http://baseballrules.today.com Just another Today.com weblog Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:38:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This is the last post in this category that has appeared on an off during the year. Well, it will be the last post unless some other bright idea comes along that suggests ways to improve MLB umpiring. All the items posted to date offer a variety of suggestions to improve ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/23/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-take-over-all-training/ Major League Baseball and its umpires are close to finalizing a new contract, according to baseball officials. Management has been seeking to gain increased flexibility for postseason assignments as part of the agreement. It would allow umpires to work the World Series during consecutive seasons. If all goes well, this would ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/22/mlb-umps-near-new-agreement/ For years, certain umpires have had mobility issues. Some of it had to do with weight. While most MLB umps seem to be in shape and have good agility to cover the bases, so to speak, several remain outside the norm for an umpire who needs to stand for four ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/21/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-get-in-shape/ One fresh way to look at umpiring in major league baseball is to value them as an asset to the game in the same way players are considered. Umpires should have individual contracts similar to players. The should not be part of one group agreement. Umpires would be paid based on ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/20/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-contracts-and-demotions/ I plead ignorance on this. I could not find anywhere if MLB has a mandatory retirement age for its umpires. So, I will assume, for this argument, that it doesn't. MLB needs to set a retirement age that is no later than 55 or when an umpire has 25 years in ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/13/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-mandatory-retirement-age/ Umpire Doug Harvey has been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Manager Whitey Herzog also got the nod. Former players’ union head Marvin Miller, who was on a ballot for executives and officials, and who had a lot of support, fell two votes short. The induction ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/07/ump-harvey-voted-to-hall-of-fame/ The El Nuevo Herald is reporting that the latest baseball defector is 26-year veteran umpire Nelson Diaz. He arrived in Miami with his family on Sunday and reportedly made the decision to leave after Cuba did not allow him to travel to Japan so he could work during the ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/12/02/now-umps-are-defecting-from-cuba/ With all the criticism about MLB umpiring, baseball needs to look closely at adding more eyes to call the game, including a seventh umpire in the press box. This recommendation makes some assumptions: 1. Replay will be established for certain plays beyond the current home run replay. 2. MLB includes six umpires ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/11/29/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-add-a-7th-umpire-upstairs/ Players are not allowed to argue balls and strikes. But if they were allowed to question these calls quietly without showing up the home plate umpire, it could help defuse situations. Players can get their say such as "That was outside," or "You missed that one." The umpire can choose ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/11/28/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-allow-players-to-vent/ Besides going back to umpire school for seasoning or off-season classes to brush up on rules, positioning and call making, some umpires need to take anger management classes. Umpires need to remain in control of the game and their emotions. They need to explain, in a calm way, some of their ... http://baseballrules.today.com/2009/11/24/how-to-improve-mlb-umpiring-take-anger-mangement-classes/