That's not true. Look at the post-season records of Hohn, Carlson, B. Welke, or Schrieber. There's still some merit involved, though the push has been for "rotation."

Could you explain this rotation in "detail" (bore me with the details). How do they go about making all the assignments each year? Since it is rotated, tell us who will be rotated into the playoffs for each round next year, so we do not have to wait for the press release. I have always wondered how the entire process works from behind closed doors until the press release. Which umpires are actually achieving in today's system, since achievement is so hard to come by and what is their numerical rating from 1 to 68?

When were the playoffs not rotated (not even one little bit for any reason), and only the achieving umpires for that season received the assignment. How was that rating determined, and what went on behind closed doors when the system was not rotated, and the assignments were an "achievement".

I have been waiting for someone who knows the whole system for playoff assignments to explain it. Thanks for your help.

Admittedly, the fastball is the easiest pitch with which to make a high quality statement with. You really can't call a curve a high quality 'purpose' pitch, I mean, at 70 MPH??? Of course, I don't work 'high quality' amatuer ball.

Hmmm...I would feel a bit less in danger if I knew the only thing being thrown at me was 70 MPH curves, which are much harder to aim at my exposed face then 85 MPH heaters. If your point was that a curve could be directed at a batter's noggin, I would agree.

Any ball I happen to work is fun, challenging and educational. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be working the games.

Everyone has a choice to work games or not. When the enjoyment is gone, maybe it's time to hang them up??

I am not incorrect. My experience is not the same as your's, but that does not make my observations incorrect or invalid. I have not done a survey, but I would venture to guess that nearly 80% of the officials I work with do so because they enjoy the game. Of the 100 or so that I work with, I only know of a few who work games JUST for the money. Your mileage may vary and you may indeed make a living out of officiating high quality amatuer ball. I don't.

I enjoy getting paid for the games I work. And I wouldn't do it for free. But you couldn't pay me enough to work games if I didn't absolutely love umpiring with every fiber of my old, tired being.

Agreed, Steve. I too enjoy the pay, but when it gets too much like work, I'm done. I'm there because I want to be, not because I have to be.

As I once heard a basketball official say (to a parent), "I officiate for free, but they have to pay me to listen to the parents b!tch."

That's okay. Bob and Steve will still be here at the end of the day. You, OTOH, I'm not quite so sure about. Bye now, troll.

Between Patrino, Steve and me, we cover California, which is usually a good sampling of anything baseball.

I also know very few if any umpires who do it because they need the money, rather than for the love of umpiring. Anyone who contends otherwise is usually indicating a total lack of umpiring experience of any ... quality.

My Edsel runs good, thank you.

Edsel
 

Why did they stop putting tail fins on automobiles?