Replacement Umps on the way

I just received a letter warning college umpires to be careful about not fulfilling their commitments to games at the college level. Apparently some of them (no… I wasn’t one of them) were asked to do some minor league games. The content simply put was a reminder that they wouldn’t be professional umpires forever and that they would have to return. I can understand that. If umpires jumped ship the schedule would be all out of wack. But I am sure it was tempting to some of them… just to make it to the minors once. What a thrill.

With a strike imminent, officials of the 10 minor leagues that start today have contacted replacements that range from high school to college umpires.

At the major league level you have umpires but also a cloud hangs over a fallen hero, Barry Bonds.

This was supposed to have been the year of Barry Bonds. Not only the year that he would surpass Babe Ruth???s home run record, but, perhaps, the year he would surpass Hank Aaron to become the all-time home run leader. Instead, he finds himself shrouded by doubt and suspicion as allegations continue to surface about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

In the meantime, we dream of the day when the major league umpires and minor league umpires all strike. Then that big chance to do that big game with big name players. Ahhhh… to do one big game under the lights. Then the dream snaps and you realize that the baseball players also went on strike. It wouldn’t be the same with all replacement players… then again.

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