The Rat Factor

[Canuck]

Call me a troll if you want - at least we can get it out of the way.

I like to lurk around discussion boards. It's a fun thing to do for an hour or so because they tend to demonstrate a whole range of human behaviour. Sociologists could perform fascinating studies just by observing what goes on at Internet message boards. A fascinating board is xoxohth.com, where stuck-up high school and college students discuss their greatness. One thing that I have learned in my surfing is that every board has trolls, big egos, and people like Tim C.

Last year I posted a legitimate message on this board. It was a very interesting question about baseball that could have led to some fascinating discussion. The thread received no chance because it did not directly relate to the practice of umpiring and because it related to a softball game. Following some brief periods of idiocy, I decided to delete the whole thread.

One thing I find quite astonishing is the attitude of some of the "Internet umpires" on this board and their use of the term "rat". Presumably this word relates to players and managers, but could justly be used to define any "non-umpires". This term is, to me, a disgusting way to treat those involved with the great game of baseball. This may just be my personal opinion, but isn't amateur baseball around for the players and, to a lateral extent, the fans. The game is not for the umpires. Without players, there would be no umpires. This is not necessarily the same the other way around. Without umpires, players would still find a way to play. What right does this community have to treat those whom the game is for as though they are some lesser species?

Another thing that fascinates me is the refusal of umpires to learn anything about scorekeeping, or the infamous rule 10. I would presume that you are all out there because of a love for the game, and for other altruistic reasons, and not to use the job as a way to stroke any ego you may have. With that in mind, why not learn everything their is to know about baseball?

Recently a poster went on a rampage about how they should be allowed to criticize managers when they made a bad strategy move. Did it ever occur to you that when a manager makes a mistake, it means nothing to the umpire? However, when an umpire makes a mistake, it could potentially mean a great deal to a manager? Let the fans criticize the managers.

Finally, I ask, how could an assistant coach not exist? They are people that exist on the baseball field that should be treated with respect. Is your status out there so high that this lowly rat does not deserve the time of day?