A Primer For Going Pro
 

By Pro, I mean MLB. Forget it, it aint' happening. Do the math. X spots with Y MiLB guys tryig to get there.

X = extremely few

Y = hundreds

Now, getting to MiLB is another thing.

X = a few spots

Y= hundreds

Things that are against you:

Age (over 25ish)
Race - the majority of umps are white.
Sex - females need not apply
Sexual persuasion - no comment, the post will be deleted.
Money - Better have some
Marriage - Nope, best not until later

Reality is a beach…with no shade.

I wonder if Ria Cortesio would agree.


Tim.

or Pam Postema. Or Art Williams. Or Charlie Williams. Or Emmitt Ashford. Or C.B. Bucknor. Or Eric Gregg. Or Chuck Merriweather. Or Kerwin Danley. Or Laz Diaz. Or Rich Garcia. Or Angel Hernandez. Or the over-30 year olds that get minor league jobs because they are good. Or all the married guys that get minor league jobs because they are good. Or. . . . . .

35 is the oldest I know of that went on to PBUC however I don't know if he got a job in MiLB.

Although umpiring is "baseball's narrowest door," I feel that it is wrong to discourage anyone from pursuing their dream by focusing on negatives such as artificial, man-made barriers such as age, sex, and race. I say "GO FOR IT" and don't look back. I listened to negative garbage, and decided against going to pro school, and have had to live with that regret. If you commit to doing the necessary things to succeed, you have a chance, no matter how slim the odds.

A few weeks in Florida in January immersed in baseball and great learning is tempting when buried in snow, chance at a pro job or not.

What's next? "You suck too much for LL ball?"

Originally Posted by fitump56

Sex - females need not apply

...Or these are females? Learn something new everyday. :eek:

Note the part you didn't quote about "Better have money"

Sigh :confused: Nowhere did I say not to goferit. I simply made a post regarding the REALITIES of making it to the pros.

Let's put this into focus. Married at the time? Children? Willing to live on less pay than will meet your annual bills? Off season, more temp jobs, no security, who knows if you are going to be back? Pro umpiring is a temp job. Now ypou got two. Or three. Or more.

If not, batchelor days, do what you want with them.

A blind pig has a chance to find an acorn too. He's damn well committed, he's a hungry pig. And he is always starving to death.

35? :eek: No kidding, that has to be the top age. Best of luck to whomever.

Anyone know of a MiLB umpire who is female?

Well, you know, we do! Because all us umpires are in it for the money, right?:rolleyes:

And for female MiLB umpires, I give you Ria Cortesio. Top ranked AA umpire according to their rankings. Worked the Futures Game and the HR Derby last year.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/n...milb&fext=.jsp
http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/03/29/UU3Xb3cE.jpg

I agree that very few who attempt this career make it. And, those who are thinking about attempting it should know that.

I don't think that race or sexual persuasion enter into PBUC's decision at all. Sex and age probably do a little.

Money and marriage don't affect PBUC's decision, but might affect the umpire's willingness to stick it out over the long haul.

I may be wrong, but I thought Ria moved up to AAA this season and has a solid chance at replacing Froemming next year.


Tim.

Cortesio is in AA and has no chance of replacing Froemming. She hasn't even done a fill-in replacement job in the Majors, so why would she be considered for a permanent position.

Actually, Ria is the top ranked umpire in AA ball; currently assigned to the Southern League. In addition to umpiring the Futures Game in Pittsburgh last year, she was a Spring Training umpire for MLB this past Spring.

She is also the only female currently working in the Minors; which is the very reason why she would be a prime candidate to replace Froemming. There's also an expected 6-8 umpires that would be retiring within the next 5-10 years.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ria in the Majors within the next several years.

Jerry

Like I said, I may be wrong and apparently I was. Though if my memory serves me right there was an article on Ria where she discussed the possibilities of her suing MLB if she was released without being given a shot at the show. Again, I could be wrong, but I'm a big enough man to admit it when I am.


Tim.

By Ria's own account, she knows that she'll move up to AAA as soon as an opening occurs. From there, she'll be scouted by MLB and, if all works well, could be selected to be a fill in for regular season games in a year or two. From that point, it's only a matter of time that she'd be selected to work full-time for MLB. Her best-case scenario, puts all of that happening in 2009 at the earliest.

