Pecos independent minor league

[mac266]

This is a huge umpiring milestone for me.  I've been hired to umpire in the Pecos League (independent minor league) this summer!  I know it's a shoestring operation, but it's a step up from high school and therefore I'm counting it as progress.  I'm trying to break into collegiate umpiring, but unfortunately Pecos is mandating that we use a 2-man system.  I know collegiate ball uses 3-man, but I figure it's at least a step in the right direction.

[johnnyg08]

Kick ass! Go there and do the best damn job you can do and you'll be well on your way! 

Congratulations! 

[Mad Mike]

Can you share any other specifics like: do you get any training, do you travel, work with the same partner all the time, per diem and game fees?

[mac266]

On 4/7/2022 at 8:51 PM, Mad Mike said:

Can you share any other specifics like: do you get any training, do you travel, work with the same partner all the time, per diem and game fees?

I'm not sure if the pay is public.  Let's just say it's better than high school and not as good as college.  They are hiring guys in specific areas to cut their travel costs, so I'll be in Colorado Springs, Trinidad, and Roswell.  The league covers a much bigger area than that, but they will have guys in each area to cover the umpiring.  We will get a travel stipend and they put us in a hotel for games in the same place for multiple days in a row.  We will not be working with the same partner all the time, as availability is the #1 reason assignments are made.  Training:  No, unfortunately.  They grabbed the best guys from our high school association, and I've noticed the vast majority of us who were selected have all gone to umpire clinics and don't want to rely on the association's training as our only training.  Our initial training program for new umpires is awesome for a high school association, but we do not have a mentorship program or evaluation program to continue to improve.  Once you're released to umpire, it's all on you.  Those of us who take it seriously go to clinics.