Schools Out . . .

[realistic]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Correct. A fellow umpire in my organization told me how much he's getting paid -- it was "per month."

That said, I still make more at my full-time job than he does umpiring. I don't know if there's any extra benefits (medical, dental, etc.) he gets for free, so that may tip the scales his direction.

I seriously doubt there is any insurance included as these umps are not in pro ball yet. I can't remember if short season umps actually receive insurance.

There are benefits in working about 3.5 to 4 hrs a day excluding travel and drinking beer/carousing late into the night does not interfere with your work schedule.

[realistic]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

The rates listed are no exactly accurate. MiLB umpires are not paid per game; they are paid per month.

Try multiplying the game fee by 30 and see if that is close to the monthly fee. 2100 to 2300 per month sounds about right to me. That is 70 to 75 per game.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

The rates listed are not exactly accurate. MiLB umpires are not paid per game; they are paid per month.

Correct, they are paid per month. However, I took several articles that quoted the rate per season for senior umpires at each level, AAA-$15,000, AA-$12,000, A-$10,000 and short A-$5,000 and divided by 140 which is the number of games in a MiLB season. This gave me the fee per game for each level. AAA-$107, AA-$85 and A-$71. Since all the amateurs are paid per game, I wanted to show the per game fee for MiLB. Also, only the full season (A,AA,AAA, not short-A or Rookie) receive the health benefits package.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by tballump

Correct, they are paid per month. However, I took several articles that quoted the rate per season for senior umpires at each level, AAA-$15,000, AA-$12,000, A-$10,000 and short A-$5,000

I believe that in addition to the contracted salary per level of ball, MiLB umpires also get a "bump" based on years of service. A four year pro working his second year in advanced A would make more than a third year pro in his first year in advance A. At least that's what I glean from conversations. Of course those conversations are accompanied by several bottles of amber colored liquid, so I could have misunderstood.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by Umpmazza

Man if I was a Milb guy i think I would be a little upset, hell almost every college guys makes more than we do. I thought those guys got paid a lot more than that. I see why they want to talk contracts all the time.

Yes, now you know. But at the amateur level there is that major discrepancy (for which I get that economics lecture) between the D1 Basketball guys working for $1,000 per game and the D1 Baseball guys working for $200 per game. I think that discrepancy should be what it is at the High School level between basketball and baseball, and I bet the discrepancy isn't that blatant.
Even for the D1 finals, the Basketball refs are paid $1,400 for that game while the D1 Baseball umps are paid $3,900 for the whole tournament, which, if the maximum number of games are played, some umpires work 11-13 games which is only $300-$350 per game.

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by tballump

Yes, now you know. But at the amateur level there is that major discrepancy (for which I get that economics lecture) between the D1 Basketball guys working for $1,000 per game and the D1 Baseball guys working for $200 per game.

I hate to break it to you, but most of the D1 basketball ref are making more than a 1k... I know a guy who worked a D1 games at Bradley and got 2100 before travel and perdiem..atlot of guys are making about 3k+ doing games like Kansas U...

[tballump]

Originally Posted by Umpmazza

I hate to break it to you, but most of the D1 basketball ref are making more than a 1k... I know a guy who worked a D1 games at Bradley and got 2100 before travel and perdiem..atlot of guys are making about 3k+ doing games like Kansas U...

No, I knew there is a select group of officials making $3000-3500 per game plus airfare (which you can pocket any left over if it works out) and $200 per diem. This group and the fees are kept close to the vest, so to speak, as you well know. I was just using the article (something in print) about Steve Welmer where he said he made $1,000 per game and kept the return flight home pay for his trips since he just went right to the next sight. He also told of the $200 per diem. He may be in that select group of officials, yet he was just talking about a game that paid a lesser fee. Yes, I know there are some W-2's out there for $200-$300k per year and they get to write off any travel expenses and pay taxes on the travel expenses they keep.

Of course, the great Billy Packer (yeah right) of "the coach is 'working' the officials" fame, got this started years ago when he said the basketball officials should be making $1,000 per game right on TV. He must of had a bug put in his ear from some fellow officials he knew.

