The Cats are trailing the Pelicans 8-2 in the eighth inning of tonight’s game as I write.

It is never fun to be trailing in a game and really NOT fun when the score is 8-2.  We have beaten Pensacola 14 out of 15 times this season.  The odds of us winning yet another game against the Pelicans are getting longer every day.   After tonight, we have the three day all-star break and it is much needed by the Cats.   We have a couple of starters with some tired arms and a sore shoulder.  We have relievers who have pitched way too many games in recent days.  Tonight, Tim Haines is coming in to relieve Lee Gwaltney despite the fact that he started a game just two nights ago.   Our pitching staff is tired and depleted.  We need the three day break.

We are going to have to get some things in order before the roster freeze deadling in order to be in top shape for the playoffs.  You can be sure that Chad Tredaway is keely aware of that.

Our core group is solid.  We need one more big hitter to help us break open those big innings and we need some help in middle relief.  Look for moves to be made in those areas.  Rosters are frozen two weeks before the playoffs, so we will need to get our house in order by August 9.

I do like our team and I think we have a good chance to take it all the way once again, even though the odds are stacked against such an occurrence.  Not to mention, just about everyone else in the league would like to have a different champ.  There is no doubt that the Cats have targets on their backs.

There are several very good ballclubs in the league and when it comes down to a best of five series, anyone can win.  It takes a solid effort combined with a few breaks to win a championship.  That’s just a fact.

One of the most interesting phenomenon is how fickle some fans can be.  When we are going good, many people will compliment the team.  When we are going bad, you can see people shaking their heads and you hear people yelling at the manager, the team and yes… even blaming the umpires.  As I’ve said before… the beauty of the game is that it is an every day game and we have to maintain a balance each day.  It is a game that mirrors life…. like the song says…. “some days are diamonds, some days are coal”…..

But when it comes to blaming the umps…..  we should never blame the umps for any failures by the Cats.  The umpires are just like the players.  They are working hard to do the very best job possible.  If you have ever felt like yelling at the umps, and who hasn’t,  you should think about it.

First, think about the fact that these are young men who are aspiring to be at the top of their profession.  They all want to be major league umpires.  They spend the summer driving all around the country in their own vehicles to get to the various league cities.  They spend EVERY night in a hotel room.  Unlike the players, they do not have homestands, during which they can stay in their own apartments, with their family or friends around them.  They are on the road from the first day of the season to the last.  It is, indeed, a lonely and difficult experience.  

Then, take into consideration that they really don’t have any “fans”.  Every fan in the stands is pretty much ready to jump on them if they feel they missed a call, or a pitch.  I think it is interesting how fans tend to de-humanize the umps.  Not only do the umps find no friends in the grandstand, they aren’t exactly buddies with the guys in the dugouts either….. of course, they have to maintain objectivity and that means keeping their distance from the players and managers.   Each team is required to provide hotel accomodations for the umpires.  We are also asked to provide those accomodations at a hotel which is different from that which houses the visiting team.  This is done to maintain that professional distance from the players

Our American Association umps are a clean-cut group of young men who are just trying to live the American dream of pursuing a very lofty career goal.  That is to achieve something that is very difficult and rare accomplishment…. to become a major league umpire.  Believe it or not, it is far more difficult to become a major league umpire than a major league player.  Major league umps stay on the job a lot longer than players, so the opportunities for those openings are few and far between.  These young men are the sons of proud parents who worry about them every day.  I can only imagine how worried I would be if one of my two sons wanted to spend summer after summer driving around the country working night after night in a hot minor league ballpark.  If I were to sit in the stands and listen to some of things people were saying to my son, I would have to be restrained!

Do they miss calls?  Sure they do.  So do the best umps in the world… in the major leagues.

As you might imagine, I have an intense interest in the outcome of each and every play of our season.  (That is partially why I remain in the press level for most games.  My wife, Lois, would tell you that I am a little too intense.  I know, but I can’t help it.)  …. That said, I sincerely believe that our umpires are excellent.  They are competent, well trained professionals who have proven to be very reliable and capable on a day-in and day-out basis.  We never worry about the umpires.  They are here, looking sharp and ready to go every night… rock solid and dependable.  I tip my hat to our director of officials, Kevin Winn and the entire American Association umpiring staff.

It is an age-old tradition to yell at the umps.  It will never stop.  But when all is said and done….. let us tip our caps to this fine group of young men who come to LaGrave Field every night committed to excellence in their profession and thank them for the role they play in our great game in general and at our beautiful little ballpark in particular.�

JPD  Â

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 10:54 pm and is filed under From the Desk of the President. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.