire.

I guess my issue is two fold:

1) I guess my poor writing skills have confused what a "business" decision is and how it affects any umpire. PDX, it is my opinion, that working a game to "test" one's ability and grade oneself is a "business" decision. The "business" is the process that you are following to evaluate your abilities as rated against other umpires and other levels of baseball.

That is a "business" decision.

It isn't always about the amount of money involved. Since you know me you recognize that I feel your pain in giving up part of my work day to umpire even high school baseball -- it costs me money to umpire a high school game also.

2) My second concern about your posts is that you continue to take shots at me that are personal and not important to others on this board. I am fine with you bringing the basic issue to this thread since my column is public your concerns should also be public. My concern lies in that fact that you don't have the professionalism to even send me a private e-mail from my reftown address or even send one through my officiating.com e-mail.

Tonight you have an excellent opportunity to talk with me face-to-face. Better yet you can talk with me Saturday morning at the mandatory 3 man clinic.

I tried previously to step away from this thread and I'll try that again now . . .

Regards,

...
 

You speak as if there were some qualifications for scabs who were to work this season. I watched a little league umpire with no high school or college experience work a AAA game just the other day, no one could even think to say he was somehow qualified to work at that level. You act as though it says something positive about your ability to umpire to have gotten a phone call to scab. MiLB themselves has pretty much admitted that they just looked for warm bodies in blue shirts. If anything, getting such a phone call is really proof positive that you are not good enough to work that level of ball. How many phone calls did you receive last season to come work in the minor leagues? To say you wanted to see if you are "good enough" is a joke. You aren't doing the real job, and even with that aren't doing well. If you want to find out if you are good enough, sack up and go to Florida in January. Spend the money, the time away from home, the bad hotel room, bad food, aching muscles, etc. to see where you come out. Bottom line, you know you don't have it in you. If you did, you would have already taken your shot. But you didn't, and now you are trying to justify being a person with no integrity and poor character. You are willing to hurt a fellow man in blue, one that did have the guts to put it all on the line to pursue the dream, just so you can ease the pain of being a coward who never stepped up to take his shot at making it. If you have chosen to scab, fine, but you should do so quietly and in shame. Bragging about having accomplished something by working as a scab just highlights what a coward and a fool you really are.

pdxblue
Registered User Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 10

So, Tim C

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In your last "blog" entry, you made the following comment:

Crossing a picket line of a strike is neither a moral or an ethical decision. It is nothing more than a business decision.

I disagree.

I would "scab" for FAR less money than I am being paid. Indeed, I would not work PCL games for free, but, I would not work ANY level of baseball for free.

Indeed, my decision to "scab" wasn't based on morals or ethics in any direct way.

Simply, it is an opportunity of a lifetime to umpire the best baseball I will ever get to umpire.

It is also a chance for me to get an idea of how good I currently am, and how good I might have become had I made different decisions many years ago concerning my umpiring career.

I just thought you should know.


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#9 Yesterday, 06:39am
pdxblue
Registered User Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 10

When the regular umps come back, I am SURE we will never see a call they make contested!


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#10 Yesterday, 07:58am
Tim C
Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,510

PDXBlue

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well let's see:

I don't write a "blog" . . . I write a column which I am paid for.

Also, I don't understand your point other than attempting to clarifiy the "whys" of your decision to work. My column is VERY clear that all information about deciding to work (or not) is about my personal decision.

Last if you would read the entire column and just not the tease you might understand what the column is about and my position. You would also find that I criticize both the striking umpires and the replacement umpires: however that would take effort on your part and you rather sit back, hide behind a screen name and take shots . . . that's OK it just keeps my name and column in people's minds.

Again, I recognize that I probably work games with you in Portland . . . and that you are the source of complaint to our mutal assignor . . . for that I am sad.


I have copied and pasted PDX's comments on this thread prior to yours Tim.
I cannot for the life of me find a "personal attack" that you claimed he started. I think he wrote a well thought out rebuttal to your article or Column or blog or whatever, I find that you got very defensive and took a shot at his integrity re. reading the column and then claiming he is attacking you in portland with the ump in chief, or that he is a bad umpire that constantly gets complaints I can't tell. I think you have over reacted to this Tim.

