dumbdumb

I will exercise my freedom of choice NOT to vote for POTUS today. Local elections where my vote actually matters, ok. As long as the electoral college decides instead of majority of individual votes, the system will remain broken.

So instead of the Electorial College you would prefer to let a handful of states elect the president and forget the rest of the country? It is like arguing that the Senate doesn't work but the House is fine. The senate is based on two per state, no matter size, the house is based on population. I live in MD and the state is split by the Chesapeake bay. Our side of the bay is rural and very conservative, but the Baltimore/Washington corridor is very liberal. Because there are many more in those counties, no matter what we do on the Eastern Shore it goes as the Western Shore wishes. By eliminating the EC, it would then become up to CA,TE,FL,PA and a few other states and others like DE,NJ,NH and even MD would be completely irrelevant. What's frustrating is a big state in size, such as SD, has three EC votes, but little NH does too.

it's the best bad system in the world

And just like umpiring. It is suppose to be perfect to start with and only get better.

Ozzie Guillen, or he is running in another country?

However, V assignments are first given to the umpires that are on the school's list of preferred umpires.

Larry Sansevere

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Schools get to choose Umpires? wow

Here the School Board contracts with the associations for all the schools and they get what they get. Of course varsity does get the better umpires. But the schools don't get to pick.

Coach to umpire--Remember that FPSR call that you made against me, that let that last place chicken poop school program beat our blue ribbon, best in class, program that we run here. Remember when I came out and tried to intimidate you by telling you it was a horse manure call, and you don't know the rules and that you would never work our games again if you didn't change the call (and you kicked me out) so we wouldn't lose and be embarrassed, (even though it was the worst game we played all year) by this chicken poop last place team. It's not about getting it right (which you did) and throwing me out (which others do not), but it's about knowing who I am, and that I get all the close calls and interpretations or else.

Now, do you still want to know why I did not pick you to work our games this year for either of the 2 reasons above and you actually showed me up and did both, although either one by itself would knock you off my list? And guess what, your association let's me do this for either reason or for any reason for that matter (I just don't like the way you look), and you cannot do a thing about it, other than join that other group over 50 miles away. So, how does it feel punk. Do you want to work games for my blue ribbon program that goes to the state each year, and maybe I will put in a good word for you to work the playoffs, except when you make calls against us, or do you want to work that last place loser's program that only wins 1 or 2 games every year, and not get recommended to the state from a blue ribbon, best in class program. Your choice. You go figure it out Einstein.

Sounds like a neat clinic for those who can go Warren. Good luck. I am sure they can learn plenty and work the rules of whatever organization they work for into what they are learning on the field and in the classroom.

Larry

You are a good guy and everyone can tell and I am not trying to be negative or argumentative, just honest in my opinion on this one.

However, from the Shore website

We are a very professional organization and adhere STRICTLY to our rules and Constitution.

Your will not be eligible for varsity until you attend the umpire mechanics clinic, work 40+ sub-varsity games over cadet over cadet and two years assigned by the assignor. Earliest year eligible is 4th year.

I consider this a very honest, but not professional (courteous, conscientious and businesslike in the workplace) organization to those who try to join the group with experience, since they totally ignore ones experience and credentials. I think professional is the wrong choice of words from the marketing perspective.

What was done to that AAA, D1 guy was unconscionable (having to wait until the 4th year for varsity) IMHO.

At least those with experience who might transfer into this area through no fault of their own, can consider going elsewhere without wasting time trying to join. Let those with no experience join, so at least those at the varsity level know they have at least 3 years of varsity games before someone else starts getting a slice of the pie. Pretty rough if those trying to get in outnumber those retiring.

Once again, I would imagine there was at least someone in the organization that tried to ask that they wave the requirement for this guy, although it did not work.

This groups arrogance in this area, just gets me going, and I am sure yours is not the only one like this out there. It would be very easy to have tryouts for anyone transferring in who might not measure up in your area, although they were HS in their area, due the higher level of skills in your area.

Once again, I love all your contributions and I am not trying to hurt you or your organization, although I realize my comments probably do hurt and I am truely sorry.

However, this one area of policy really sticks in my craw and burns me up. I am sure as far as the umpiring on the field goes, things are just fine in your group.

there is no issue in Danbury or Hartford. Good luck to your daughter at BC (GO EAGLES), i certainly hope the trip is with if for you both. The Heights is a great area of Boston. If you have time go to Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street, you'll regret it if you dont. Safe travels!

