MiLB jobs
 

The count so far would indicate that Evans Grads (ahem...including my son) took about 70% of the openings.

Matt will be working in the Arizona League.

Congrats!

Were you a pro school grad yourself?

Gasp....does that mean that the MiLB doesn't have age restrictions? :eek:

Doesn't the MiLB know that your son won't be qualified until he's at least 25? :D

Big <b>Ups</b> to your son, Garth. Hope to see him on tv in the Bigs one day.

No. Didn't take the opportunity. I started in 72 and had a couple of great mentors. I attend a very early pro clinic and began working college, as I like to say, before you had to be good, in the late 70's. I've also had the opportunity to do some minor league fill -n work, but nothing steady or of great significance.

I've attended several college pro clinics including the ABUA camp and a Gerry Davis camp.

But the highlight of that part of my career was attending an Evans Desert Classic back when it was a 7 and half day affair. What a fantastic experience.

My son started umpiring at 14 and by 20 worked the high schoool state tournament.

He attended Evans this year, graduated as an honor grad, went to PBUC and now he's getting ready to work in Arizona. Needless to say, I'm a very proud Dad. We're going to work a 19U select tournament together before he leaves.

Garth:

Congratulations Dad. I bet that you are just pleased as punch as well as you should be. Do not ever stop letting him know who is Number One Mentor is though. I hope he makes it all the way.

MTD, Sr.

To heck with you Garth! :D :D :D :D

Please tell Matt I wish him all the luck!

Oh all right, Congrats to you too!

[QUOTE=GarthB]The count so far would indicate that Evans Grads (ahem...including my son) took about 70% of the openings.

I'm surprised with the performance from the Wendelstedt grads this year. Twenty students from each school were selected and fifteen jobs were up for grabs. Only five from Wendelstedt made it... Harry told this years class that this year was the worst class he has ever seen. Can you believe that? Maybe that’s why the annual banquet was canceled this year.

[QUOTE=Bulldog]There have been additional openings since PBUC...the last count I heard was 19 openings..14 were taken by Evans Grads.

I saw Harry's students for almost a week after almost three weeks of school. I was surprised they were labeled the worst class, simply because it is hard to label a large group, but I only saw 3 or 4 students there who I would be willing to do a JV game with. All the instructors knew it was a weak group. So all Jimmy's supporters enjoy it, but basically it is the luck of the draw. Both schools do a great job of teaching.

And I'm a proud graduate of the worst class in Brinkman/Froemming history! Yea, worst classes!!!

Q: What do you call the guy who graduated dead-last from med school? ;)

LMan,

A: Doctor.

JM

Reminds me of something my grandfather used to say. Whenever someone would go on about what their doctor told them, he would say: "Remember, 50% of all doctors finished in the bottom half of their class."

Attaboy, Garth !

The kid didn't learn all that stuff at those great clinics.

Good job ! :)

Based on some recent interactions during the last month or so with me and members of my family:

I call him "My doctor".:D

hmmmmmm
 

According to some on PBUC's staff, Evans had 11 out of the first 16. I've spoken with two Evans grads who were picked up after that and they tell me there's at least one or two others.

Whatever. I have no axe to grind. Both Hunter and Jim have graciously agreed to work with me on my project about the history of proschools for officiatin.com. I'm sure the final real numbers will come out sometime during our talks.

As stated earlier, it varies from year to year. Both schools have good staffs and do a great job.

Congratulations to all who made it. If they never work another season they've gone far beyond most here.

And 40% of all sick days are taken on Mondays and Fridays.

Only 40%, I think it is a lot higher than that. And i do understand the satistics of it.

I see a malpractice suit on the horizon??? LOL

Way to go Matt!!! Ask Dad for one of those 'no limit' debit cards before you leave!!!

58.3 % of all statistics are made up.......

One of my alltime favorite Dilberts:

Secretary: "Boss, I just figured out that 40% of our absenteeism occurs on Fridays and Mondays!"

Boss: "What kind of idiot do they think I am?"

Secretary: "Not an idiot savant; they can do math."

[QUOTE=Bulldog]Happened with Evans last year - a below average class. When you consider two classes of ~ 200 ea it's bound to happen every so often.

Garth,

Congratulations to you and your son. My son graduated from Harry's last year and worked in the Gulf Coast League for about a month and was fortunate to move up to the NY Penn League for the last month and half. This year he got to work Spring Training in Tampa and is currently working in the South Atlantic League.

I know you are as proud as I am...it appears that you are well connected with what is happening in MiLB but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Mark

Do all umpires who advance out of Ump School move to "A" ball, or have people started higher than "A" and can or have umpires skipped levels?