Maybe you should have read between the lines. You would have found these three veiled insults that were unnecessary. If he just wanted to state an opposing point of view he should have left out the comments about Tim's ability to write as a professional. No, he came here looking for a personal fight, and like a little girl he chooses to hide behind an Intenet alias. I have little tolerance for cowards.


Tim.

Who's the fool?
 

I doubt very seriously if that is true. In fact I think it qualifies as a lie.


Why would you say he's not doing the real job? If he's on the field and getting paid it seems pretty real. Though you are certainly entitled to your opinion, usually the opinion that counts is the employers.

Who determines who is and who isn't qualified? The umpires or the employers?
Last year the owners had a different method of selecting their umpires. The selection process has changed for the moment. You can have an opinion on the process, but your opinion apparently has no impact.

The only good umpires in the entire country are only the ones who have gone to FL?
You talk like umpiring is equivalent to brain surgery. It's not
It's a worthy avocation for many, and probably a very fulfilling vocation for a few. It certainly takes time, energy, experience and drive to be good but going to school in FL is not a prerequisite to being capable.
Is a little league umpire a fool for wanting to ump HS? Is a HS varsity ump a fool for wanting to try the college level?
Why would an accomplished varsity or college ump be a fool for wanting to try his hand at the professional level?

How many HS games are the "pros" taking from the peasants?
Do the MiLB guys feel shame in taking games at the local level?
Because we don't have a union it's ok for them to come feed at our table, but replacements are scabs for going to their table?
It seems to me that they're striking because they don't have the guts to put it all on the line. They want the pursuit of the dream to be easier.

Who are you to try and put shame on a man pursuing his avocation?
There is no cowardice, shame or foolishness in umpiring a professional baseball game, instead, I'm sure it is a thrill of a lifetime for the replacements.
In the corporate world, if the guy above you gets peeved off and quits because he's not making enough, do you advocate that no one take the now vacant position in support of your "fellow" worker? I don't think so.
The replacement ump, unlike the union ump is on his own, lives or dies by his own deeds, doesn't have a union to file a grievance with when the soda pops aren't cold enough after the game. There is no cowardice in that.
In terms of foolishness, one man is living his dream relative to umpiring, another is watching from the cheap seats. Who's the foolish one?

Business/ Ego all the same
 

Tim might call it business, I call it ego and every good umpire has one.

However, I did find it quite interesting that you wanted to work these games to see if you are qualified?

That should not be a question for an umpire who is qualified - you would KNOW if you were able to work these games.

As you find working up the ladder, there's not a lot of difference, its all about pleasing the higher ups and dealing with the coaches and players.

As far as calling the games, I find its a lot easier to call higher levels than to call say HS or small college.

Thanks
David

I was with you up to the "union mans a coward" part.



Tim.

That was a bit over the top.

Yes, this is exactly the point. It is much easier to work higher levels of baseball. It's easier to work HS than to work Pony League or Little League. The higher the level, the better the pitching, catching, and defense.

I would love the legitimate opportunity to set up behind a Mike Piazza, for instance, rather than the catchers I get that just let the ball hit me every other pitch. I wouldn't even blink, much less flinch as I have seen some pros do. I have umpired many of today's major league star pitchers, so I know I can handle big league pitching no problem. And except for the occasional bang-bang play, the calls on the bases nearly call themselves at the top level. What a joy it would be to not have a nut-cutter on every other play!

ATI62 echos my viewpoint on the subject. It is not rocket science, and the schools in Florida are not the only way to become an excellent umpire. Some umpires have 1 year of experience 20 times, but some of us have 20 or more solid years of good experience, and are not the Smitties that guys like Jiggy seem to think we are.

