Sooooooo....today was the first day...

[wsttxump]

This is a highly trained umpire. Check out the pic.


http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...TS07/606130425

No small ball, a staple of the Mud Hens' two previous wins over Ottawa, was necessary for Toledo to earn a 5-0 victory over the Lynx last night.

In fact, the long ball - a two-out, three-run homer by Mike Hessman in the opening inning - combined with a complete-game six-hit shutout by starter Chad Durbin to give the Hens their third win in as many games.

"What a great pitching performance by Durbin," said Ottawa manager Dave Trembley. "He threw all of his pitches for strikes, and we really didn't have a threat against him. He really had complete control of the game."

While the right-handed Durbin allowed baserunners in six of the first seven innings, he allowed just one runner to reach second base until the seventh.

In that frame Luis Terrero drew a walk, then took second on Val Majewski's single. Durbin struck out Brandon Marsters, but Hens third baseman Mike Hessman made a diving stop to keep Jason Bowers' single in the infield, loading the bases with two outs.

"He always makes great plays," Durbin said of Hessman's shutout-saving dive. "He's as consistent a guy [defensively] as I've played with my whole career."

Durbin kept his shutout alive by getting Eddy Garabito to fly out to end the seventh, then set down the Lynx in order in the final two innings. Durbin finished with a season-high 10 strikeouts and walked only two to improve to 5-3 on the year.

"[Catcher Brian] Peterson did a great job behind the plate," Durbin said. "We got ahead of a ton of guys, and the curveball was really good. We worked the ball away most of the night, and we came in when we had to."

Meanwhile the Mud Hens of-fense gave Durbin plenty of wiggle room by scoring four times in the first off Ottawa starter Brian Burres.

Kevin Hooper got things started by beating out an infield single, then moved to second on a single by Tike Redman before coming around to score on Ryan Raburn's single.

Burres seemed poised to end the threat when he got Ryan Ludwick to bounce into a double play. But Jack Hannahan worked Burres for a walk, and Hessman hammered a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left.

"That was a pretty good at-bat with two outs, and it obviously was the key blow," Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish said of Hessman's 12th home run of the season. "Hessman has been swinging the bat a little better."

Durbin's nine-inning completegame shutout was his first ever. He said the four-run cushion helped make the shutout possible.

"Knowing they're behind, and knowing I'm going to throw strikes, they're not as aggressive," Durbin said. "If we're down four, it's a little different because they take different swings."

The Mud Hens should have had another home run in the third inning when Raburn curved a line drive around the left-field foul pole with a runner on, but second-base umpire Chris Hubler overruled third-base umpire Joe Judkowitz and ruled the ball was foul.

Parrish was thrown out of the game for arguing the call.

Toledo added a run in the sixth off Burres. Hannahan walked, then was running when Hessman beat out a high hopper down the third-base line and raced to third. David Espinosa then singled Hannahan home.

[SCUMP]

Just A Dose Of The Real World Here Ctblu40......

Apply For A Job......any Job.....have Your Interview......(pro School)

Accept The Job With Its Hours, Benefits, And Yes Pay.......

Then When It Is Time To Go To Work.....stand At The Front Door With A Little White Sign And Tell Your Employer I Will Not Work Unless You Pay Me More Money.........

Hello Earth To Ctblu40........your Fired!!!!!!

The Amlu Undermined It's Self With Their Poorly Concieved Notion That They Are Bigger Than The Game......

And If Guys Working The Games Hurt The Amlu And Their Attempt To Hold Baseball Hostage......so Be It.......

If You Don't Like The Pay.......find Another Job.....the Game Will Be Just Fine Without You.....

I Guess That Was Made All To Clear Now Wasn't It???????

[SCUMP]

As For The Mud Hens Game......an Ejection Already.......say It Isnt So.......

Mr Hubler How Could This Happen.......i Mean The Integrity Of The Game Is At Stake Here......