For years there was well known official that had a room at the airport hotel in GSO and just drove to all his games in the area, but was pocketing (and paying taxes on) the round trip airfare for each game in addition to his game fee and per diem.

So, yes, once again the D1 Baseball fee pails in comparison to the D1 Basketball fee (I can hear that economics lesson again) and it should be in line with the 'difference' in fees at the High School level between baseball and basketball.

[Tim C]

There will be yet another retirement (in addition to Poncino) to fill an administrative position.

:-}

[FredFan7]

Originally Posted by Tim C

There will be yet another retirement (in addition to Poncino) to fill an administrative position.

:-}

Back to the the first page of this thread. Any new news?

[Lawrence.Dorsey]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Well last nght was graduation from the pro schools.

Interesting the 14 umpires that worked that funky league last summer were all sent to PBUC. Each school sent 25 potential candidates to PBUC.

So 64 guys fighting for a number of limited openings.

(i.e. so far ONE MiLB umpire has been released)

It is rumored that there maybe about 15 openings spread across the entire minor league system. Probably not the best year to try for a job.

Oh, BTW, there will be a full time MLB opening in the very near future.

Regards,

Tim,

I just wanted to clarify the part about One MILB umpire being released. Where is that one from? I know of two MilB umpires at the AAA level that were released last year. Just trying to figure the math out....

Thanks,

Lawrence

[tballump]

Originally Posted by Tim C

So 64 guys fighting for a number of limited openings.

(i.e. so far ONE MiLB umpire has been released)

It is rumored that there maybe about 15 openings spread across the entire minor league system. Probably not the best year to try for a job.

Oh, BTW, there will be a full time MLB opening in the very near future.

Regards,

I believe the release letters are sent out about World Series time, per Ria Cortesio's article about her release in 2007.

Yes, it is probably a rough year to try for a job due to the World Baseball Classic. They are probably going to need the entire AAA staff working MLB Spring Training while the regular staff works the Classic. That would leave very few AAA guys to man the minor league Spring Training camps. That would explain (just guessing) the few releases this year. So, maybe next year would be a good year to go. The above is just pure speculation.

Boy, tough to guess that other job opening. Seems like Montague missed the last month in 2008. Since I did not read any articles about a bad back or concussion's for Montague, I would assume he had knee or foot problems. Unless it was a torn ACL or something, he should be ready. Crawford had back problems recently from articles in the paper. Hirschbeck, Carlson, Randazzo have had some neck surgery and Danley was knocked out last year, but unless they were told to stop like Larry was, they should be ready. Haven't read about any old vertigo problems reappearing for Reilly lately.

Guess I will read about it when it happens. I would imagine they are trying to work out some special buyout package if we have not read or heard anything about it in the papers yet.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by tballump

Since I did not read any articles... from articles in the paper... Haven't read about... Guess I will read about it when it happens... not read or heard anything about it in the papers yet.

Just curious, what papers do you read for umpire news?

[FredFan7]

Boy, tough to guess that other job opening. Seems like Montague missed the last month in 2008. Since I did not read any articles about a bad back or concussion's for Montague, I would assume he had knee or foot problems. Unless it was a torn ACL or something, he should be ready. Crawford had back problems recently from articles in the paper. Hirschbeck, Carlson, Randazzo have had some neck surgery and Danley was knocked out last year, but unless they were told to stop like Larry was, they should be ready. Haven't read about any old vertigo problems reappearing for Reilly lately.

I might not be an umpire at the "retiring" age. It could be a younger umpire who desires to continue his career in the front-office off the field. Remember Rich Reiker did this.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by FredFan7

I might not be an umpire at the "retiring" age. It could be a younger umpire who desires to continue his career in the front-office off the field. Remember Rich Reiker did this.

"In 2002 a herniated disk in his neck forced him off the field and into his current job". This is a quote from 'St. Louis Magazine' which did an article on Rich Rieker.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Just curious, what papers do you read for umpire news?

A lot of times I just google the persons name. You can google the umpire's name or you can try and hope you hit (guess) the exact keywords to an ariticle
like "Jerry Crawford injured" to find out.
Googled Larry Poncino to find out he was going to retire last September from ongoing injuries and Doctors recommendations.

Major league baseball . com will eventually name the replacement umpires.