why Bruce aint on the crew
 

sportsillustrated says--

"• Even better decision by MLB not to use Bruce Froemming on the World Series umpiring crew. It's nice to see MLB stand up to the pushy Froemming, who has already been honored a hundred different ways by MLB in his final season umpiring and was never really punished like he should have been for calling MLB exec Cathy Davis a "Jew b----.'' Froemming politicked with higher-ups at MLB to be included on this year's Series crew. Perhaps they took quality into consideration in leaving him out.

Every once in a while S.I. gets one right.

You have always had this thing against Froemming. Any particular reason?

What do you mean, the anti-Semitic thing? Shouldn't everyone have that against him?

I have not "always had this thing against Froemming." Bruce was once a good umpire.

I was commenting about the statements S.I. made:

True.

Accurate

According to those I know with MLB, again, accurate.


His skills have not been what they were for several years. Some performances this year were just awful, definitely not World Series worthy.

I don't believe post season assignments should be based on longevity, service to the activity or "good ol boy politics" at the amateur or pro levels. I believe they should be merit based. If you feel the need to reward someone for X number of years service, buy him a watch or throw him a banquet.

Hell, I'd pay to go to Bruce's retirement dinner if it were accessible. He's had a hell of a career. He just, in my opinion, like many athletes, didn't know when to quit.
__________________

Regardless of what one thinks about Bruce, his abilities (or lack thereof now), etc., he should have gotten the World Series only if he earned it, and not because he felt he deserved it. Having been praised and received plenty of accolades this year, when is enough enough?

Are you going to "know when to quit?" It's hard to let go, believe me.

If I could still in any way physically umpire, I would be back out there in a heartbeat. I toughed it out for years with multiple health problems, but can no longer do it. I know many umpires who should have hung their protectors up years ago who are still going at it. Umpiring is something special to most of us, and the thought of giving it up never crosses our minds until it's past the time to stop.

As far as Froemming, they would have had to pry the indicator out of his stubby little fingers to get him to quit any sooner than he did.

Perhaps Johnny Carson explained it best when he was asked why he retired when he did, considering many believed he was still funny, relevant, and good.

He said it is better for a person to retire and have people comment, "Why did you retire? You still had years left in you," than to have people say, "You should have retired years ago. You no longer have it."

I think so. I have had several examples of umpires who stayed too long in the past couple years, locally. That's one reason I am treating my recent injury seriously. If I don't have the mobility to do my job at the level I desire, I will retire.

That's also the reason that even after reaching 50 I attend clinics and camps, work with pro's on mechanics and exercise. I know I'm at the age when many umires take their experience for granted and their skills begin to deteriorate. I take nothing for granted. I think umpires can always continue to improve.

I used that a few years ago when I decided to retire from another sport. I couldn't keep up with the 20-year-olds in a fast sport. And sure enough, people said that to me, adding,"You're as good as all those other guys out there your age still doing it."

While that was true, it's they who had made the wrong choice, not me. I miss it, sure, but if someone's on the edge, they should do what I did: Watch yourself on video doing an entire game. While I was "as good as all those other guys my age" I was embarrassed compared to what I used to be.

I have an adult son who is a top notch umpire and I work with him often. I wouldn't want to embarass him by going out on the field and putting him in the position (someday) of having to cover for my mistakes. I have told him that when he thinks I have reached the point where he thinks I'm not up to the job anymore he should not be concerned about upsetting me, and he must tell me and I will quit. Otherwise, I am sure that I would be one of those guys who will try and hang on too long.

Maybe the higher-ups at MLB did some politicking of their own. Considering what a boil on their necks Froemming has been at times over the years, they may have used this as one final "$crew you".

I have two sons, same circumstances. If they come to me, objectively, and tell me that it is time to hang them up. I will walk tall away from the game.

