Did you see this about Brian Runge???

[VAUmp]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/02/mlb-umpire-brian-runge-fired-for-drug-violation/

[BRUMP]

May not be true. Wouldn't be the first time umps are slandered. If it is true I hope he gets the help he needs.

[johnnyg08]

If this is true, I hope he's able to conquer his demons.  Addiction is a serious, serious illness.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

If this is true, I hope he's able to conquer his demons.  Addiction is a serious, serious illness.

 

 There is a difference between "addiction", and failing a drug test. Marijuana is not physically addictive, but one can certainly fail a drug test for it.

[johnnyg08]

 

If this is true, I hope he's able to conquer his demons.  Addiction is a serious, serious illness.

 

 There is a difference between "addiction", and failing a drug test. Marijuana is not physically addictive, but one can certainly fail a drug test for it.

 

 

 

If a person fails multiple drug tests that end up costing him his career, I'd consider that "a problem."  

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 

 

If this is true, I hope he's able to conquer his demons.  Addiction is a serious, serious illness.

 

 There is a difference between "addiction", and failing a drug test. Marijuana is not physically addictive, but one can certainly fail a drug test for it.

 

 

 

If a person fails multiple drug tests that end up costing him his career, I'd consider that "a problem."  

 

 

 I totally agree, but the article doesn't say he failed multiple test. Doesn't say he didn't, either. And we have no way of knowing for what substance he allegedly tested positive. Perhaps he was at a party, was drinking, someone fired up a joint, and he partook. He subsequently failed a random drug test, and then failed to comply with the agreed-upon terms of his continued employment. In this scenario, I don't have someone with a drug problem, I have someone with a decision-making problem. But I understand your point, and it is likely we will never know the entire story. I hope if he does, indeed, have a problem, that he can get things straightened out. I have seen serious drug use ruin the lives of two family members.

[Rich Ives]

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

[IABlue]

First one ever...

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/major-league-baseball-umpire-let-go-after-drug-violation-070213

 

[HokieUmp]

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

 

Yeah, Rich, because it's not like this is a board full of umpires that get tired of the abuse from everyone else. 

 

Oh, wait.  It IS a board full of umpires.

 

Seriously, it's great that you're the one coach that knows the rulebook.  Law of averages, and all of that.  But if you really, honestly, in your heart-of-hearts, think there's going to be some kind of 'consistency' in the way you mention, you're more deluded than the dads on Rec Ball Saturdays.

 

You want a place where players and coaches are embraced warmly?  There's this place called "the rest of the effing Internet."  Maybe you've heard of it.

 

I've already read articles on 'real' sites about this news story, and the idiots posting out there.  You're welcome, any time, to go back out and join them.

 

FFS.

[JaxRolo]

It's already being discussed

[maven]

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

 

Do players become addicted to performance enhancing drugs? Do addicts cheat in order to make $millions? If not, then consistency is not the issue.

 

Unfortunate that the forum overlords deleted my previous post in this thread.

[mstaylor]

My thought initially was if true, it is related to his knee injury. Two possible explanations, prescribed steroids to treat the injury or addiction to pain meds from the injury. Both are completely understandable and is a story lived out by many all over the country. 

[Rich Ives]

 

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

 

Yeah, Rich, because it's not like this is a board full of umpires that get tired of the abuse from everyone else. 

 

Oh, wait.  It IS a board full of umpires.

 

Seriously, it's great that you're the one coach that knows the rulebook.  Law of averages, and all of that.  But if you really, honestly, in your heart-of-hearts, think there's going to be some kind of 'consistency' in the way you mention, you're more deluded than the dads on Rec Ball Saturdays.

 

You want a place where players and coaches are embraced warmly?  There's this place called "the rest of the effing Internet."  Maybe you've heard of it.

 

I've already read articles on 'real' sites about this news story, and the idiots posting out there.  You're welcome, any time, to go back out and join them.

 

FFS.

 

 

 

If you are an impartial arbiter then be an impartial arbiter.

 

Trashing players with drug problems while commiserating with an umpire with drug problems just shows the contempt you have for players.  Not an impartial point of view.  A person with drug issues is a person with drug issues - it matters not what hie profession might be.

[johnnyg08]

 

 

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

 

Yeah, Rich, because it's not like this is a board full of umpires that get tired of the abuse from everyone else. 

 

Oh, wait.  It IS a board full of umpires.

 

Seriously, it's great that you're the one coach that knows the rulebook.  Law of averages, and all of that.  But if you really, honestly, in your heart-of-hearts, think there's going to be some kind of 'consistency' in the way you mention, you're more deluded than the dads on Rec Ball Saturdays.

 

You want a place where players and coaches are embraced warmly?  There's this place called "the rest of the effing Internet."  Maybe you've heard of it.

 

I've already read articles on 'real' sites about this news story, and the idiots posting out there.  You're welcome, any time, to go back out and join them.

 

FFS.

 

 

 

If you are an impartial arbiter then be an impartial arbiter.

 

Trashing players with drug problems while commiserating with an umpire with drug problems just shows the contempt you have for players.  Not an impartial point of view.  A person with drug issues is a person with drug issues - it matters not what hie profession might be.

 

 

 

I would agree with that statement absent addiction.  

[Umpire in Chief]

Who knows what his situation was. 

There are plausible innocent enough explanations and there's the other extreme of a wild debauchery. We will probably never know.

