We sit at the precipice of the 2009 Fall Classic, otherwise known as the World Series, brought to you by Major League Baseball (MLB). Historically, it will be the latest start ever for a World Series, commencing Oct. 28, 2009, and will possibly conclude as late as Nov. 5, 2009, should a Game Seven be necessary.
But let us not digress, as there are more problems that should keep the minds of the brain trust of Major League Baseball, Inc. occupied after a horrid conclusion, in the umpiring department, during the 2009 American League Division Series (ALDS), the National League Division Series (NLDS), the American League Championship Series (ALCS), and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
Contrary to the public outrage by supposed baseball fans, sports radio, and sports TV talk show hosts—most of whom could care less about MLB during its regular season—there is reason for cooler heads to preside. Before knee-jerk cries for instant replay actually become a reality, it is essential that the underlying umpiring problems be examined.
In an Oct. 18, 2009 editorial for The New York Times, former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent (1989-1992) stated, “Major League Baseball does not train its own umpires and therefore it has not established practices that would attract the best people. Those who wish to enter the profession attend schools run by former umpires. But these are entirely private businesses; the commissioner of baseball doesn’t control the curriculum or manage the training.”
What Fay Vincent is alluding to is, without a uniform standard overseen by MLB, simply implementing new technology will not solve the systemic problem. The problem was demonstrated by numerous bad calls this postseason, most notably one by Phil Cuzzi in the ALDS Game Two.
Joe Mauer of the Twins hit a potential double to left field, clearly within fair territory—but it was called foul. Also, in Game Four of the ALCS, Tim McClelland blew the call at third base with two Yankee baserunners clearly off the bag—except he only called Jorge Posada out, and not Robinson Cano.
What each of these egregious calls has in common is both umpires were exactly where they needed to be. They were both right on top of the plays, yet still missed the calls. They were not bang-bang plays, like a stolen base or a runner beating out a throw to first base. The problem clearly lies in the ineptitude of the umpires.
Necessary to understanding the gravity of blown calls during the all-important MLB postseason contests, however, is to put them into some type of historical context. Obviously, incorrect calls have been part of baseball lore since the introduction of the first professional umpire in 1876.
But the advent of technology will not correct MLB’s systemic problems with the training of umpires, the selection process and evaluation for postseason umpire assignments, and the remaining political tightrope between the World Umpires Association (WUA), the umpires’ union, and MLB.
First, the infrastructure that oversees MLB umpiring must be a priority for MLB Operations. To wit, the MLB commissioner should give MLB Operations—which presides over Umpiring Operations—autonomy. He can do this by providing it with its own budget, the necessary resources that would give it more umpire supervisors—currently there are seven—better training resources, and better compensation at the minor-league level.
Currently, the average minor league umpire averages a salary of $1,900 per month, with a maximum of $20,000 per season. Additionally, most minor league umpires serve in the minor leagues an average of 10 years.
MLB also needs independent evaluators, rather than strictly relying upon MLB umpires or private umpiring schools—which are strictly run as private enterprises by present and former MLB umpires. MLB has never provided any training schools, financing, or oversight for its up-and-coming umpires headed to the major leagues.
But MLB wants it both ways. It does not invest in the quality of training or evaluation of its umps, yet it requires umpires to compete with, in many cases, television’s super slow-motion replays, MLB’s Pitchf/x and Hitf/x technologies, radar technology and other high-tech camera equipment installed at MLB ballparks—without giving access to or the benefit of such technology to its umps.
Not unlike its refusal to use an independent lab and auditor for its illegal substance abuse testing program of its players, MLB may have to revisit its head-in-the-sand approach to many of its policies. In this most recent bugaboo; that includes its umpire training, evaluation and postseason selection process.
The selection process must also be overhauled. As a last-ditch effort to save face due to the repeated gaffes by the 2009 postseason umpiring crews, MLB decided to go with an all-senior World Series crew of six. Since 1983, MLB has selected one or two World Series umps who previously never had worked the World Series. But clearly, seniority or past experience is not necessarily the solution, as Tim McClelland’s 28 years of MLB experience did not prevent his blown calls in Game Four of the ALCS.