Those of you who have been to umpire school in the last 5 years...what would you say is the average age? All of the pictures I see from the 2 schools...a lot of the umpires there look pretty young (23 or younger)...is that reality, or not necessarily...just curious

I went to 2 Class A MiLB games near where I live last year. First pro game I'd attended since I started umpiring 3 years ago (in my 50's). I watched the umpires (2 man crew) more than the players, much to the bemusement of my 20 year old son. I had front row seats close enough to count the BU's chin hairs. Both umps looked like kids right out of HS or college. I got curious about the subject and read a little. Seems like the lifestyle and pay factors work to primarily attract young unattached guys who are much more amenable to the low pay and the lifestyle. Then it's either move up quickly or get out because the pay/lifestyle are not attractive as these guys get a little bit older.

It would be interesting to hear about the lifestyle from anyone who actually umpired MiLB. Do you have to take bus rides to the destinations, do you ever get to eat decent food, etc.

I've read that MiLB isn't that great of a life financially and per diem wise until at least AAA...then of course "the show" is off the hook.

Hey that's cool! The WV Power is in the SAL - maybe I'll see him out there sometime!

SocalBlue1:


I would really appreciate it if you would quote properly and not make it look like I said those things about Harry's. If you can't, please edit your post to take my name out of it.

I have nothing negative to say about Harry's school and in fact, Hunter has agreed to help me with a project 'Im working on.

First year umpires are assigned to the rookie leagues and to the short season single A leagues.

(1) No. In the low minors, partners are paired such that one has (or can provide) a vehicle for the crew to travel around the league in, and the other does not have a vehicle.

(2) Only on the nights when Dennis Cregg (MiLB evaluator) takes you out to eat after your game. (He knows the best place in every town...and he pays)...otherwise, no.

The typical progression is: Rookie League, Short Season A, Long Season A, Advanced A, Double A and Triple A.

Most of the umpires in my son's year group are between 20 and 25 Years old. There is an 18 year old that has received an assignment to the AZL this year.

1st and 2nd year guys are paid $1,900 to $2,000 per month plus a per diem and the driver for the crew is paid mileage.

I take that back...one night in S/WB Greg Gibson's crew took my partner and I out for a great meal. Two years later, all 3 became MLBers. Not too many crews in the history of AAA that had all three become MLBers...kind of due to the "unique" circumstances of '99.

Garth,

Congrats to you and Matt as well. I'm very happy to hear he got the call. All the guys who attended the clinic with him were pulling for him to make it. Again, congratulations to Matt.

The clubs are supposed to provide a meal on game day. Often it is a hot dog, chips and cold coke delivered to the umpire's dressing room in the fifth inning so that by the end of the game it is a cold dog, chips and hot coke.

My bride and I have provided meals for some crews and the local association has taken crews out to dinner after games.

We've discovered that in early season they like to be taken out, but as the season wears on they prefer the home cooking.

Thanks Garth,

If your son ever gets to the Carolina League have him contact me when he works a Potamac Nationals game and my wife will cook him his best meal of the season.

Some guys marry into money, I married into food.

[QUOTE]Congrats Garth

Also, is it still true that once you get to triple A you have one maybe 2 yrs. to make it and if you are not chosen you are let go?

The reason I ask, is that my assignor had a friend that made it to Triple A. He worked there 1-2 yrs (can't remember the exact time but it wasn't long) and simply received a letter in the mail that stated

Therefore, in your article perhaps you can also cronicle what happens to umpires after triple A who do not make it. Do they have to start all over again?

Pete Booth

Pete:

I don't believe there is a set number of years one can work in AAA ball. There are many factors, their rating (performance), age (don't tell anybody) and the timing of opennings and projected opennings among others.

I know of umpires who have spent five years in AAA and were released.

Timing becomes as critical an issue as talent. If you've spent 13 years in the minors and are approaching 40 years old and there are no projected oppening in MLB for four or five years, chances are you're done. There are a lot of younger guys below you who have developed and deserve to be moved up.

It isn't a particularly gentle or kind business. Matt has his eyes wide open. When he first decided this was what he wanted in live, he read Rick Roder's, "The Narrowest Door in Baseball." He then went to several pro clinics and camps and talked endlessly with A, AA and AAA umpires about their experiences and lifestyle. Some of the friends he made were later released and some self-released, so he knows about that reality.

He wants to give it his best shot. I'm proud just that he was willing to go for it and not settle for having a regret later in life for not trying. We've had some talks while he was growing up and he knows that his dad had a couple of opportunities (not in umpiring) that he didn't pursue because he was comfortable where he was and wasn't willing to take the risk necessary to reach for the gold ring. I've always been honest about the few regrets I have about that and have encouraged him to be braver than his dad was.

Thankfully, he is.

Garth- Did he find that Rick's book helped him? I've read it because I'm looking to follow in those footsteps in the next 2-3 years, so I'm trying to get a handle on people I assume are around my age and see what they've done to get themselves where they are.

I believe what it did for him was let him know that the odds were stacked against him and to be realistic and accept whatever happens. As far as being any help to succeed....no.

