A Primer For Going Pro

[fitump56]

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.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by fitump56

Sex - females need not apply

I wonder if Ria Cortesio would agree.


Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I wonder if Ria Cortesio would agree.

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. . . . . .

[justanotherblue]

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

[SanDiegoSteve]

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.

[DonInKansas]

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?"

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

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"

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

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.

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.

If you commit to doing the necessary things to succeed, you have a chance, no matter how slim the odds.

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.

[justanotherblue]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

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.

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!!

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

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

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

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by fitump56

Sex - females need not apply

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

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. . . . . .

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

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

or Pam Postema.

Anyone know of a MiLB umpire who is female?

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I wonder if Ria Cortesio would agree.


Tim.

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.

[mbyron]

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.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Although I don't share UMP25's political views...

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.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UMP25

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).