Coach Dad

[Kevin Finnerty]

Wow ...

"That's the way it is around here, like it or not. "

Well, Batboy, that's not necessarily the way it is around here, and you don't always have to like it to enjoy it. I thought you were pretty cool about the way you asked the question, and if you want to be a complete baseball man and be a quality umpire, all the more power to you, and not less.

All throughout your ascent, you will experience umpires that act haughty and exclusive, because they want to keep their status lofty. Well there are plenty of others that will embrace you and pick you up and share what they know so you'l gain a command more rapidly. You'll spot them fairly quickly and when you do, pick their brains---even if you have to pay for the beer and pizza.

There are ballplayers who'll help you be a better player and there are those who'll wish for you to go downhill fast. It's the same kind of thing. Baseball is often about keeping what you know from others. I watched Dave Righetti teach Rod Beck everything he knew about closing games in the big leagues---even though it was Righetti's job Beck was taking. What happened? Rod Beck became a premier closer and Righetti still holds the job of pitching coach for that same Giants club 16 years later. That was his reward. It was a win-win. It should be that way between umpires, but sometimes it's not.

I think sharing what one knows with the next guy is the better way to go for most of us.