Six Billion and growing
 

Did any of you read the press release from Selig about how well baseball is growing. This year, baseball earned six billion.. yes billion with a B. And yet, MLB still won't support it's MiLB Umpires.

I didn't.

Ditto.

MLB is in the entertainment business, guised in a sports wrapper. And as long as there is a huge gaggle of umpires willing to toil for less than nothing for the hope of making it to the show there's no reason for the owners to even deal with MiLB umpires. The lure of "big" money in the Majors has so far kept a ton of AAA and AA guys and gals willing to work for less, and have lots of folks waiting in line for their spots if they quit.

So, why should MLB do anything about MiLB umpries? It's a simple supply and demand situation.

This goes beyond simple supply and demand.

As I learned after I got of college and into the real marketing world, people (and in this case, organizations) don't always spend money because they have to; they often spend money because they want to.

In the second case, they have made the decision, for what ever reason, that it is in their best interest to spend the money. This can apply to such simple things as IPhones, in which case people often choose to pay more for the object than they really have to for some perceived benefit...convenience, a more reliable retailer....etc.

MLB will contribute more to the training of MiLB umpires when they perceive it is in their best interest. This is where, in my opinion, the former leadership of the AMLU failed its membership. They did not present a convincing enough case that what they wanted was in the best interest of both MiLB and MLB.

I believe the new leadership understands this.

You would think with MLB's rush to push back ground checks on the Milb umpires they would step up and pay up. It's my understanding that MLB took away several million dollars from the MiLb umpires several years ago. We all know it's pathetic what the Milb umpires are making. If MLB is worried about the integrity of the umpires at all levels of the game, what's supporting those same individuals with a living wage going to hurt? A couple extra million....peanuts.

Two questions here:

1. The background checks are simply a knee-jerk reaction to the NBA fiasco.

2. umpire development has gone through several significant changes over the years. MLB used to run UDP (Umpire Development Program). Due to some 'management problems' within the program, umpire development was handed off to MiLB. UDP became PBUC, with the MiLB leagues picking up the costs (MLB directly pays MiLB for the extra AAA fill-in umpires).

MLB indirectly pays for umpire development via the various marketing and cost sharing agreements with MiLB.

Properly funding umpire development would cost MLB peanuts. IMO the problem is simply that there is so little turnover at the MLB level that there is no real incentive to change. The current program produces high quality umpires at all levels, so why change?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it? Sounds about right.

MiLB doesn't pay its players much more than its umpires. Same reason: part of their compensation is a chance for the big payoff.

Just as a risk of harm is itself a harm, a chance of benefit is itself a benefit. It doesn't surprise me that MiLB has many qualified umpires who are willing to work under the current system.

And we should recognize that under the capitalist conception of fairness, the MiLB umpires have a fair deal: the contract between MiLB and its umpires is free of force and fraud, since both parties knowingly and voluntarily entered into it.

If you still think that their deal is unfair, given the $6B floating around above them, you might be right -- but that notion of fairness is not a capitalist one.

~Sigh~
 

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it? Sounds about right."

Couldn't agree more Mr. Byron.

If I were a club owner at the MLB level I would look at the fact that there seems to be a never ending cadre of young bucks that will take the chance to one day make the largest dance floor.

As far as I can tell every one of these new MiLB umpires know not only how "narrow the door" is but also how little money they make at the lower levels.

As long as the system is what it is, as long as there are new people entering at the lowest level, and as long as there is a VERY LONG apprentice program as an owner I am not sure you could convince me to invest any additional dollars in this development program.

When all is done an owner might think: "If I am 'happy' with the end result I see each day in MLB games 'why' would I want to change anything?"

And we all know how well minor league umpire strikes work.

Regards,

Points well taken. Now, if only I was taller, faster, and could catch, hit and throw. Wait, don't they make a pill for that now:D

And we should recognize that under the capitalist conception of fairness, the MiLB umpires have a fair deal: the contract between MiLB and its umpires is free of force and fraud, since both parties knowingly and voluntarily entered into it.