Thanks for the info. Just got back tonight. One correction...We went to BU, not BC. . Got lucky Thursday morning and found a station here where I only waited about 15 minutes to fill up. Filled up the tank on the way home around Waterbury, so I'm good til the middle of the week. Tonight in NJ the lines were longer than ever, and tomorrow we start the odd/even days depending on our license plates. Feels like the Jimmy Carter '70's all over again.

The visit/portfolio review went real well for my daughter. If I was a betting man I'd say she has a better than good chance at being accepted there. Now I just have to figure out how the heck we're gonna pay a BU education

Amazing how those D1 major college basketball guys working 50-100 games never have to worry about their children's education bill.

Good luck.

Maybe I can shed some light on this subject:

When I started in MiLB in 1995, we roomed with our partner up to, and including, AA baseball. My first year as an umpire in AA (Eastern League) in 1999, and I shared a room with the "2" man on the crew. The crew chief received his own room. If you had a good crew chief, they would let you have the single room for family in town, or just rotate it. Trust me, they didn't have to.

I was promoted to AAA in 2001. There, I had my own room, and thank God, because when you're in AAA, chances are pretty good you're not young anymore. But did we complain? Under our breath, because we were there...we had made it...period.

As far as the hotel situations...hotels were far from good throughout my career. Some cities were top of the line hotels (Harrisburg, PA, Portland, ME) while some hotels sucked ass (Clinton, IA, Binghamton, NY).

I don't know when they decided to get on the ball with this, but I do know that in 2000 we called in MLB Security to look at the hotel in New Haven, CT, and within a few days we were out of there, since umpires were observing drug deals at the hotel.

As far as driving records go...a DUI on your record...you can pretty much save your money for school, because you will not be going to MiLB. End of story

Don't let accomodations and transportation arrangements help you make your mind up. If they are on your mind, you probably should consider a different career. What kind of hotels do some guys think are in Missoula, MT, or Ogden, UT? Not a huge selection (especially in Clinton, IA...man, I hate that town...lol)

Come on Bob, a little more help please.

What were the living arrangements for assignments to the Florida Instructional League, or Arizona Instructional Leagues? How about the Living Arrangements for any assignments over the water during the winter. How about the living arrangements for Spring Training.

Oh yes, and how did the compensation compare for these winter assignments and Spring Training to the regular season compensation (ie salary, meal money, etc).

Maybe some guys can chime in on current conditions for everything now compared to when you were there. Hard to get current answers for anything sometimes.

Thanks for your replies to this topic based on your time in MiLB.

Hell, just go here and look all you want.

http://global.rakuten.com/en/search?k=&tl=402092&p=9

Wow,

You got a guest speaker who is the Associate Director (who umpires) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association in which HS ball is your next step. He has worked everything except the D1 CWS which is about as high as you can go at the Collegiate Level. Wouldn't be a bad idea to go listen and possibly shake hands with him as you may be working the MHSAA tournament at some level one day.

A MLBU guest instructor who has already worked a Division Series early in his career.

Several former MiLB guys who worked as high as AAA, AA, A ball and a couple who have experience as instructors at an umpire school.

Many others have experience as instructors at camps, and have worked a ton of games and various State HS Tournaments and other Collegiate Levels.

Do you have the time?

Do you have $100.

=No brainer.

Now, you just need to add the same helmet he is wearing and turn it around. Same as a hat but a helmet. Would probably add some protection but not be the same as a full HSM.

3 weeks ago, while deer hunting, I suffered a heart attack. I made it out of the. Woods fine and on to the hospital.

My question is, with 3 stents in place and now taking blood thinners, how will this affect umpiring? Bruises from foul balls and the like kind of concern me. I do have a visit with my cardiologist tomorrow but am kind of hesitant to let him know about umpiring and foul balls, etc. I don't want him not allowing me to umpire next year.

Any insight is much appreciated.

Wow

Not trying to be mean here, but there is no way to sound otherwise.

Umpiring is not the be all, end all of life.

Wrong priorities in life, IMHO, if umpiring trumps everything.

Listen to the doctor. If one can no longer work on the field due to doctor's orders, it is time to start helping someone else out on getting started with an advocation that gave so much enjoyment, or am I missing something?

