Demoting MLB umpires

[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