More problematic is no umpires are allowed to work the World Series two postseasons in a row. Added to that fact is no umpires are allowed to work consecutive postseason series in one year. Therefore, no umpires who worked the 2009 ALCS or NLCS will be working the World Series, though they may have had outstanding regular seasons or did good jobs in World Series past.
Additionally, out of the 68 full-time MLB umpires, a dozen—including seven crew chiefs—from the 2009 season are either injured or ill, and were not available for postseason assignments. Fewer umps were thus available to choose from in the experience arena.
This current selection process for postseason umpiring assignments is actually quite recent, as there were no Division Championship Series (DCS) prior to 1995. Now, the DCS is the only pool of 24 from which MLB may select who can work the World Series. Prior to that, the criterion was obviously different. And this year, as just decided by MLB, no DCS umpire who has not worked the prior World Series will be eligible for such assignment.
Another concern is the postseason bonuses paid to MLB umpires. Not only do the postseason crews get a paltry $15,000 for working the DCS and a $20,000 reward for each umpire working the LCS and the World Series, some level of financial compensation is awarded to all 68 MLB umpires. Thus, they get paid regardless of whether they worked the postseason or had less-than-favorable regular season performance reviews. There is less financial remuneration for the crews that work the postseason, which acts as a disincentive for other umpires to excel.
A combination of MLB executives and employees, including the executive VP of baseball operations, the vice president of umpiring, seven umpire supervisors, the special assistant to the vice president of umpiring, the director of umpire administration, the MLB umpire administration specialist, and 11 umpire observers, among others, comprise MLB’s oversight of umpiring. How this translates into due diligence of its umpiring postseason selection process remains an open question.
The criteria for postseason selection considers regular season strike-zone performance, situational management, plays handled, number of missed calls, overall umpiring knowledge, pace of game, in-season supervisor comments, mobility, hustle-focus-demeanor, and experience. But how objective or scientific these measures are as applied by former umpires and MLB suits remains a red flag.
Also of note, for the instant replay proponents, is that it has taken years for the National Football League (NFL) to streamline its replay technology in coordination with its on-field officials. And for those who can no longer recall, the NFL initially instituted instant replay in 1986, which lasted through the 1992 season.
However, after the 1992 season, NFL owners voted to discontinue its use, which at that time was used at the discretion of the referees. It did not return until 1999, and then only two coach challenges were allowed per game per team. This was amended once again in 2004, when each coach was provided a third challenge if the first two challenges were proven successful.
Although the reason given for the NFL’s ending instant-replay after the 1992 season was due to length of game—an overriding concern in MLB—it still remains unknown whether replays resolve all challenged calls. Referees must still consider the NFL’s ever-changing rule book and its phantom whistles, fumbles versus tucks, and the limitations of the naked eye—even in slow-mo.
In sum, if MLB intends to do right by its teams, players, and fans, then it must play a role in the development of MLB umpires—much like that which it does for its minor league players. Also, minor league officials hire minor league umpires, doing business as a separate entity from the major leagues. Therefore, it works in a vacuum and eliminates the potential for cohesiveness and assurance for a natural progression to the MLB level for its umpires.
Without the necessary resources and training guaranteed by MLB, in spite of potential discordant collective bargaining issues and politics, we will never be assured that the best quality product is on the field. Financial reward for performance excellence and postseason assignments, as well as fair compensation in the minor leagues, is essential for its umpires’ success.
The WUA collective bargaining agreement with MLB expires on Dec. 31, 2009, on the heels of one of the most demoralizing postseason umpiring performances in the past 25 years. Hopefully it might serve as a silver lining for MLB to take the time to rethink its approach before it becomes overly dependent upon technology—which has its place—rather than first addressing the heart of good officiating.
And let us hope that there are no snow-outs during this year’s Fall Classic!
Copyright ©2009 Diane M. Grassi
Contact: dgrassi@cox.net
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