Demoting MLB umpires

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Nice try. We state our opinions here. At least I have the courage to use my name. Pallone's termination letter included homophobic rationale. Read James Reston's Collision at Home Plate: The lives of Pete Rose and Bart Giamatti. It appears to be the opinion of others too.

If reading a book is too much of a challenge, Google Dave Pallone. You will find numerous sites commenting on his firing and the homophobia the was pervasive in MLB at the time. Many sites include Pallone's own words. But, I suggest some of you read his dismissal letter before looking silly. In it, through the league attorney, A. Bartlett Giamatti cites a story from Pete Rose (who had run ins with Pallone on the field) regarding Pallone picking up a man at a Cincinnatti bar. The rumors were investigated by MLB but umtimately proved false. In firing Pallone in 1988, Giamatti stated, "We just don't feel you can handle the pressure from all the negative publicity." By inserting the alleged gay activity into the termination letter, the commssioner allowed for homophobia to prevail. At the time, Pallone was regarded as a solid umpire on the field. Giamatti was a moralist who held his charges to a high standard. We all know how he handled Pete Rose.

I also want to point out the lunacy of calling Pallone a scab. He was a Minor League umpire who worked to be among the best. He wanted to work MLB baseball and had the opportunity when those umpires walked out thinking they would end the season. They didn't. After the strike, he was retained by MLB because he was good. He worked the 1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the 1987 National League Championship Series so his talent on the field was considerably more than what is possessed by those here. Pallone worked at a time when umpires could get in the faces of players and managers. Google his run in with Rose. He was a lightning rod and paid the price.

Back when the MiLB guys went on strike, I remember reading a piece by an SI writer. In it, he said that those who chose to cross the picket line were similar to Jackie Robinson. They were good enough but the door was closed and they wanted to live the dream. Those are his thoughts, not mine. While not a perfect comparison, it does allow for haters to deny that someone deserved to be there.

It's not often we agree completely, but we do here. Pallone should be finishing up his Major League career as a crew chief right about now, just like Derryl Cousins -- who was another 1979 replacement umpire. Instead, Pallone was fired because he is gay. No other reason than that holds water -- Pallone was one of the best umpires in the Major Leagues at the time of his firing and he ended up getting fired partially because he got bumped around the field by a criminal and because he had the audacity to do whatever was necessary to chase his dream, but mainly because he is a homosexual.

Anyone who throws around the word "scab" can go take a flying leap as far as I'm concerned.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It's not often we agree completely, but we do here. Pallone should be finishing up his Major League career as a crew chief right about now, just like Derryl Cousins -- who was another 1979 replacement umpire. Instead, Pallone was fired because he is gay. No other reason than that holds water -- Pallone was one of the best umpires in the Major Leagues at the time of his firing and he ended up getting fired partially because he got bumped around the field by a criminal and because he had the audacity to do whatever was necessary to chase his dream, but mainly because he is a homosexual.

Anyone who throws around the word "scab" can go take a flying leap as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks, Rich. This thread began as an attempt to explain just how hard it is to fire/demote Major League umpires. I use the present tense because it wasn't always that way.

Some here simply like to ridicule other umpires. I have never understood that mentality. It's a small world.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Thanks, Rich. This thread began as an attempt to explain just how hard it is to fire/demote Major League umpires. I use the present tense because it wasn't always that way.

Some here simply like to ridicule other umpires. I have never understood that mentality. It's a small world.

And it should not be that hard to do so. I think MLB gets this wrong more often than not in how they hold onto or get rid of umpires on their staff. There are simply guys that need to get the walking papers. That is the case in other sports, if you do not grade out they get rid of you. And I think their position is why guys get on MLB's umpires in the first place. You should not be able to stay if you weight 300 pounds even if you are a good guy.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And it should not be that hard to do so. I think MLB gets this wrong more often than not in how they hold onto or get rid of umpires on their staff. There are simply guys that need to get the walking papers. That is the case in other sports, if you do not grade out they get rid of you. And I think their position is why guys get on MLB's umpires in the first place. You should not be able to stay if you weight 300 pounds even if you are a good guy.

Peace

I'm not going to name names, but there are some umpires who simply cannot move to properly work 4-man mechanics who are still in the game. I just don't get why that's something MLB *and* the union is afraid to address. There are well-qualified people out there who could step into the league tomorrow (they're already working as fill-ins) -- nobody is irreplaceable.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm not going to name names, but there are some umpires who simply cannot move to properly work 4-man mechanics who are still in the game. I just don't get why that's something MLB *and* the union is afraid to address. There are well-qualified people out there who could step into the league tomorrow (they're already working as fill-ins) -- nobody is irreplaceable.

And that is the point I am trying to make. These are not simply the best of the best. I also think that MLB needs to get away from the Minor League system as the only way to hire umpires. I think there are good college guys or amateur that should not have to go to "pro school" to umpire that level. Not to say that you cannot train guys, but if that is the only way you shrink the pool of guys that are available.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And that is the point I am trying to make. These are not simply the best of the best. I also think that MLB needs to get away from the Minor League system as the only way to hire umpires. I think there are good college guys or amateur that should not have to go to "pro school" to umpire that level. Not to say that you cannot train guys, but if that is the only way you shrink the pool of guys that are available.

Peace

I've never thought that people should live in poverty for a decade or more to get a crack at the big time -- most of those people will just find themselves uneducated, unemployed, and 10 years older.

Good article in Referee about a guy who has done the CWS 8 times. No reason to believe that people like this couldn't work MLB. It doesn't take a decade of working miLB, living out of a car, and eating ballpark hotdogs to be a good umpire.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I've never thought that people should live in poverty for a decade or more to get a crack at the big time -- most of those people will just find themselves uneducated, unemployed, and 10 years older.

Good article in Referee about a guy who has done the CWS 8 times. No reason to believe that people like this couldn't work MLB. It doesn't take a decade of working miLB, living out of a car, and eating ballpark hotdogs to be a good umpire.

I totally agree. I have a friend that is now in the Majors and he went on to get a law degree while working in the minors. He took advantage of his time off and that is good for him, but that had to be hard to do considering what they pay and where he had to go for law school. I just think this is so stupid that this is the only way they pick guys to work their highest level. One of the reasons MLB is a joke on so many levels IMO.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Thanks, Rich. This thread began as an attempt to explain just how hard it is to fire/demote Major League umpires. I use the present tense because it wasn't always that way.

Some here simply like to ridicule other umpires. I have never understood that mentality. It's a small world.

Nope. One thing that the union did was make it harder for umpires to get fired for petty reasons, like trying to form a union (Bill Valentine and Al Salerno).

But the downside to this is that some umpires should've been let go and others should've been quietly asked to retire years before they did -- and that kept some quality umpires from ever getting their shot at the Major Leagues.