quote:Originally posted by piaa_ump:quote:Originally posted by bsballfan:
Just because there are less jobs doesn't mean that it is more difficult to get one of those jobs when there are FAAAAAAAAAAR more kids who dream of playing in the MLB than umpiring there (more competition for jobs.
There is another aspect to this for umpires.....umpires at the MLB level can have lengthy careers........some 30+ years....there are years when at best the can be 1-2 openings at the MLB level...and other years when there are none.....
Maybe that is a problem? What if they evaluated them obvjectively and the top 45 got to stay each year and the last 20ish were replenished with the top minor league guys......you know like the players/managers earn their jobs year to year.....seems like a good gig, like a college professor.
Maybe knowing there WOULD BE cuts each year would help guys continue to improve in order to keep their great jobs and not have to go back to little money and bus trips from Toledo to Indianapolis all summer.
Note: I have a ton of respect for minor league umpires and what they do to reach their dream.