Umm to call something a Blog is not a personal attack. It was giving his column a different title. A blog is not a bad thing. The rest of the commments occured after Tim attacked his integrity. He came on here and said in your ... this is my opinion. Tim overreacted to the Word Blog and made a fool of himself and attacked the poster, who then responded in kind. There a many many more qualified writers who have Blog's it is not a slam or a dig in anyway. But obviously you Tim's felt it was. Sadly you are wrong.

This jerk apparently knows Tim. That tells me that he knows Tim is a columnist. Maybe had he not put the word blog in quotation marks I would agree with you. But, for him to put that kind of emphasis on the word smacks of an insult. It would be like me asking you if you support your family with that "job" you have.


Tim.

Say hi to AL for me.

Whatever, I think if Tim was the Better person he often claims he is he would have ignored it and not looked at it like an insult. Blog's are all the rage now, and many wonderful people have them, Tim could have easily looked at it that way. But his reaction to the supposed insult is well over the top. And went much further than one should have. Even having said it is a column not a blog would have sufficed, the rest was a personal attack that was really unwarrented. Most top writers love to have people debate their writings, I think that he felt the need to respond showed equally that he respects the writing as the " " marks would show the opposite.

Perhaps instead of walking and talking so much you should hone up your reading comprehension skills.
As I read SDS post he said he'd like to be behind the plate with Mike Piazza.
When Mike gets sent down maybe your whining may have some validity.

My letters are bigger than your letters

Sorry jiggy I was being sarcastic and didn't realize you actually responded.
I take it back
until I read the response

I must say that after reading your responses I can only surmise that you are blinded by rage and anger because your arguments are so ridiculous only a madman can think they are credible.
I'm sure under normal circumstances you are much smarter than this.

Couple quick examples.
If I go to the bank for a job and they hire me, I apparently have the proper credentials. duh
The job the replacements are doing is exactly the same job the "scabs"* were doing.

Yes minor league baseball has set the standard for their umpires. Those that meet the standard are working daily.

I loved the response regarding your blatent lie. Since you are going to watch him again tonight that makes it true. Ok I buy it. If you go watch a third time I'd believe he was a German soccer player pulled off the field to ump AAA.

*Those former MiLB umps now taking work from the peasants

To save me the time of typing the same things over and over and over, please re-read all of my posts. Your statements here are inaccurate at best, I give you clear reasons why in my previous posts.

as far as the German soccer player...whatever...that was maybe the least important piece of information in any of my post- its true the guy is a little league umpire- whether anyone believes that- who cares?

ohh... and... MY LETTERS WERE ALSO RED I WIN!

One quick example:

The auto workers union single-handedly is to blame for the outsourcing of auto manufacturing to Mexico, and the loss of thousands of jobs. The pigheadedness and greed of that union is soley to blame for this happening.

Jiggy, only in a union person's way of thinking (the minority thought in this country) is being a so-called "scab" a bad thing. To the rest of the world, it is called doing a job that others have held hostage for selfish reasons. Yes, it is selfish to want more money than originally agreed to in a contract or agreement. They should be getting paid more, but that is not the point, which those with the "union mentality" do not see. Striking or walking off the job is not the best way to approach the matter, and you can't blame people for taking the jobs that you refuse to do, no matter the reason why.

Steve,

I agree with that statement...mostly. Calling balls and strikes and outs and safes, I have found becomes easier the higher the level. No argument from me...I've said that on various threads on various boards numersous times.

However, IMHO it is NOT easier to umpire the non-routine situations the higher the level. I find quite the opposite to be true.

I've never had to shut down a beanball war on anything but the pro level.

I've never had coaches/managers come out to argue on a call I clearly got correct because he just wanted to get tossed to fire up his team on anything but the pro level. (Where I could tell that was clearly what the coach was trying to do.)

I've never had dirt kicked on me or home plate on anything but the pro level.

I've never had a fight occur in a game on the amateur level.

And while I have had "heated" arguments with head coaches on the amateur level, I have not had one approach the level of "heat" in the majority of my pro arguments. Simply put...I've been called things on the pro field that no amateur coach that I've worked with has come close to saying.

