MLB Network Umpire Special

[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.)