Fire one, disown the other. :mad:

Steve, I remember when you first announced in 2004 4Q that you were packing it in. Tim Haag (did I spell that right?) and I talked about it right before we opened Officials Unlimited's forum. Gordon represented you well, he thought it would be excellent therapy, you and I and Deej spoke about your health issues over the phone if I recall.

It must have been, you were back on the field in less than a month. :)

Kidding aside, I thought it was very gutsy of you. Hope you and yours are well, fires and health, life can be such a rough climb.

WJR

I have background in sports injuries, if I can be of help, please let me know.

Did you see the man at the end of the season? He took up the space between the batter's boxes. Talk about a wide body. 20 pounds? That would be impressive if it were the last 20 of the 120 he should lose.

Unless you're blind you had to see how slowly he waddled this year compared to even five years ago.


him and cathy?

From reading your periodic posts over the past few months I get the impression you conisder yourself an "insider." Most insiders get the facts straight.

From USA Today: "Three league officials told USA Today that they overheard a phone message in which the 33-year MLB veteran referred to Davis as a "stupid Jew *****."

Here's another gem: "Froemming was also fined in 1996 for going into the Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse before a game in New York against the Mets to get Mike Piazza's autograph. Froemming told Piazza that catcher Johnny Bench refused to sign baseballs for him once and proceeded to go 0 for 4 that day with three strikeouts."

I agree with Garth. Bruce was once a good umpire, but he hasn't been recently and he should be more than happy with the accolades he received at the conclusion of his career.

Your posts would be a lot easier to read, and lot more tolerable, if you could at least write them halfway correctly (all lower case? all one paragraph? :confused: ). They're exceedingly difficult, even in the grammar-careless Internet world.

What? What?

"the fact that what Bruce said was okay?" Calling Davis a "stupid Jew ***** was okay?

It makes sense now. I can see why you sniff Froemming's jock. You think it's a fact that what he said was okay.

Congratulations. You're the first on my ignore list.

MrUmp, you're misreading his post. He didn't say Bruce's comments were okay. The manner in which he wrote it does, however, appear to be a bit confusing.

I've had "TKaufman" on my ignore list for a while but had to go see what the fuss was about.

You may be right. He may be dumb enough to write the opposite of what he meant, but the wording sure could be taken for his belief that Bruce did nothing wrong.

If he meant to write "I didn't say that what Bruce said was okay" he sure missed the mark with "i said nothing about the fact that what bruce said was okay"

The fact that what Bruce said was okay....hmmmmm. Hard call. That's one problem with the internet. We really don't know the character of some of these folks.

People criticize your grammar not because it's supposed to be flawless; rather, because it makes it difficult to read and difficult to understand, the latter being quite important.

I never hear anyone criticize briancurtain or bobbybanaduck for typing in all toggle case letters. Their posts are equally unreadable. I think it has more to do with disagreeing with the content of his posts.

Well, I'm not one who is disagreeing with his posts, so that's not an issue with me. There are degrees of poor grammar, of course. Grammar that is poor enough to make something difficult to read is one thing, but when it makes a post truly difficult to comprehend, it becomes more than just an annoyance.

[QUOTE=SanDiegoSteve]Are you going to "know when to quit?" It's hard to let go, believe me.

MLB umpires make a good living so perhaps umpires at that level "hang on" because of the money and prestige.

At Bruce's age where is going to go to earn the kind of money he is getting from MLB. Obviously I do not know Bruce's financial issues, but it could be one of the reasons he "hung around' for all these years.

As for me I am looking forward to the day when I can call it quits. Right now with kids still to support the money comes in mighty handy, however, one's life is basically umpiring especially in summer ball where I am umpiring 6/7 days a week with a minimum of a double dip every Friday night/ Sat / Sunday

Each person will have to answer that question at some point in their life and the reasons vary.

Pete Booth

MLB Umpires' severance package and pension income is quite generous, Pete, so Bruce would have to be in one big financial bind to have wanted to hang on for $$$ reasons. Plus, he was making over $300K/year anyway due to his seniority and longevity.