Now, I know these happen on the amateur level...but I think, at least from my experience, that the number and severity of these non-routine situations is far less than in pro ball.

I have found that most managers in pro ball viewed me as the "enemy" or a "necessary evil", and that no amount of hard work or correct calls could change that.

I have found that hard work over the past few seasons on the amateur level has actually gained the respect of coaches and I'm not viewed as the "enemy"...which reduces the number and severity of non-routine situations.

I'm not making a comment about the strike or replacements or anything of that nature. God knows I've posted my views on other threads.

I'm just suggesting, based on MY experience (MiLB, NCAA (I & II), HS, Legion, AAU), that non-routine situations are much more difficult to handle the higher the level.

Others may disagree...and that's fine.

lawump,

Out here in San Diego, the intensity level at the Varsity HS level is very high. This area is heavily laden in talent, and there are scouts at most of the big games. The coaches here will kick the occasional dirt on the shoes, will try to get tossed to fire up their team, and we have had quite a few historical beanballs and bench clearing brawls, including one in the 1989 CIF Finals. It was started by the plate umpire not calling (or ejecting for) malicious contact when a runner did a Pete Rose number on the catcher. The next inning or so, the other team returned the favor by knocking the crap out of the catcher, and a bench clearing brawl resulted in I believe 6 or 7 ejections.

My point is that I personally have been nose to nose with some very good, highly experience coaches, and have yet to lose an argument. I realize that I am never going to advance to the pro ball level, but I think I could handle any manager, even Bobby Cox.

It is too late for me to ever work these higher levels, but I would love to go back in time if I could and give it a shot. In the meantime, I have my regrets to hold on to. I don't want to re-hash that trip down Memory Lane.

This axiom belongs right next to "the hands are part of the bat."

There is a reason we don't start amateurs at the D-1 level and let them work their way "up" to little league.

There is a reason pros don't start at the MLB championship level and work their way up to short season A.

And that reason is that that so called axiom is bullsh!t.

Our association was so short of umpire this year the we had first year rookies assigned to varsity ball. Their record was disasterous. AD after AD called to beg us not to re-assign rookie and one and two year umpires to varsity again.

Upper level games may be easier for upper level umpires to work, but they are not easier games for everyone to work.

Thank you, Garth!
 

You hit the nail right on the head, friend.

A good, wise friend of mine said recently that there is not a lot of difference in strikes/balls safes/outs and mechanics and rules knowledge between the top high school umpire and the D1 crew chief. The difference is in "little things" and in how the D1 ump handles situations. That differece makes all the difference in the world to college skippers.

Take this sitch- you are working a 13 year old BR game- around here, the first level of 90' bases. Those poor kids can't find the strike zone with a flashlight from two feet away- let alone 90. The defense is not so good and the catcher is practiced in the art of ole. In short, the baseball sucks, as far as baseball goes. Yes, it's hard to umpire, mecahnically. Yes, you will get creative with finding strikes where there aren't any to be found.

On the other hand, there aren't a whole lot of expectations of you as an umpire, either.

And I think the idea that "better baseball is easier to umpire" simplifies a complex idea too much. If you put a rookie umpire behind the plate while Greg Maddux is on the mound, one of two things is going to happen: (1) rookie is going to call none of Maddux' legitimate "paint-the-black" pitches strikes or (2) rookie is going to let Maddux expand the zone by six inches. Either way, the rookie is going to find himself in a world of crap in very short order.

Experienced umpires work big games. I think that's one convention that is as it should be.

Strikes and outs!

Willing umpires is indeed the appropriate terminology...not qualified.

This whole thread is pathetic. Not because PDX tries to justify why is his working as a replacement, but rather because he feels the need to do it on the bulletin board.

As for the reasoning, this will never give you an indication of whether you can make it in pro ball. You are not working under the pressures of supervisors who will release you if you don't have the skills. You do not travel and work 140 of 148 days. And lastly, managers and players are hesitant to truly argue because the fines and suspensions are much greater than years past.

