UMAX

Or have one off season and be good at football and horrible at everything else.

Sounds like you guys are starting a good baseball program from the little leagues on up through HS. I assume you have a future big leaguer playing. What did he think of the other coaches boo hooing?

Sounds about right. Nobody is concerned about rules until it affects them. Where was this tournament played? In my opinion, the coach lost his right to protest as soon as the first pitch wass thrown. I guarantee you that he thoought he had an easy "W" before the game started. I love it when that happens.

Does have power. Some things that may hinder him going to the next level are all he has seen for the most part is weak pitching, height, and arm strength. It is not weak, but it is not what I would consider an upper level arm. As a hitter I could see him being good, defensively not so sure.

Well I will tell ya. I figure if you guys can make up all these justifications then you can be called on them. The more people get on you guys, the more absurd reasons you come up with to gripe about your pay. Fact is, you guys are going to run alot of Seniors year if you indeed dont call. In closing, after listening to your former credentials, you have no official capacity as of right now so everything you are stating is opinions from talking to people that do, correct?

Maybe not at this moment. In due time, trust me, there will be some to take your place. What is your position that allows you to have all this info from TASO and UIL? The kids will not get screwed in the end. Someone will do it. Maybe not "certified" (whatever that means) but someone will step up to the plate (pun intended) so that these kids can play. I have gathered that you are an official of some kind but you are always saying how much you talk to the UIL and all the powers that be.

Here is the problem. Coaching and teaching is their sole source of livelihood. Umpiring is not the sole source of income for you guys. This is just another example of you guys trying to justify something so that you dont sound so bad. Again, you knew the pay wasn't alot when you went into it. If the money isn't up to par, find a new hobby. There will be others to take you place.

Please explain and/or justify why umpires should get mileage and per diem if they are calling in the town that they live in.

I think we are starting to see that some umpires think that they are bigger than the game itself. You guys are pulling a childish act in that since you are not getting your way, you will just take your toys and go home. Again, like most teachers are told when they gripe about pay, you knew it didnt pay much when you started it. At first, I was behind you all the way because I thought you deserved more pay. Now you are not getting your way and you are throwing fits and trying to justify things such as mileage and meals. If mileage is that big of a deal, have umpires that are responsible for a specific geographic location that is relative to where they live. Let some of the egotistical blues that will only do big school games do some smaller classifications close to their house or work. Why should Coach Malone at LHS or Coach Marrs at PT have to pay a meal per diem to an umpire who lives in Longview? Like my pops always said, you can justify anything if you try hard enough.

Could one of you guys tell us what your idea for fair compensation is in a dollar amount. I know that 75 has been the going rate, but what do you really think the job of umpiring a varsity baseball game should be, ideally?

Both parties were not necessarily in agreement. I know alot of coaches who disagreed with the upfront fee and wondered why they had to pay more than what the UIL set forth. In order for the schools to get umpires to call, they had to sign the agreement. They were left with no choice.

As I have stated before, I am behind you guys all the way with the exceptiion of the timing. However, I am also intelligent enough to know that it may n ot have been affective if you had done this earlier. Regarding the 30% paycut, If the umpires had been following the rule all along it would not be a paycut, right? TASO knows that in order to do high school games there are UIL guidelines but most chapters chose to go with a flat fee. It was a good deal but in most jobs, you have to follow the guidelines. Umpiring baseball games is about rules and so is the UIL. These chapters in essence broke the rules. Anyway, hope you all get what you deserve in higher pay because the players need the umpires and the umpires need the players in order to do what both love.

Because even the simplest of minds can understand football whereas you actually need some intelligence to understand baseball.

I think everyone agrees that a "line in the sand" needs to be drawn. I think what everyone is saying is that a few weeks before the start of the season is not that time.

Looks like coach hit a nerve.