I apologize for offending, but with limited verbal skills, I just couldn't figure out the proper words to make things sound nice, or without sounding like a lecture.

Hopefully, and I mean this sincerely, things will work out for you to be right back out there as others have.

However, that day will come when you can no longer take the field, even if heart trouble were not part of the equation. I sincerely hope that someone such as yourself that has so much to offer at this advocation will become a mentor to someone starting out just like you did at one time.

Good luck and here's hoping for a positive response from the heart specialist.

I would like a crew that can contain all the crybabies and keep them in their crib. Also, call balks when they do not step directly to the base without spin moves or the left handed step to the 45 foot line so we can get that running game going.

cc-Bill Klem (255 ejections)

1b-Cy Rigler (192 ejections)

2b-Hank O'Day (185 ejections)

3b-Bob Davidson (150 ejections-start of 2012)

lf--Joe West (147 ejections-start of 2012)

rf--Silk O'Laughlin (144 ejections)

Alternate--Shag Crawford for no other reason than he is the only guy to dump Earl Weaver in a WS.

start at 5:35 on video below

Alternate-Alternate. Cy Young--Who would argue with him? Or HOF Al Barlick who signed all the guys up until Vargo in 85 or 86.

Absolutely no reason for Leyland to even come out asking on the Fielder play at the plate or Fielder popping off and shaking his head as if he were not out. What a fat tub of goo. Typical no good lowlife's who were 2 hit in that game and gave up 8 runs the night before. Go fix your own team before you even think about popping off to the umpires.

Interviews with a hall of famer

What about the "lodging arrangements" (individual rooms, or doubling up), meal money, vehicle's, mileage, incidental money and travel arrangements if someone goes to Florida, or Arizona Instructional Leagues several times in the fall, and then Winter ball out of the states, with the same questions for those in the know.

What are the financial details of this extra work for umpires during the off-season?

What about the same questions for Spring training concerning all the above items, just like during the season?

Might as well list everything for any potential candidate's to either seal the deal or break the deal.

Never have found many details on the fall and winter arrangements and Spring Training on the internet.

I know this all more of a numbers game than anything else, but am I right in assuming those who start their careers in one of the rookie leagues (advanced or not) spend an extra year in short season ball, while those who start in the NYP or NWL are more likely to continue on to Low A ball the next season?

Probably, but I just checked the recent MLB additions and Chad Fairchild started in the Gulf Coast, so it's not where you start, it is where you finish. You have to figure out how to get there, just like they all did.

You got to remember, this is your written word, and we are not there in front of you to pick the true vibes of what you are asking. I took your original comment, like I think? UmpTTS43 might have, but that is OK also. Each person is allowed, just like in seeking a marriage partner, to decide their deal breaker issues.

Listen to UmpTTS43 comment. If you are going for a job, you are going no matter what the conditions are. If you are worried about the conditions in the minors, you may just want to stop right now, but on the positive side, just think how they will be in the Big Leagues.

All right. Here is what I have found reading over the years, and someone I ran into that went to the school back in the old days, who did not want a job and asked a lot of questions. Is everything 110% accurate? No, but I think this is still in the ball park and I was hoping others who knew guys from the old days would chime in.

They do not want career MiLBU's nor do they want career MiLB player's. Tommy Lasorda summed it up best in a TV interview, we want the players who are hungry for the Big Leagues, not the minor leagues. We want them to want to get the hell out of the minors. That's why all the pay and benefits are in the Show and the Show only. Same for umpires, although Tommy was not talking about them, just the player side.

Hopefully, at 24 you already have a skill of some type, just in case you are derailed in your quest, due to a career (just umpiring) ending injury. You can immediately fall back on that skill for an immediate job, no matter the economy.

In the old days from the article I gave you and some other articles I have read over the years, the umpires were paid a monthly fee, and the driver (their own car) in the crew was paid the government rate (I guess) for gas from one town to another, not for the time driving in that town. That means like in the FSL (1986) article, they were paid $50 per game when you break that down into a 30 day month, and the driver would be paid mileage when they left Lakeland and drove to Tampa which is 40 miles times the government rate per mile in 1986.