She's only 30 years old; so she still has a couple of years to get the experience that she needs.

Jerry

BTW...as of last week I was told that no one will be "replacing" Froemming. MLB has 70 permanent umpires. They desire to go back down to 68. Basically, three MLB guys need to retire in order for a AAA umpire to be promoted to the permanent staff.

I went to JEAPU at the young age of 48. I'm glad I went. If you truly want to umpire at any level...GO!! In the midpoint interviews, I was asked if I would accept a job if offered. I would be lying if I didn't have that goal in the back of my mind when I signed up, however I told them no, I wouldn't accept a position if offered. My main goal is and was college ball Why, because reality told me I could have possibly (and I say possibly cautiously) made it into PBUC, I was doing very well at school. I worked my butt off and it showed. To spend 12 or more years in Milb, and if I was good enough, to make it into the show, I would'nt be able to put in the time MLB would want an umpire to work. Reality, I was too old and knew it. But I did well at school, learned a great deal, only to find out, that what I learned in school doesn't work in high school ball according to my assignor. Depth perception runs very deep here and my nose is and will remain clean!!

Yep,
 

While I seldom agree with Mr. Kaufman the people that I speak with at minor league levels have told me the exact same review of Rita.

I was also told that it was her base work that held back significantly.

This has been a very difficult year for A and AA umpires. Several have all ready "self-released" themselves after reviews.

It is the nature of the profession.

Regards,

During my time in school, it was truly inspiring watching some of the kids work. They truly stood out, mostly second year attendees, they were fun to watch. I make my mistakes, and know it immediatly, the "Man in the Mirror" holds true for me every day.

The reason I didn't go for it in my life wasn't as much the astronomical odds of actually making it to the MLB level, but the years of hellish existence one must endure on the road to The Show. Driving from city to city, living out of your car, considering ratty motels to be a luxury, and having nothing in the way of savings left at the end of a season isn't my idea of a career path.

Tim,

Sorry big guy - your waaaaayyyy off on this one!

Ria is still in AA. She is next up on the list for the next AAA slot.

So far as MLB openings, let us not forget there are two full-time umpires currently carried as "Rovers" (Hallion & Hickox).

The way it works is a AAA umpire works 1-2 years with good reviews, then is invited to MLB spring training. If they do well there then are invited to AZ fall league. If that goes well they get a shot at regular season MLB fill-in.

My understanding is every AAA crew has at least one umpire that has at least gone to MLB spring and are available for an emergency call up. the regular fill-in's and two rovers handle vacation and long term (Injury, etc) fill-in spots.

I suspect Ria will get to AAA this year, or next spring at latest. Don't forget she had a serious injury and missed several weeks last year & likely needs much of this year in AA to catch up.

One has a far better shot of getting into a D1 conference than making AAA. D1 umpires make more $$ for less work & far less BS too.

My info was as of 2006. It's all I could find at 5AM:)

What are the chances that MLB is the 2nd major pro sport to have a female working as an ajudicator?

• NBA = Violet Palmer
• MLB = all male
• CFL = all male
• NFL = all male
• NHL = all male

I was 34 when I went to Harry's school. He said, "We'll hire you but you'll die in Minor League baseball." I said thanks, went home, and called every college within 100 miles of home. They all gave me a look if I was willing to do a Fall scrimmage (for free), and the following year I did three Bg Ten weekends (yes, I was very surprised - I'd hoped for a couple of non-conference dates). Since then I've literally been all over the world - this month USA Baseball is sending me to a tournament in Venezulea - and have reached about the highest level an amateur umpire can attain - a full D1 schedule with post-season tournaments.
Was it worth going to umpire school at age 34? Oh, yeah. It's been my whole life. Go for it!

A very grateful
JJ

:D At least he was honest and funny.

Great experience. Gee, how things would have been different if Harry had not put you straight. ;)

Hmm, and Palmer is superb IMO. Yep, mostly an all Boys Club. I sure hope she isn't part of the upcoming NBA gaming scandal.

Add to that, zero power to influence this meager existence (see MiLB strike debacle)....

I hope she makes it but it doesn't change the stark realities.

