07/16/1999
Well, since this was All Star week there really is only one topic to
talk about, right? Yep, you got it the stupidity of the Umpires Union.
I am still trying to figure out which part of this whole fiasco the umpires
have gotten themselves into is the most stupid. But just exactly what do
the umpires hope to gain from this? While I understand a strike (the current
CBA between the umpires and MLB forbids the umpires to strike), I can't
understand why they would resign. OK, so maybe I can, GREED. By resigning
the umpires will receive $15 million in severance pay (the umps with the
most seniority would receive around $400,000 apiece). That and the hopes
that Major League Baseball will come crying back to them and their newly
formed Umpiring Company led by Richie Phillips. This new entity would have
almost total control over the umpires, in effect putting them above the
Commissioner's Office and even the game.
The owners, the Commissioner's Office, and more specifically Sandy Alderson
whom Commissioner Bud Selig had hoped to put in charge of the umpires anyway,
are not about to give in to any of Richie Phillips' demands. When asked about
the resignations Sandy Alderson replied, "This is either a threat to be ignored
or an offer to be accepted." You can bet he isn't loosing any sleep over
this matter.
Major League Baseball will instead hire replacement umpires who can't even
be called scabs because there is no strike, they are crossing no picket lines.
Where will the replacement umpires come from? How about from the minor league
ranks, and from the college and high school ranks? There are more than enough
umpires in those ranks that are more qualified to do the job than half of
the current umpires. And more importantly they have a true love for the game,
otherwise they wouldn't work for the wages they currently receive.
One of the most peculiar aspects of the whole fiasco is the date chosen to
resign, September 2, when the minor leagues are winding down their seasons
and the minor league umpires will become available. Richie Phillips has
threatened that MLB will not find any replacement umps from the minor leagues
because they stand firmly behind the union. If they do they are just as stupid
as the major league umpires. The Umpires Union has done nothing to gain their
support. They promote from within, often friends and family members of current
umpires, while leaving more qualified umps to go to waste in the minors.
Even if the minor league umps do stand behind the union, so what? The college
crew that called the College World Series would be more than surpass all
but the very best umps in the union today.
It might take a few years to get an improvement in umpiring at the major
league level but that is exactly what will happen, if MLB carefully cultivates
the best umpires and discards the rabble.
The Umpires Union has not only played into the hands of Major League Baseball
but has also killed itself, with its members' mass resignations. Stupidity
like that is unforgivable, and they deserve everything that happens to them.
Mopping Up
Matt Mantei sure isn't showing a lot of early returns for the Diamondbacks
After giving up the farm to get him, he is just 1 for 2 so far in save
situations and last night blew a 2-0 lead Randy Johnson held through the
eighth inning. The hard luck pitcher of the year so far this year has
to be Randy Johnson, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Sammy Sosa is above the pace he was on last year in the home run chase.
Through the first half last year (87 games) he hit 33 homers. In
the first half this year (85 games) he had hit 32, and has hit two homers
in the two games since the break (34 homers in 87 games).
Since June 1, Greg Maddux is 6-2 with a 1.94 ERA, and Tom Glavine is
5-2 with a 3.11 ERA. The rest of the league better watch out cause
Atlanta once again has 3 Aces with a fourth up their sleeve (Smoltz).
Rumours continue to swirl about a deal between the Dodgers and Angels that
would send Garrett Anderson to the Dodgers for Ishmael Valdez. The
only thing that has kept a deal similar to to this one from already
occuring is the status of Ken Hill's elbow. Look for something
to happen between these two clubs before the July 31 trade deadline.
--O-fer
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© 1999 K. Hollingshead
1999 |