So, they were probably able to get a decent room (just 1 room, so yes, everyone had roomates) for $50 (less at a "less decent" place to try and save money) a night with double beds and that left each umpire with $25 for the rest of the day. If you want to eat sh$t food like burgers 3 times a day go ahead. But, if you wanted to dine healthy, a big chunk of that $25 would go towards food, and if you relax and get 3 sit down meals a day, remember the tipping. Let's say that they could eat 3 healthy meals a day for $15 a day, that leaves a whopping $10 dollars a day towards anything and everything you wanted to do for the rest of that day and other "incidentals"(toiletries, washing your personal clothes, etc., and don't forget the fee for the club house attendant's to take care of washing your game uniforms. Golf? I doubt it, not even then, on $10, and certainly not with a cart. So, whatever you wanted to do for 140 days a year on the road with $10 dollars a day, was up to you. You can see how some guys would get in the red, or how hard it would be on the married guys who wanted to send money home. Remember, some of that 50 a day was taxed. Apparently the League use to break the money up into 60 or 70 percent expenses and 30 to 40% taxable to help the umpires out. You can see, that only left enough money, many times, to just read your rulebook and look at 4 walls. I believe I read where a lot of guys just played cards. Sounds like old reruns of military shows, doesn't it.

The farther back you go the worse the conditions, and the less the pay.

Moving up to the current day.

You can see from one of the other posts, that first step in the NYP, that the money hasn't really drastically changed from that 1986 article, although NYP is short A and was probably 1,100-1,300 a month back in 86 (just a guess) Long A ball is probably only a couple hundred more, and if you go to a League a 2nd year you probably get an extra $100 a month seniority pay which that guy told me from the old days.

However, at least now, and this is huge, you get a paid for rental car, so you do not have to use your own car, I will assume some gas money for the car, a free room at a decent hotel, and of course 30-35 meal money. Now, you can keep all your salary after taxes and use all of it how you please. That's a huge difference from the old days where everything came out of your check, although still not adequate in the scheme of things. Like Lasorda said, we only want it to matter in the Show. Time and again it has come out in both MLB and MiLB, that they could do better for the umpires, but they could care less. Umpires are like bases, you got to have them, but they are still bases.

You may still have to double up in short A (70 game season) in a room, but I couldn't quite tell.

One big thing from the old days, and this is huge, you could get to the Show faster. Ed Montague (yes, the one whose dad signed Willie Mays and is now a supervisor) went right to the Cal League for a year and then skipped AA entirely and went right to the PCL. Same thing with John McSherry going right from the Carolina League to the International League. Many others went right to Long A ball and only spent a year there, a year in AA and then right to AAA in their 3rd year.

Now, you must start in short A, then Low Long A, then High Long A, then AA and then AAA. So, like Bellino, you cannot get to AAA quicker than the start of your 5th year. Bellino got no ML games that year. The next year (his 6th) he got 1 game (Chicago no less) and his 7th year he got 31 games. So, that was about 31k + 12k in the minor leagues, since he missed a month of minors. 47k, not bad in your 7th year. His 8th year was 111 games which would be over 100k. How many med students in residence are making over 100k after 8 years of schooling. Of course he became FT in his 9th year at 125k. How many going to med school make 125 in their 9th year? I am not busting on medicine, I am just trying to give a comparison of a highly paid profession that requires time to make it big. And, once again, does everyone who wants to be a doctor make it to the big time starting from day 1 all the way to the end?

You go to the umpire school, just like getting into medicine after high school, knowing that not everyone will make it. All you need is just one opening, and that opening will be you, right. Think of the years involved in med school. Does everyone make it. What happens if you get all through the schooling and internships, yet you flunk the final exam. How many years did you spend trying. How much did it cost for no guarantee. Do you make 125k with your first year as a family physician. Do you make over 370k after 25 years, although it is not as good on a per game basis as the NBA or NFL. So, like Dan Bellino, you go and get a job out of school, and you show them you are the greatest thing since sliced bread and leave them drooling to get you to the Big Leagues. It is up to you to figure out how to do this just like Bellino did, and many others before him. I think, if you are that phenom, they will not want to lose you no matter what. Who wants to lose the next Babe Ruth of umpiring. They will get you there if you are that phenom.

Now, just like the old saying, if you do not go to the school, you will never know whether you would have made it or not. You cannot win if you don't enter.

However, most anyone who went to the school, whether they made it or not, felt they learned a hell of a lot and would not trade that experience for anything. Disclaimer--there may be a few but not many.

