Umpiring Politics

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Other sports are irrelevant, Jeff. The discussion here concerns only baseball. With all due respect, I've been at this a lot longer than you have and have been assigning longer than anyone in the Chicago metro area. I have had the privilege of befriending colleagues throughout this area and in many other parts of the country. What I can tell you is that there is more backstabbing, stepping on others' toes, lying, one upsmanship, and game-playing that goes on in this area than in any other area of the country based on what I am told by not just guys here, but also by many guys who work in other areas of the country.

Other sports are relevant if you said that baseball umpiring here has the worst politics. If is it the worst in baseball than any other part of the country and what I know of baseball, how hard could it be? Seriously, if this is what you call bad, I call barely a pimple on the back of my leg.

If there is all this drama as you suggest (which I honestly do not see that much), then who the hell is getting hurt? I see a lot of umpires working games without having to prove ability or get to certain levels without having to attend any special camp or pay money out of their pocket. Sorry, but when you say it is bad and I have never had to bend over backwards to get an entire baseball schedule, with all due respect than it shows me that many baseball umpires are soft.

Originally Posted by UMP25

It's rather surprising considering there is far less higher level ball here than in the southeast, south, or west coast. However, perhaps this is THE reason for all the political crap that goes on here--there are so fewer D1 and other such games available here than in other areas that many guys here feel as if they should sell their own mothers to get ahead of someone in the pecking order. That and more is quite prevalent here.

And if you are only talking about the D1 level I can somewhat go there with you. But I worked D1 games and it was without a lot of effort as compared to trying to get a D3 game in two other sports.

Look my point is that backstabbing and many cliques and undermining happens in a lot of walks of life. I am just saying that what goes on in baseball is minor compared to those other sports and areas of life here because there are fewer people involved and not the same amount of people available. You have umpires that cannot work a lot of levels because they have a job that does not allow them to, which severely limits the overall pool. So yes someone can talk behind your back, but if you have a desire and you work hard, there are a lot of places you cannot go. I have seen guys that if there were more competition would never get a college game, but they work an entire schedule. That does not happen in other aspects of officiating because if you do not work out, they can find several hundred to take your place. I would not say baseball here is in that predicament.

Now this is just my opinion and it does not mean it is right. But I laugh when people try to make baseball umpiring around here as if no one can function without someone pulling them down. Just sit in one of my basketball association meetings and see all the posturing that goes on just over an opinion about a travel call. Most baseball associations do not even have regular meetings and if I choose to I never have to join any association and work several games. Sorry, it cannot be that bad if this is the case.

Peace