If you want to justify what you are doing, why do it here? From a psycological standpoint, you obviously know that no one respects what you are doing. You are a sucker not only for paying the $50 to read Tim's entire column, but also because you have fallen for MiLB's ploy that the job you are doing is the same as the AMLU guys. I am not angry at your decision. but let me answer your question for you. You would not have made it in pro ball. As soon as the AMLU guys get a deal to come back to work, which is going to happen eventually, you will see just how much Mr. Mobley respects your abilities. He will never call you, just as was the case before the strike, until of course there is another stike in the minor leagues where he knows he could find "willing" umpires to work.

WWTB...I mean Jeff...how many times must it be said. Andy pissed you off, I get that. But these guys did not turn down these assignments. They are not unwilling to work. They are looking to keep their wages consistent with the increased cost of living in the US. Everytime you write that, I am reminded why you are so bitter with the AMLU. I have sparred you the embarrasment of identifying you on this forum. Maybe it is out of a sense of old school loyalty. But stop being pissed at Andy for the way things worked out between you two and look at what they are asking for. They are not being greedy. What they are asking for is an insult in any other industry. The difference is that they have so many other people that do their job as a hobby at the amateur levels that they are constantly dealing with egocentric personalities that think they are better despite being at a lower level of play.

Seriously, this argument is old. I may be new to the board, but I am not new to the game. The replacements are doing what they want to do and justify it. The AMLU guys are doing what they need to do to maintain their poverty lifestyle. This is not an argument, this is a fact.

Take it for what it is worth, I am a former AAA umpire who knows that I can works in the PCL today. But I also know what it is like to raise a family on that wage. Stop trying to relate living at home and working 2-3 games a week to what the AMLU guys do. It is not even the same sport in comparison.

And please do not quote me in a later post Jeff. If you want to refute my points go ahead. But I just hate the thought of my internet identity being in the same column of you or PDX where you are trying to diminish the AMLU profession while simultaneously attempting to justfy and promote the replacement's decisions.

Thank you in advance.

BA

[QUOTE=lorenzeugene]

You, dpierr, ask that I be fair to the "replacements" by not revealing a game report that pokes at the blunders of the pdx crew. But you ask in a way that pleads, "give em a chance to play out their dream shot." This makes me churn inside as I think of the point of view of the guys striking. They are the ones that had the guts to put their jobs on the line, and for what? Anything unreasonable?
I diden't mean it like you make it sound but in your point of view I aggree with you.

Willing umpires is indeed the appropriate terminology...not qualified.

This whole thread is pathetic. Not because PDX tries to justify why is his working as a replacement, but rather because he feels the need to do it on the bulletin board.

There are many umpires who are working as replacements. You paint with a mighty broad brush. I can think of at least a dozen that were formerly MiLB umpires. A handful have time in the Show. I would say that they are infinitely qualified.

I am also familiar with about the same number who carry regular D1 schedules and have done so for many years. Two of them work in the SEC and another in the Pac 10. If you work those conferences, you are familiar with any pressure that you will see as an MiLB umpire. The mistakes made in those contests not only cost you schedules but may blackball you in an entire area. I have attended a couple MiLB contests since the strike. I watched a crew that had only High School experience do a terrific job on an A field. Hell, the guys playing were only a few years removed from their Senior years themselves.

For such a pathetic board, the amateurs that play here have certainly found that the behavior of the AMLU professionals is reprehensible. PDX may find the need to justify himself to his peers, but how do Andy and the gang justify the Scab board at the AMLU site? For the record, getting access to that board is pretty easy if you know someone who lends you a password. Believe me, more than a few guys are upset at the way things are falling apart. They ARE speaking their minds and telling a story much different than the unified front that is being ballyhooed. They are passing along private messages and already discussing options. It can't last much longer...

Wow...All I know is my state (High School) instituted a mandatory $100 fine and one game suspension for a FIRST ejection of any coach, several years back. No questions asked. While that $100 means nothing to a pro manager, player, coach...it has done a great deal to shut down a lot of non-routine situations in high school.

