MLB Network Umpire Special

[GoodwillRef]

I hope it is more Costas and less Bruce Froemming!!!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

I hope it is more Costas and less Bruce Froemming!!!

Why? Bruce is a very nice man. What's with the animosity toward him? He certainly has forgotten more about umpiring than most of us know, and he is definitely more interesting to listen to than the boorish Costas.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Why? Bruce is a very nice man. What's with the animosity toward him? He certainly has forgotten more about umpiring than most of us know, and he is definitely more interesting to listen to than the boorish Costas.

Boorish? You've got to be joking. I suppose that you don't like his politics, but the man is far from a boor.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Boorish? You've got to be joking. I suppose that you don't like his politics, but the man is far from a boor.

I find him arrogant, pretentious and obnoxious. Okay, then...he's not a boor . Couldn't care less about his politics. I dislike Bryant Gumbel for the same reasons. They are two peas in a pod. I can't even stand Costas on the U.S Open coverage today. Froemming, on the other hand, would have many interesting umpire stories, which is what I like to hear, not someone trumpeting himself as Costas subliminally does.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Re: Bruce Froemming:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Why? Bruce is a very nice man. What's with the animosity toward him? He certainly has forgotten more about umpiring than most of us know, and he is definitely more interesting to listen to than the boorish Costas.

Re: Bob Costas:

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I find him arrogant, pretentious and obnoxious. Okay, then...he's not a boor . Couldn't care less about his politics. I dislike Bryant Gumbel for the same reasons. They are two peas in a pod. I can't even stand Costas on the U.S Open coverage today. Froemming, on the other hand, would have many interesting umpire stories, which is what I like to hear, not someone trumpeting himself as Costas subliminally does.

Why? Bob is a very nice man. What's with the animosity toward Bob? He certainly has forgotten more about sports and the world around us than most of us know, and he is definitely more interesting to listen to than the widely misunderstood Froemming.

[SanDiegoSteve]

But Costas usually turns it into the "Bob" show, and I want to hear from umpires. I don't want to listen to general sports knowledge.

[rpumpire]

Don't let the folks in St. Louis know, but Don Denkinger is going to be on the program along with Palermo and Froemming.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I find him arrogant, pretentious and obnoxious. Okay, then...he's not a boor .

Are you talking about Costas or Froemming?

I just think that he stayed in the game way too long...he took a spot from a guy who would have been in shape and actually gave a damn out on the diamond. IMO he only stayed around to get the record for most games umpired in MLB...and that is not a reason to stay around. MLB needs to start getting rid of umpires who don't measure up like the other pro leagues do.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

Are you talking about Costas or Froemming?

I just think that he stayed in the game way too long...he took a spot from a guy who would have been in shape and actually gave a damn out on the diamond. IMO he only stayed around to get the record for most games umpired in MLB...and that is not a reason to stay around. MLB needs to start getting rid of umpires who don't measure up like the other pro leagues do.

My criteria for ML umpires would be -- can they rotate as required in the 4-umpire system? In other words, can the umpire easily get from D to second base when U2 goes out? Can the PU get to first or third easily?

If Froemming can do that, I don't care if he *does* look like Jabba the Hut. If he can't, well, then that's objective criteria on which to make that decision.

(An aside: I was at the Brewers game last night and learned something from the crew (about 4-man), which is always exciting. Bases loaded -- a reverse rotation. Gapper. U3 went out, U1 rimmed the back of the infield instead of pivoting in and taking the BR to second. Looking at it, I wondered why I'd never thought about it before -- the only call U1 is going to have is at second base and outside's a great place to take that call. Not that I work a huge amount of 4-man, but when I do, I'll remember that. And on a clear extra base hit to the outfield, you could do the same thing in 3-man with U3 not going out.)

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

Are you talking about Costas or Froemming?

I just think that he stayed in the game way too long...he took a spot from a guy who would have been in shape and actually gave a damn out on the diamond. IMO he only stayed around to get the record for most games umpired in MLB...and that is not a reason to stay around. MLB needs to start getting rid of umpires who don't measure up like the other pro leagues do.

Well, of course I was referring to Costas, as he was the subject of the quote to which I replied. Had you read more carefully, you wouldn't have needed to ask such a stupid question.

One thing Bruce Froemming never had was a problem getting around the diamond. As stated by me many times, Bruce may not be much of a physical specimen, but the man could definitely motor around the bases. After witnessing some of the newer crop of MLB umpires, I'm in favor of bringing back all the old, retired umpires! Give me Terry Tata to block, Peter.

[tballump]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

Are you talking about Costas or Froemming?

I just think that he stayed in the game way too long...he took a spot from a guy who would have been in shape and actually gave a damn out on the diamond. IMO he only stayed around to get the record for most games umpired in MLB...and that is not a reason to stay around. MLB needs to start getting rid of umpires who don't measure up like the other pro leagues do.

So I wonder why Jack Nies called in the NBA this year at 71 years old and Dick Bavetta at 69 years old and Gerald Austin in the NFL through 2007 at 66 years old.

[umpjong]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

Are you talking about Costas or Froemming?

I just think that he stayed in the game way too long...he took a spot from a guy who would have been in shape and actually gave a damn out on the diamond. IMO he only stayed around to get the record for most games umpired in MLB...and that is not a reason to stay around. MLB needs to start getting rid of umpires who don't measure up like the other pro leagues do.

Jealousy is an ugly thing!!!!! Also last time I looked they (MLB) weren't asking for our opinions on their umpire crews...