[ctblu40]

Okay SCUMP, we'll use your example.
You've applied and have been hired. You are in your early 20's with no real bills to speak of. Time passes and you have worked for the company for 10 years. You've never received a raise, yet your employer is making more money now than ever before. You see everyone else in the company getting better compensation than they initially received (players, front office, evaluators, owners). You ask for a raise and the boss say's, "Sorry, you're not an integral part of the team that makes this business a success. Forget it. By the way, you need to start contributing more out of your own pocket for your insurance benifits."

So SCUMP, what do you do? You love your job, but you are getting hosed? You just say, "Okay... forget I asked?" If so, your a sap, and I have a job for you.

BTW- You can't fire me for striking because I was smart enough to join a union and even the threat of firing me for striking is an unfair labor practice!

[SCUMP]

No If You Are Not Happy With The Job, Hours Pay Etc And Your Boss Says No Raise....well Then You Must Decide Should I Stay Or Go??????

If You Are So Important The Boss Won't Let You Leave, But If You Are Not Quiet As Important As You Think, Well Then Grin And Bare It Or Hit The Road......

I Think Deep Down That Is What Hurts The Most For The Amlu.....

You Are Not As Important As Your Ego's Have Lead You To Believe!!!!

I Have An Idea.....start Your Own League.....set Your Own Salaries

Hire Your Own People......build The Stadiums.....open The Gates

Cause If You Build It.....they Will Come......but If You Strike......

Minor League Baseball Will Not Come To You!!!!!

[ctblu40]

So that brings us back to the question I previously asked, Can you concede that the SCABS undermined the AMLU's effort to improve their professional positions? I've answered you... why can't you answer that?

[SCUMP]

Yes You Might Be A Member Of A Union And They Didnt Fire You But They Also Didnt Meet Your Demands......

The Amlu Meet Theirs........

How Many Of The Union Guys Will Get Released After This Season????

I Can See The Letters Now......we Are Sorry To Inform You That Your Services For The Up Coming Season Will No Longer Be Needed....

But Hey There Are Lots Of Jobs Out There And Some Even Give You The Opportunity To Join A Union.....maybe When You Strike With Their Union You Will Have More Success.

Keep Your Little White Signs Handy!!!!!!

[SCUMP]

No The People That Worked Didn't Undermine Anything.....none Of The Men That Worked Were At The Table Negotiating.....

Once Again The Fearless Leaders Of The Amlu And The Arrogance That Surrounds Them Thought That They Were Bigger Than The Game And That They Would Shut Down Minor League Baseball.....well It Didnt Happen......

So Go Back To Work With A Smile Or Go Home......minor League Baseball Didn't Miss A Beat Without You.....now Did They?????

[ctblu40]

Okay... you don't think they undermined anything. I suppose that you wouldn't mind if someone came to your place of employment and offered to do your job for less money than you get. Then I'm sure you wouldn't be upset if your boss said, "If you don't work for x dollars less, you'll be replaced." You'ld just walk away or accept the lesser money with a smile?

[MrB]

ct,

Are you saying that the AMLU didn't get a fair contract? Then why did the accept it?

[ctblu40]

Mr B.
I'm not saying that they got neither a fair nor unfair contract. I'm saying that SCABs crossing their picket lines undermined their ability to pressure PBUC and MiLB to consider consessions.
65% of the membership ratified the contract, so the entire membership ended the strike. Fine. I just wonder how much they may have received had the amature ranks across the nation supported them?

[wsttxump]

Originally Posted by ctblu40

Mr B.
I'm not saying that they got neither a fair nor unfair contract. I'm saying that SCABs crossing their picket lines undermined their ability to pressure PBUC and MiLB to consider consessions.
65% of the membership ratified the contract, so the entire membership ended the strike. Fine. I just wonder how much they may have received had the amature ranks across the nation supported them?

I am curious as to why they should expect our support?? We do not ask for or expect their support when negotiating game fees etc with schools. When they work assignments through these schools we do not show up and act like idiots, make harassing phone calls or post pics of them. We do not have a website they has pay pal on it saying "Please support us". The AMLU believed that they were too important for the game to do without. The AMLU believed the replacements (scabs) whatever you want to call them, could not do the job. In both cases the AMLU was wrong. The AMLU can blame amateur umpires, fans whoever the hell they want to blame but it boils down to this.