 

On the one hand I support the decision on MLB if the story from Fox Sports/ AP is accurate it appears he was given the opportunity to continue but did not meet the terms of that agreement.

 

On the other hand while I generally have very little sympathy for those who ruin their own lives with the decisions they make, he is one of us and I do feel for him. 

 

I hope he can overcome this situation. 

[maven]

A person with drug issues is a person with drug issues - it matters not what hie profession might be.

That's crap. It matters what the "drug issue" is and how they got it. Becoming addicted to pain killers after a major injury or surgery can happen to anyone and by accident.

 

Using non-addictive PED's to cheat at baseball is not morally equivalent. Even if you keep repeating it.

 

I'm not defending Runge or anyone else, just denying that "impartiality" requires treating all "drug issues" alike.

[mtnump]

We have to hold him to the same level of accountability that we on this site hold the players. What are the reasons for the failed drug test? In this day and age, time will tell, and it shouldn't be long. Then we can make our judgements about that. Bottom line, he works in a drug free work place, he knows that tests are randomly administered and he failed. In my job, that would be game over as well, regardless of the circumstances. If it was related to his knee injury, it is his responsibility to inform MLB and work on a solution before a hot test, not after. This wouldn't have been released until all of his appeals to MLB were exhausted - MLB didn't want this anymore than he did, especially with all of the negative attention on the umpires so far this season.

I do have sympathy for the man, as he not only has now created a black cloud for his profession, but for his family and its long history in umpiring. Whatever the situation, I hope that he is able to get through it and continue with his life in a productive and fulfilling manner.

[soapbox]

Sorry, but he wasn't betting on games.  He wasn't cheating to gain an edge.  As others have mentioned, it could be anything at all.  To crucify and say he had a drug problem?  Got to love us umpires!  We spend way too much time judging.  Made a mistake and paying the price.  That is too bad.  I'm sure baseball had no problem if other crew members bang down a 12 pack after every game. 

[BRUMP]

 I'm sure baseball had no problem if other crew members bang down a 12 pack after every game. 

have u ever read as they see em?   from that book it pretty much says that they do.....see my signature its a direct quote from that book

[soapbox]

Actually, my wife is grabbing from the library for me this week.  We don't know what he did.  I don't care what he did.  But to call him an addict, sorry, not going there.  Maybe he was. ,maybe he wasn't.  I think we all have things we would like do overs on.  I have a life outside of umpiring.  Actually, though I enjoy the side work, other things in life much more important.  I will judge balls and strikes. not a guy who just lost his job. 

[BigUmp56]

There's simply no way that any of us should be drawing conclusions about the reasons behind his failed test and subsequent termination, given the small amount of information we have at this time. He could have failed the test for any number of substances and/or different situations. I'm going to withold making any final determinations until all of it comes out.

Tim.

[HokieUmp]

 

 

WOW!

 

Crucify players - commiserate with umps.

 

Need some consistency here.

 

Yeah, Rich, because it's not like this is a board full of umpires that get tired of the abuse from everyone else. 

 

Oh, wait.  It IS a board full of umpires.

 

Seriously, it's great that you're the one coach that knows the rulebook.  Law of averages, and all of that.  But if you really, honestly, in your heart-of-hearts, think there's going to be some kind of 'consistency' in the way you mention, you're more deluded than the dads on Rec Ball Saturdays.

 

You want a place where players and coaches are embraced warmly?  There's this place called "the rest of the effing Internet."  Maybe you've heard of it.

 

I've already read articles on 'real' sites about this news story, and the idiots posting out there.  You're welcome, any time, to go back out and join them.

 

FFS.

 

 

 

If you are an impartial arbiter then be an impartial arbiter.

 

Trashing players with drug problems while commiserating with an umpire with drug problems just shows the contempt you have for players.  Not an impartial point of view.  A person with drug issues is a person with drug issues - it matters not what hie profession might be.

 

 

How is my equally shared contempt not impartial?  As long as I loathe all players equally, I'm golden!

 

Look, I enjoy working games.  I enjoy enforcing the rules, based on the situations in front of me.  I enjoy the younger kids, because they're playing for fun.  I can enjoy the comments between players, when it happens.  And I appreciate and love being outside on a nice day, on a nice green field.

 

But I'm not out there to make new friends.  I know that, at any moment, the same sunshine-and-rainbows coaches and players are ready to turn on me and act like I shot their dog or otherwise crushed their dreams, because of a call I make.  In a game.  And it doesn't just happen on close plays, or on plays that might go either way;  it's on calls they just don't like.  These are the same people that want to be chatty and friends until that point.  I've had coaches and parents approach me and my partner well away from the field, well after a game, to bitch and moan about something.

 

So, yeah, there's an us-vs-them thing for me.  And to pretend it's not there is either naive or delusional.  So when the person in question is an 'us,' I'm more inclined to provide more compassion than to a 'them.'  My sympathies are limited, generally, because there are precious few documented cases of people being held down and injected with something, or being forced to smoke a doobie.  And that's with a younger daughter that let her love for weed eff up her high school career, as well as a lot of her teen years.  But what little I give, I'll give to an ump first before a player.

 

Remember, players and coaches are the jocks - the ones that get a free ride through life.  Consequences are rare for them.  Runge is out of MLB, and may not even have much of an umpiring career left.  Ron Washington is ..... still a manager.  Cry me a friggin' river.