I would like to think that is the case but what I believe is the case is comparisons. Would you as a PBUC guy want to take the chance on a married man or an unmarried man given the long, low incomeless years in MiLB including the time away from home?

By money I meant money to go to the various schools, travel etc.

Sexual persuasion? What do you really think the realities are there?

Race? What do you really think the realities are there? Especially with the incoming Latino/Spanish players (fans) and lack of black players in the farm systems (by %)?

As I told one aspiring, young ump, "point of the pyramid".

Who did you speak with that made you come to this conclusion?
Following any dream requires sacrifice, barring winning the genetic lottery.
Do they ask? Is it on the test? Not everyone is Big Gay Al from South Park.
It's not their fault more don't apply. If there were more to choose from, you'd probably get a higher percentage.

*Hey look! I didn't have to make 5 posts to quote multiple times!

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by fiuimp56
I would like to think that is the case but what I believe is the case is coparisons. Would you as a PBUC guy want to take the chance on a married man or an unmarried man given the long, low incomeless years in MiLB including the time away from home?

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Con(clue)sions don't have ???? at the end of the sentence.

AWWWWWW BOB! Dang it.

If anyone believes she's where she's at for anything BUT her gender, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell him. From the many people to whom I've spoken, Ria's "brutal," "awful," "a butcher behind the plate," and more.

This wouldn't surprise me about MLB and their political correctness run amuck.

Although I don't share UMP25's political views, I have heard substantially the same about Cortesio. Moreover, her 5 years in AA is extremely unusual: if umpires have not moved up to AAA within 2-3 years, they are usually released.

I applaud MiLB and PBUC both for giving her extra time to develop and for not advancing her if she's not good enough.

Political views have nothing to do with this, though. Ria's where she's at, from what I've been told, because she's of the female persuasion.

I gather that you grasp at least some of the political dimensions of this statement, since your earlier post complains about "political correctness" (whatever you think that is).

Political correctness does not mean some ideological point of view, for both those on the Left and Right can be guilty of being P.I.

sorry, socal. usually you and i are on the same page, however, this time you are off.

Ria was #5 at the end of last season. 4 guys were promoted prior to the mid season evals, leaving her on deck for the next move to trips. after the mid season evals she was reranked at #17. since then there have been a couple of moves, but she is well behind where she was when sitting on the next move. this is not to say, however, that she will not climb the ranks at the end of the seaon when the new rankings occur, so don't count her out yet.

Bobby,

We are on the same page. The change would be a result of the mid-season ratings, for which I did not have details at the time I wrote the post.

if you send me a $22 lifetime membership fee i'll keep you up to date better.

hehehe,
 

Trust me folks:

Both soCalBlue and Bobby are much, much closer to knowing everything about MiLB umpires than any of us.

Both have their thumbs on the official pulse of that group of umpires.

Regards,

tim,

with so much going on round here i never said thanks for the email. so, publicly, thanks. :)

oh, and i use my fingers cuz my thumb has it's own pulse.

My information is that this is the first year of mid-season ratings and rankings. As Tee said, in part, this has been the cause of several MiLB umpires self releasing. Why? If one has been in, let's say, AA for four or five years and finds himself ranked in the bottom half at mid-season, he may find it easier to leave now and begin the process of getting on with life rather than finish out the year and being released over the winter.

For those keeping score, I believe Jason Klein was the top rated AA umpire at the end of last season. He moved up to AAA this season.

[quote=GarthB] As Tee said, in part, this has been the cause of several MiLB umpires self releasing. Why? If one has been in, let's say, AA for four or five years and finds himself ranked in the bottom half at mid-season, he may find it easier to leave now and begin the process of getting on with life rather than finish out the year and being released over the winter.

[quote]

Or not being released. Either way, youthful exuberance wears off when you know you have hit the ceilng. The majority will and the ones who forego college or post graduate might find themselves late in life to choose an educational path.

Which is the point of my OP. Let them know the slim chances, the very, very slim chances of MLB.

Or you could read they gave special priviledge to a female. Females are not attracted to pro umpiring and pro umpiring does little to nothing to attract them. Keeping the "token" around is PC.

Garth,

Your right on the $$$. My partner was #1 and was promoted to AAA (International League).