Be prepared to be asked to come back to umpire school again...for the low, low price of another $3,500.00

That's if you don't make it to PBUC or get a contract. I don't believe released umpires are encouraged to start over.

I know Balkin' Bob went back to proschool after resigning from MLB and deciding he wanted his job back...but that's a little different.

That is good that they don't encourage people to come back...that could become a business ethics situation. But I say...huge props to anybody who goes...I've heard it's live changing. (assuming you love baseball and umpiring)

Let me say this about the cost of proschool. When you consider the time of training, the number of instructors, meals, lodging....I think it's a bargain.

It's a bargain if you have $3,500 as a 19 yr old kid...not many kids have that amt of cash...please understand, I'm not ripping ump school at all...but where I come from, no matter how you look at it...paying $3,500+ for 5 weeks of school, plus whatever anybody makes as income for 5 weeks makes for an expensive school...whether the person working doesn't work and takes an unpaid leave from his/her job or takes 5 weeks paid vacation w/ no vacation left the entire year...All I'm saying is the tuition is probably the least expensive part of umpire school...

True. But, as Jim Evans says, those who sacrifice the most to chase their dream usually do the best.

Matt lost his car in an accident and chose to use some of the insurance money to go to proschool instead of buying another car. He learned how to get around on a bicycle and public transportation whether it was to school, work or games.

He saved enough to attend the Florida Classic prior to the five week so he could brush up a bit.

He moved out of his rental in Tacoma and we stored his stuff so he wouldn't have needless expenses while at school.

All he was promised was that his mom and I would buy him an Academy class ring if he was an honor grad and a new professional equipment bag/case if he got a contract.

The ring arrived today. I'm ordering the bag Monday.

I guess what I'm saying is that if it is truly that important to you, you'll find a way.

Good luck. I hope you do well.

I agree that there's always a way...just depends on if you want it or not.

We had a young man in my area attend Jim's school this year and was hired. He has to head out east in late May or early June.

this is great news, garth. congratulations to your son, and to you

Again,
 

I apologize for entering this thread.

I have known Matt for seven years. I have attended two clinics with, been on a private list serve with him and have watched him grow.

From now on when I hear a whiney umpire talk about how the schools try to get you to go a second time I will laugh and nod knowingly.

You know how you make it in one trip?

When you go to a clinic and are standing in line waiting for your rep you know what you should be doing. PRACTICE.

Practice anything!

I watched Matt just stand in lines and practice his "out" call.

I watched him practicing the steps we were gong to be asked to do.

When you go to five week school and your sitting in one of the dorm rooms drinking beer -- you know what you should be doing?

The guys that make it are the guys outside under the street lights practicing pivots, steps, cross over, opening the gates.

They ain't drinking beer and bull$hitting.

I knew Matt would make it because, even at his young age (and horribly young LOOK) he made IT the priority of his life. He didn't talk about it -- he DID IT.

Matt attended a couple of professional weekend camps (one a three day Evans) as Garth said he went to the week long Evans camp and then went to school.

At school he was a no nonsense attendee.

I doubt if I will ever listen to the whiners again.

Regards,

Tim, I couldn't agree more, I put the feelers out there with that posting...I wasn't implying anything. I haven't been to umpire school, nor have I ever claimed such. For the most part, in pro ball, the guys that get selected are good. period. at least in baseball, it doesn't appear to be as much of a good ol' boy network at the top as it appears to be in other sports NBA, NCAA basketball/football, and the NFL. I realize it's not that way for every guy...but I bet many of us know people who are/were good enough to make it and didn't for whatever reason...that's all I'm saying...as a former public educator in our nation's school system, I will never, ever chase a person away from chasing his/her dream.

Garth,

I wish I could be back in Spokane to personally congratulate both you and Matt.

Dave York

I know a couple of guys who went to Wendelstadt's. One of them went again two years later, the other one said he wanted to go again but ended up not doing it. Both of them claimed they had been told they just missed the cut and were encouraged to come back to try again. One of them, the one who did go back a second time, I could believe he was close to making it. The other, not in a bazillion years.

I draw no conclusion and make no generalization, but the above is true and accurate.

Thank you, Sergeant. When is your tour up?

My congratulations to Matthew. At least one Benham will have sharp mechaincs. :D

I hear also Adam is graduating down in Manhattan. If you're coming back for that what are the chances you'll get to Rochester?

Let me know. First couple are on me.

Garth,

Nothing negative intended at all. Simply an observation that class quality is not always even between the schools.

Best of luck to your son!

Chris,

Any clue where to get one these days? A close friend just made to AAA (IL) and can't fine one (His finally died).

Is this the one you're looking for?

http://www.ebags.com/products/index....eid=NXTAG00001

Garth,

Looks like I won't be back until June 09.

DY

Too bad...we could use you, Dave.

But look at the bright side...by then you'll be an E9, retire with a good income, and get rehired by the Air Force as a civiliain doing the same job for twice the money.

Check your email.