I know a lot of our area coaches live in fear of that fine. $100 means a lot to a guy who is scraping by as a HS PE teacher with a little additional stipend for coaching.

Does it eliminate all coaches' ejections? No. Does it eliminate a lot? Yes. Does it eliminate a lot of the "nastiness" in the arguments that do occur? Yes.

The intensity level in our games is very high too.

IMHO, MLB could do the same thing if they wanted to. Instead of setting some automatic fine amount for an ejection, however, they could institute a mandatory minimum suspension. Tell a MLB player/manager he will be fined a certain amount for an EJ and he won't care. Tell him he's going to sit out a 3-game series or some certain amount of time for an EJ and he'll care.

Can anyone say hypocrite?

In your world PDX can't personalize an industry issue on the board, but you can pat yourself on the back for your so-called loyalty and personal issues with WWTB.
If WWTB wanted his identity known I'm sure he would publish it. You are a scumbag for the veiled threat of doing so (I don't even know if WWTB cares but since you think he does in your mind it's a threat)
Your unscrupolous attacks here are no different than the AMLU approach of intimidation and verbal attacks on the replacements.
The AMLU needs to bring some value added concepts to the table. The simplistic approach of declaring the replacements as terrible isn't very professional or effective.

I have never done pro ball so I am not speaking from experience But
There is a big difference between a first year ump doing competitive varsity games and a seasoned varsity ump doing pro ball.
From my perspective going from one level to the next is not much more than a mindset.
Calls are calls, arguments are arguments, it's a simple matter of knowing what you will tolerate going in, as well as guarding against intimidation. A first year ump has not had the experience of living thru blowing a call, getting blasted for it and the psychological impact it can have on you. He has not been mentally toughened up if you will. A successful varsity ump has the benefit of going thru that learning curve and surviving it.
IMO it has little to do with balls and strikes and everything to do with mental toughness.
Once you have your first good run in with a pro rat and you survive, you realize it's just another baseball game, I'm the boss and life is good, PLAY BALL!

To those who have had the experience am I oversimplifying it?

NIUmp50...I wouldn't say you are oversimplifying it. I would just say that A ball is not the same as AA or AAA. The biggest difference between pro and amateur baseball is that the pro guys are paid for playing. They have egos as well. One argument cannot be compared to another. Every time a manager came out to argue it could have ended in an ejection or a simple conversation. The point is, you can't say that you made it through a few games and you can handle it.

To put it a different way, my third year in the game I had 11 ejections. That was in Advanced A. My first year in AA I had 2 ejections. My second year in AA, now my fifth year in the game, I had 9 ejections. The point is, every day is a new day. The real truth behind this game is that even though you have 20 years experience you still see something new every day.

When it comes to the replacements (I have never called them scabs) I am saying that they do not receive any respect from the players and managers other than a thank you for working while the AMLU guys are on strike. They know you didn't earn that opportunity, rather you took advantage of it. Therefore, when they have a close play at the plate, they are already facing an uphill battle in trying to defend their ruling. So MiLB places an order down through the leagues resulting in greater fines and bigger suspensions to prevent the arguments from interupting the product to the fans. I am not being argumentative on this board, I am only giving you first hand knowledge of the way this thing works.

WWTB is right, there are a handfull of former MLB and MiLB guys working. But each night you have approximately 150 umpires working across the United States, the vast majority is what I am talking about. I have worked D1 and it is close to the level of A ball. But even your best D1 team would get blown away by a AA team. On your best D1 teams, Arizona State or USC, there are maybe a couple to a few kids that will ever make it to AA. And by the time they get there, they have their taste of the money and can see whether or not they realistically can make it to the show. This is the ego I am talking about. When they were in college they didn't have the same mentality. Balls and strikes, safes and outs...it is the same as A ball. But AA and AAA are different all together.

