Post Script to: "I played pro ball! Did you play pro ball?"

[ManInBlue]

The coaches I run into that have actually played pro ball (some actually made a few games in the Bigs, others bounced around AAA, some bounced around both) are the ones I want on the field. They never say a word, the teams are well disciplined, it's a dream game.

AND they aren't usually the one's to tell you that they played pro ball.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by ManInBlue

The coaches I run into that have actually played pro ball (some actually made a few games in the Bigs, others bounced around AAA, some bounced around both) are the ones I want on the field. They never say a word, the teams are well disciplined, it's a dream game.

AND they aren't usually the one's to tell you that they played pro ball.

Recently retired reliever Todd Jones volunteers with his son's high school team, which is in our area. We do not have this school's contract, but they visit several of our schools yearly. According to our guys who have had them, he is nothing but courteous, asking questions so that he can learn the differences in HS ball and The Show, and not "big-leaguing" anyone.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by umpduck11

Recently retired reliever Todd Jones volunteers with his son's high school team, which is in our area. We do not have this school's contract, but they visit several of our schools yearly. According to our guys who have had them, he is nothing but courteous, asking questions so that he can learn the differences in HS ball and The Show, and not "big-leaguing" anyone.

That's because he's a real pro, and not one that has to make himself out to be a pro and instead makes himself into something classless and amateurish as a result.

[MajorDave]

Jeff Parrett, who assists at Woodford County HS in one of the HS Regions I regularly work and you never hear anything other than a pleasant greeting, a laugh at something funny or a complement to a good play or hit from him. He still has a big smile on his face most of the time he is at the ballpark.

I worked a Middle school game a few weeks ago for one of the schools here at home against Woodford Middle and Parrett's kid pitched. He was amazing for an 8th grader. Very few high school pitchers have as much poise and pitch control as this kid. As you might imagine he knew how to pitch and his dad wasn't even there. The very next night I had Woodford High and had the chance to tell Parrett about how nice a job his kid did. He was humble and thanked me. A real classy guy. I hope those kids at that high school appreciate what they have.


So, not all ex-pro players are bad. Maybe it's just ex-rookie leaguers who only had a cup of coffee.

However, I did have one guy, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher-forgot his name- who called me an ******* after a game where I ejected his kid for arguing balls and strikes. The other parents for that team apologized to me for the kid and father's behavior and then thanked me for ejecting the kid. They told me that I was the first umpire to eject him all season and he and the father had embarassed them many times over the summer

It takes all kinds I guess.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I remember Parrett when he was with the A's in the early '90s, and he was pretty well-liked by his mates and the media as well.

The real pros outnumber the wish-they-were pros exponentially, Dave. Parret's and Jones's comportment is the norm rather than the rule. My son's a JC pitcher (Chris Hickman umpired one of his games), and his pitching mentor all through school was Jeff Suppan, whose modest conduct and professional demeanor are almost beyond belief. Real pros don't impose it on us--especially when we're trying to manage a game.

But the ones that feel a need to bring it up, like it makes them some kind of all-encompassing authority, and we wouldn't be able to tell if they didn't mention it ... they really make me laugh.

[JR12]

All these HOF players, turned broadcasters don't know anything about the rules, so why should any former pro player impress us?

[Kevin Finnerty]

EXCELLENT point.

Look at Joe "Thanks Skycap, here's a quarter" Morgan.

[chartrusepengui]

"I played pro ball! Did you play pro ball?"

No, but I remember you. In fact, my sister's attorney has been looking for you for years!

[johnnyg08]

I had the pleasure of umpiring a game where Al Newman was the 3rd base coach...everybody knew who he was, he didn't have to tell anybody. A class act to say the least...based upon my one experience being on the field with a legit former professional. He did his job, the players did their's, and we did ours. That's how it should be. If you have to tell somebody that you played pro ball to make your point, you've already lost.

[Ump Rube]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

I had the pleasure of umpiring a game where Al Newman was the 3rd base coach

That would be hard. Every time there is a hit to the outfield I would want to stand back and watch him windmill in the 3BB. Just like the commercial.

For those of you not in TT (Twins Territory):
To guy standing office cubes holding papers: "Hey you. Yeah. You. Com'on we gotta go, gotta go right now. Com'on! It's gonna be close!"
Guy runs and dives into elevator, papers go everywhere. Stands up brushes himself off like nothing happened.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by maninblue

the coaches i run into that have actually played pro ball (some actually made a few games in the bigs, others bounced around aaa, some bounced around both) are the ones i want on the field. They never say a word, the teams are well disciplined, it's a dream game.

And they aren't usually the one's to tell you that they played pro ball.

Exactly!