Demoting MLB umpires

[gordon30307]

[QUOTE=MikeStrybel;787659]A number of threads focus on ridding MLB of crew members for bad calls. A good question was asked (but never answered) regarding the practice of punishing MLB umpires for bad calls. I offer this and know others can add to it with stories of those who deserve it, earned fines or simply walked away from the scrutiny.

I don't know this for a fact but my gut feeling is that it's tougher to get rid of below average umpires in baseball than other sports. Certainly no one should be launched because of a bad call or game. But if over a course of a year you don't measure up to certain standards you should be fired. They do that at the lower levels of umpiring why not at the pinacle of the profession? There's too much at stake at the Major League level to not having the absolute best working the games. When was the last time an umpire in the show was fired because he was bad?

[MD Longhorn]

[QUOTE=gordon30307;787662]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

A number of threads focus on ridding MLB of crew members for bad calls. A good question was asked (but never answered) regarding the practice of punishing MLB umpires for bad calls. I offer this and know others can add to it with stories of those who deserve it, earned fines or simply walked away from the scrutiny.

I don't know this for a fact but my gut feeling is that it's tougher to get rid of below average umpires in baseball than other sports. Certainly no one should be launched because of a bad call or game. But if over a course of a year you don't measure up to certain standards you should be fired. They do that at the lower levels of umpiring why not at the pinacle of the profession? There's too much at stake at the Major League level to not having the absolute best working the games. When was the last time an umpire in the show was fired because he was bad?

I believe that was 4 years before never.

[MrUmpire]

[QUOTE=mbcrowder;787792]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

I believe that was 4 years before never.

While MLB avoids the word "fired", there have been several instances of umpires being asked to retire. And, they did.

It's amazing how much speculation and incorrect information surrounds this topic. Just because one does not know what happens, that does not mean it doesn't happen.

[Larry1953]

Mike, thanks for your insightful reply.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

Mike, thanks for your insightful reply.

You are welcome... it was a correct reply as well.

"When was the last time an umpire in the show was fired because he was bad? " Correct answer: Never. (A note ... 3 Umpire SUPERVISORS were fired after the 2009 season. Not asked to retire ... fired.)

Mr. is correct as well, but as per MLB policy those retirements were treated as exactly that --- retirements, with all benefits that implies. NO umpire (so far) has been fired from MLB for on-the-job performance. At least one that I know of was fired for improprieties (the details escape my mind, but I believe he was selling his freebie plane tickets, or downgrading and keeping the money, or something like that). This same guy was already under investigation for selling memorabilia he had collected during and after games.

Also, several were allowed to resign during the strike quite a few years ago - those not rehired were saying they were fired and demanded recompensation for unlawful termination... I don't recall if every single one of those guys cases are over, nor how they were resolved. But still... none were "fired" because they were "bad umpires".