Most have said that it helped them move up the ladder quicker as a professional umpire working amateur games than if they had not gone. Most of the major D1 conferences seem to want that 5 week course on your resume or at least some of the 1 week courses these organizations occasionally put on. You could come back and eventually be working D1 games on down the road.

From what I can gather, if you are in a job that allows you the freedom to do a lot of D1 umpiring in the major Conferences all the time, you could work 5 games a week for 15 weeks and make around $2000-3,000 a week, which is what a AA-AAA guy makes in a month. If you go past 15 weeks you are now into the regionals ($1,800), super regionals, ($1,100), and WS (4,100) and you would have worked the Regionals prior to the WS.

Remember, even at the D1 level, the pay for baseball has and always will be way behind D1 basketball and football on a per game basis, if you want to know the true situation. Basketball can get you 3000 per game and some work 100 games a year and football can get you 1600 per game from the major conferences.

And

If you like reading or would like to read articles about the MLB situation over the years, there are many articles, although they may not all display (my normal problem) now, and some may be pdf files, under the book section of this forum, working the plate by the late Eric Gregg.

Stay dry is a generic name for the product that they use to dry a field after rain, Turfus and other names. Kitty litter works in a pinch.

Have you tried this?

http://rainout.us/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Qd9aEHtt8

Anyone else tried it??

Here is an article about the pay in FSL (class A) back in 1986.

Disclaimer--as MST and many others can attest---my skills at dragging in the article I am reading do not work many of the times.

http://news.google.c...pg=2499,1397152

On $50 dollars a day and not one penny of expenses for anything (room and meals) (gas money?) (that was probably even less 5 years prior to this article), I kind of doubt the umpires had their own rooms.

I am trying to search any old articles to see if the AA umpires (who probably did not make much more at this time) with probably no expenses paid either and using 3 man crews, booked 2 rooms or brought a cot into the room for the 3rd crew member to save on expenses.

I would imagine from reading old stories, it was not until AAA (with a little better pay) that umpires might have started getting their own rooms, or at least letting the crew chief have his own room, while the 2 junior members split a room, especially if that crew chief or even if another crew member was on "call up" status.

Now, apparently the pay has moved up a couple hundred dollars a month at each level (not very much-AAA guys only earn $110 to $120 a game and a 100 per month(i.e. 3.33 per game seniority raise), but all umpires get the free room provided by the league and they get about 30$ per day meal money that was not provided for in the old days (I do not know what rooms without worrying about crabs and mites and bad mattresses that hurt your back cost now (2012 that you do not have to pay for) versus the old days (1986 that you had to pay for) in the minor league cities without having to stay 50 miles from the city to get a lower rate.

If I find any other old articles, I will post.

Those who went to the school recently and have friends who made it can give you a current up to date, and those who have talked with Senior members of the umpiring staff at these schools telling stories (right from the horse's mouth rather than old articles) of the hardships of the old days can weigh in here.

http://news.google.c...pg=2499,1397152

http://news.google.c...pg=6727,1615882

Going by the players reaction since he was watching the ball intently the whole way and not the umpire, he ducks his head because he knows it is foul. He does not give one reaction in his face that says that ball is fair, only foul, and he doesn't even try to beg or put one over on the umpires with any other actions like some would do.

Just googleing around

Well here is another article about the IFF, from a 2010 Spink Award winner.

Bill Madden (born 1946) is an American sportswriter for the New York Daily News. A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, he has served on the Historical Overview Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, 2007 and 2008, helping to select candidates for the final ballots presented to the Veterans Committee.

Madden grew up in Oradell, New Jersey,^[1] and graduated from Bergen Catholic High School.^[2]

He was a sportwriter with UPI for nine years before he joined the Daily News in 1978, and covered the New York Yankees before becoming a columnist in 1989. He has written the books Damned Yankees: A No-Holds-Barred Account of Life With "Boss" Steinbrenner (1991, with Moss Klein), Zim - A Baseball Life (2001, with Don Zimmer), Pride of October: What it Was to Be

Young and a Yankee (2003), and Bill Madden: My 25 Years Covering Baseball's Heroes, Scoundrels, Triumphs and Tragedies (2004) and Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball (2010).