They believed their leadership.
They overvalued their importance.
They want guarantees that have never been there.
They threatened and isolated themselves from the "amatuers" with their actions and words.

They were proven wrong and now it is everyone's fault but theirs. If you don't like the wages or conditions, fine. But take responsibility for what you have done, don't drag everyone into it and move on.

[ctblu40]

You personally did not ask for their support in negotiating game fees ect. I agree. But, consider the number of amatures asking them "Speak at our banquet. Speak at our clinic. Can you get me game tix?" All of which they (at least the small number I personall know) do without asking anything in return. Ask yourself if you have ever benifited from one of these guys.

I have personally been helped immensely to improve my umpiring by some current and former members of the AMLU. That's why I choose to support them.
I want to make clear that I am not nor have I ever been a professional umpire. I know quite a few and consider them friends. That's why their situation upsets me.

[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Originally Posted by ctblu40

Mr B.
I'm not saying that they got neither a fair nor unfair contract. I'm saying that SCABs crossing their picket lines undermined their ability to pressure PBUC and MiLB to consider consessions.
65% of the membership ratified the contract, so the entire membership ended the strike. Fine. I just wonder how much they may have received had the amature ranks across the nation supported them?

I will try to remain above the fray and answer your question. Of course the replacements undermined the AMLU game plan. So what? The didn't make a tactical decision, the were simply instruments to an end. The AMLU took a chance on a contract and then gambled on a strike when they couldn't improve their position. The only leverage they had was that they were too talented to be replaced. This bluff failed miserably. MiLB and PBUC knew that they could find umpires capable of working these games and they did.

In every battle (war, strike, marital conflict) there are always going to be things that effect the outcome. Some are out of your control and others, tactical blunders. If no one had come out to work those games, MiLB would have had to scrub the season, but honestly, that was never an option. Garbage, teacher and rapid transit strikes have been broken because of replacement workers. The MLB umpires went out on strike and they were successfully replaced. When you don't learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. The AMLU never stood a chance with this one.

You ask a final question about support. Not every amateur umpire crossed their picket line and worked. Yet, I read story after story that had AMLU spokesmen saying that amateur umpires are worthless. Their website was filled with tales of amateur woe. By the way, this was prior to the strike.

For what it's worth, were you ever offered a contract by PBUC?

[ctblu40]

WWTB-
To answer your question, no I've never been offered a contract by PBUC. I've never been to one of the schools (I would like to go just to learn though). I've never considered trying to make umpiring a career. It's certainly not a feesable line of work for someone with a family, travel more than pay playing a part in that.
I was offered to be a replacement by my college assignor, but declined for various reasons. First was the fact that my younger brother is (was, he resigned with the ratification of the curren contract) a professional umpire, second is that I have friends that are professional umpires, and lastly, because I am a member of organized labor and believe in supporting other organizatios.

I'm an associate member of the AMLU, and visit their website daily, and I have never seen these stories of amature woes that are posted. Maybe you could send me a link to one of these. The postings of amature woes that I've seen all occured while amatures were filling in as replacements. They were also mostly (95%) newspaper articles posted by the mother of one of the striking umpires.

Now for the "good job" that amatures were doing as replacements. I work with at least 7 of the replacements in my area doing NCAA and below and I can tell you that although they are good umpires, they are nowhere near the quality of every professional I've ever seen. Keep in mind that prior to the start of the season, MLB sent a memo to all of the farm directors and staff members in MiLB and specifically requested that they be "patient with and respectful of" the replacements. If the amatures were expected to do just fine, then why the need for such a memo?

I'm not posting here to bash the job the replacements did, I probably couldn't do much better. My real beef is that many upper echelon amatures think as if they are just as good as the professionals. This is simply not true. Every umpire, amature and professional, at any level needs to realize that there is always room for improvement. What caught my attention here was the initial sarcastic tone in the first posting in this thread. It seems as though this individual is hoping for the failure of others to validate his own abilities. To me this is a sign of some sort of inferiority complex.