Giving Game Fees back

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I've just been notified by one of the assignors I work for that in order to work one of the bigger tournaments, we need to send him a check that matches one game fee for shirts, hats, etc.

Tuss I do not understand the aforementioned

When my assignor is contacted to cover a tournament we wear our HS Certified uniforms.

We do not buy separate apparel for each tournament that we cover.

I can understand getting a reduced FEE (as long as each umpire is guarenteed a certain number of games) due to the hard economic times but as mentioned I do not understand the need to buy shirts hats etc.

Pete Booth

[chartrusepengui]

I don't mind doing a game for free for a good cause - BUT - I will be the one choosing to do this. I hope he can't find anyone to do his tournament.

[Kevin Finnerty]

This is another excellent example of how people inside baseball are absolutely out of touch with umpiring.

I can't imagine an umpire that I know who would gladly comply with this preposterous arrangement.

But I know many other than myself, who would gladly donate their time for a worthy cause.

[Cub42]

So I guess that the " bad economy" does not affect Umpires. Your Assignor should be ashamed of himself for agreeing to this

[Kevin Finnerty]

Umpires are already exploited. The standard fee for the work that is performed is so far below what it's worth, it's a borderline disgrace. We're baseball's greatest suckers.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Umpires are already exploited. The standard fee for the work that is performed is so far below what it's worth, it's a borderline disgrace. We're baseball's greatest suckers.

Negotiating game fees is like pulling teeth. Teams all want the greatest umpires but expect them all to work for next to nothing.

Many teams never believe what it costs in terms of equipment, keeping it upgraded, study time, drive time, vehicle maintenance, actually working the game...as if all of the stuff in my trunk magically appears there.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Negotiating game fees is like pulling teeth. Teams all want the greatest umpires but expect them all to work for next to nothing.

Many teams never believe what it costs in terms of equipment, keeping it upgraded, study time, drive time, vehicle maintenance, actually working the game...as if all of the stuff in my trunk magically appears there.

Amen!

I just emailed an AD from one of the schools that stiffed me this season, informing him of all that we incur with equipment, insurance, gas, time off work, etc. ... Let's just say, it was a revelation.

I hate when the money even has to be discussed, because I don't do it for the money. But when I get stiffed, I can't help but take a profound insult from all of it. Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?