Madden joined the New York Daily News in 1978 after nine years at United Press International. He was the Daily News’ Yankees beat writer from 1980-88 before becoming the News’ national baseball columnist. Madden has covered 35 World Series and broken numerous stories, among them the Mets’ leaving Tom Seaver unprotected in the free agent compensation pool and losing him to the Chicago White Sox in 1984 and the National League hiring Bill White as the first black league president in pro sports in 1989.

http://www.nydailyne...ksEnabled=false

Just for the record, I was not trying to insult anyone or name call just in case (not saying anyone did) someone took it personally. I just wanted the ones who did not believe the call was correct, to make sure they disagreed with Reynold's (a former player) opinion, just like they disagreed with post #28 opinion. Those who still agree or disagree, I commend you for your call, but make sure if you disagree with the umpires, you also disagree with Reynold's. I was just "hoping" Reynold's opinion did not sway anyone to change their opinion, but if it did, that is just fine. No problem's from me whether one agrees or disagrees with the umpires. I welcome all opinions and reason's why someone does not agree with a call. I come here to learn and I learn from the explanations, both backing and not backing the calls that are made on the field.

Don't tell me everyone is going to agree with a "player", post #101, yet would not agree with an umpire, post #28.

"If"? this is later confirmed (wow, we can just call this guy for the inside scoop during the year), it would explain why they speeded up the development of Lance Barrett and Jordan Baker who must be considered the latest phenoms behind Alan Porter and Vic Carapazza. Porter and Carapazza up along with 2 other senoir call ups and then Barrett and Baker get put on the front Burner for the next group that retires. Of course they may pick the 4 most experienced call ups, but that did not recently happen as Bellino jumped over several senior colleagues.

Since none of us has a copy of the current CBA, this could be a more advantageous year for one to retire due to the financials of the contract. Most all contracts have issues that are more generous in certain areas if one would like to retire but must wait for certain times that are more advantageous, just like deciding to retire at 62 or 65 or whatever it is now.

Let's hope, if this story is true, none of the 3 junior guys went out for a Donaghy issue, plane ticket issues or several other issues that have previously happened, since they are known issues.

However, if they are family issues, here's wishing them the best on clearing those up.

There's nothing "conclusive" that has him on the bag either. When it is just the side of the foot against the side of the bag, only a camera set up right on the line would provide a conclusive picture.

Nice to see the plate umpire bust out and get set up for possible assistance if needed, since this has been lacking on some plays we have seen. Everyone, everywhere at all levels should be copying this plate umpire with his hustle up the line, all the time, not just as the spirit moves ya. Now, not everyone can get as far, but one should get as far as their abilities allow, but just standing with the catcher does not fit the abilities criteria, unless one has a handicap that would prevent this from ever being a possibility.

This is also a 2 steps fair positioning call when the outside edge of the foot will just brush up against the bag, and this umpire was perfectly positioned for this type of step. A 45 degree angle would be at a disadvantage on this one. Nobody knows 100 per cent of the time where the pitcher is going to step on this play. A step like this on the front of the bag with the pitcher having the time to step in front of the runner would have the 45 degree angle the best and the 2 step fair the worst since you could not see over the bag and the plate umpire could not help since he would be straight-lined with the side of the foot brushing the bag.

Sometimes, just luck of the draw with trying to anticipate with experience the exact perfect spot to be in when a step is not going to be on top of the bag.

I have been married to my HS sweetheart for 26 yrs. The shocking part is I'm still living.

What does your girlfriend think??

She's OK with it. Actually we dated from 10th grade to jr year of college, then we broke up. I got married, divorced, and the we got married. My first wife has been married and divorced three times, I figure I am doing better than her.

Thanks for the timeline, although it was unnecessary--I was scratching my head from your first post, although I was pretty much envisioning several alternate types of scenarios. Keep up the good work.

Sounds like at TD's are us, that these potential TD's are being told by other TD's "that there is an easy way to make 20k. Run a bunch of tournaments. The umpires can make up to 5k per year working all the time while TD's can make an easy 20k. Tell the umpires not to toss any of the coaches. The ones who do, blackball them. The ones who don't stay and make 5k. Umpires are a dime a dozen. Don't let them ruin that 20k gravy money you are making. You got to please the coaches, not the umpires".

That's my take on TD's are us from some areas of the country. Of course, I am sure not all are run this way, but I bet some are, and I bet the TD's can make a lot more than the umpires who work all the time. Maybe all the umpires should just become TD's and make some nice jack and tell the remaining umpires if they want a job, just ignore anything the coaches do.