And I am not a hypocrite for not revealing WWTB's identity. I have never threatened him, I only was trying to catch his attention so that he knew I wasn't just another guy who was trying to cut him down. He makes some good points, and I relate that to the fact that he and I were once on the same track. But our lives took us to where we are today. What good will come in revealing his identity? If he wants you to know he will tell you. But I never threatened him in any way. I know the story of what happened with him and the AMLU. I don't argue it, I am also smart enough to kow there are two sides to every story. Here is a news flash, he is not working games, so maybe he has a little old school loyalty in him as well. You just can't judge a man until you walk in his shoes. If you walk in my shoes, you would have had to go to umpire school, travel for the better of ten years, and then retire. I have earned my right to comment on this situation because I know the difference of being on the road and working games as opposed to working 2-3 games a week and going home at night. I know this and so does WWTB.

As for the scab photo thing, I saw it too. I disagreed with it then and I disagree with it now. But I didn't make those decisions, the AMLU people did. From what I hear, they didn't vote on making it public. Someone decided to do it. It backfired, so they took it down. I too still have a few friends that I can get access through, but I could care a less. Those pictures may have been wrong to post, but the message was loud and clear that the guys working these games do not look the part. And in a game of perception, I don't care who you are, the majority of those guys are unqualified just by looking at them.

As I said, this is just my opinion from first hand experience. I do not agree with the decision to work as a replacement. But I know it is going to happen. I just disagree with people trying to diminish the AMLU guys for trying to remain at a poverty level of income. I am guilty of it as well when it comes to watching a MLB game and thinking "I can do that." But the problem is, after my experiences in the game, I know that I can get through 10-15 games without incident. Everyone knows I am new and I am not a full time MLB guy. But after while things change. There is more that would be expected of me. Eventually, it would catch up to me and I will be exposed as being less than qualified to be a MLB umpire. This is the same for a replacement in the minor leagues. I put the time in and got my answer. My last year in the game it was dificult to make ends meet. That was in the late 90's. Here we are in 2006, I can't imagine how the guys are doing it making what I made then. That is all. I am not looking to fight on this board. I don't call names and I don't take cheap shots. What I am writing is not biased, it is truthful. I can see that maybe through all the ballyhoo people have become more defensive rather than debative. Take it for what it is worth, an honest first hand opinion.

BA

BA,

I really don't think that anyone thinks that the AMLU guys don't deserve a better deal, and I haven't seen a lot of bashing b/c they are trying to better their situation.

I also worked the 150+ schedule and I know that it is much different than the 2-3 games a week in a couple of local parks, but where I think our thoughts differ is that the 2-3 games a week is better for the AMLU guys than the current contract. You said yourself that you retired after 10+ years and are happy with where you are at now in life, but for future MiLB umpires why can't they have those 10+ years be in a system that affords them the opputunity to live at home and earn a retirement in a normal job and work on their game until it is time for them to show what they know. If that were around when you, Windy, Jiggy, lawump and me where in we wouldn't have thrown away 35-45 years towards retirement combined. The former system had its +'s but a new system will aswell. The best part is the every current AMLU memeber can be apart of a new system and have a leg up in it.

Strike & Outs
 

Are any columns in the series older than this one? Does anybody know when it was written?

That wasn't from the paid site.

You may now resume jumping to conclusions.

CAL Ripkin
 

"On your best D1 teams, Arizona State or USC, there are maybe a couple to a few kids that will ever make it to AA."

The only ones I see drafted and making it to the show are all pitchers. Seems the college stars are known for striking OUT as much as hitting HRs. The position players got a BUM rap after Bob Horner fizzled back in the 80's. Great college players usually lose the FREE RIDE, never find the WOOD POP, and miss the NEW MAMAS. The PROS don't want to pick it back UP from the bottom, either.

Seems the good kids were drafted for their baseball talent or athletic skills right out of high school. College interferes with the REAL GAME and learning all about GRAVITY (sinkers, sliders, cutters, and 12-6 curves). The high school kids definitely have an advantage going to school early.

Another in a long list of petty insults by PWL. I doubt you could even comprehend the majority of what Tim writes about. After all, it is about umpring baseball........



Tim.

Wow. You are officially a hypocrit now BigUmp56.