But . . . but . . . but . . . the agreement doesn't fit my conception of what's right. We need laws dictating what MiLB umpires should be paid. How can you feed a family of four on what a MiLB umpire makes? To the barricades!

I think we all agree, things could be better for MiLB umpires. They should be paid more IMHO, for the travel and work expected/demanded of a MiLB umpire, (or any umpire) yes they should. Regardless of the wages paid, there will always be a revolving door in the minor leagues. As Tim said, it's a very narrow door. With the lower third (arbitrary number picked out of the air for discussion purposes only) being dropped at each level every year, the door is/would always be moving. However, for those that do rise to the top, a living wage would be a just reward. The truth be told, this will never happen, it never has, it never will. Because the perfect game for us is one that were not remembered being on the field.

TEE the aforementioned is right on but are the owners / players "happy" with the current corps of ML umpires?

Every year you will have the normal whining and crying but this past year it seems as thought both owners / players were not happy with the umpires in general.

They complained that this "new crop" of umpires looks for ways to toss people etc. In other words more confrontational then their predecessors of years ago.

Therefore if the owners / players union is unhappy with the current umpiring system perhaps some change will take place. Doubt it but you never know.

Pete Booth

We do: its called the federal minimum wage.

(I'm not saying that that law is "fair" or stating any other opinion about that law for that matter...I'm just saying that there is a law.

Yeah, like being managed by an extremely overweight non-umpire who did nothing but drive his golf cart (with his son) all over Cocoa expo during the UDP camp and at the same time offering exactly zero umpiring instruction.

Its bound to have "management problems" when its run by an ex-rat.

Three points:

Some, including some ML general managers, feel the system is broke.

The trend over the past five years is that that never ending cadre is diminishing.

Which brings me to my first post. This is more than a supply and demand issue. As long as the owners perceive that it is not in their best interest to invest in the MiLB umpires, they will not. It will be up to AMLU to provide a convincing argument that it is, indeed, in ML's best interest to help out.

Attention: My previous post was supposed to be ironic. I was just trying to poke fun at airhead statists who believe in notions like "comparable worth" and think the government should set prices and wages. Thank you.

That too ... I was talking about a certain accounting discrepancy ...

Geez, I forgot all about that! I guess my impressions of him as a person stick out more in my mind than that! Wow...memories fade 10 years later.

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.

Shhhhhhh! Not yet.

And they tell 2 friends, and they tell 2 friends......
 

This must be the worst kept secret in the history of baseball. It wouldn't surprise me if a quarter of the posters on this board knows the secret.

Walt

I know. And it's been tough not saying anything these past eight months while others are talking. I guess how each person handled it depended on how he heard it in the first place.

what's the big deal?

Probably nothing now. But in back in March during an interview the news was accompanied with the request of "don't make this public."

They don't have to support them because the young guys will work for pennies for a shot at the "show" it's pretty smart business really

I don't believe it is a very smart business practice to treat employees like that considering how much of a commitment they are asking for. Of course the umpires going into pro baseball know how small their chances are of making it to The Show™ but I think better treatment of the minor league umpires would net a better "product" in the long run. This is not to say that the current group of minor league umpires is bad, I am not knowledgable enough to speak in that capacity. I am simply speaking from the perspective of a general business strategist.

from a $ standpoint it is absolutely smart business. why would they pay more or treat them better when they simply don't have to? there is a steady stream of guys every year that go to the schools in hopes of getting into the game, despite knowing full well what they are in for. the ethics of it all, however, leave something to be desired. if i were in a one on one battle with them a la billy madison, you can be damn sure i, too, would choose business ethics as their final category...

Speaking strictly from a monetary perspective, I agree it is smart business. While I recognize that the primary function of a business is to make money, I don't believe that is the only function of business. I also recognize that this is a fairly "new school" attitude.

"...I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." :D

fine work, sir, fine work.