jhart05

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) I have spoken often with one of the supervisors, an old AL ump, Marty Springstead. Wonderful character, wonderful stories. I've spoken with a few of the guys, too. Fun times, and a good source to get "inside" the game. Best of luck to your cousin -- if he works any games in Minny, I might get to meet him! Again, thanks on his behalf. Actually it's funny you mention Minnesota. We have some relatives up there. Twins fans of course. If you guys were happy he was calling the inside strike for your guy, I would imagine they weren't too happy about it on their side. I wonder if they were cursing him out during the game. LOL. Todd!! W-T-F, man!!! LOL! (My umpire cousin's name is Todd Tichenor.)

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) I thought he called a good game, and he wasn't afraid to call the high strike, which I like. Pretty consistent as well. Hopefully your cousin will stay up and continue to be a good ump. Just curious, how much do umpires get paid through the systems? Is it a salary that goes by seniority? I have always thought about ump'ing to be honest Yeah, I don't know how the salary thing goes. I would have to assume it's like any job, you start out a certain pay grade, then you get a raise the longer you stay around. That's something I wanted to ask him the next time I talk to him. QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 01:19 PM) As an IHSA umpire for four years now, I must commend him on his perseverance. It takes a special individual to make it to the major leagues. Umpiring will not be my future career--for me, it is a great chance to work outdoors and participate in some baseball and a nice supplemental summer income. However, for those who chose umpiring as their line of work, advancing past the minor league ranks is a major accomplishment in and of itself. Give him a pat on the back from a comrade in the trenches. On his behalf, thank you. I'll let him know. He's been doing it for quite a while now, as you can imagine. I guess they have an umpiring school or something, I know he went thru that years ago. He started way down in A ball, maybe even in the Rookie League. Worked his way up, and he thinks this is finally his "shot". He's only a few years younger than me. I think he's 32, maybe 33. We're all very excited for him and proud of him. QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 01:37 PM) The delayed strike call on Iguchi was the only hiccup I noticed. Congrats to your cousin on making it to the bigs. I've met the Runge's (three generations of umps) on a few occasions - umps are pretty colorful guys with thick skin and great stories. Again, on his behalf, thank you. And yeah he's pretty tough. His Dad was a high school football coach for many, many years. You don't remember what inning that Iguchi call was do you? I TiVo'd most of the game. Actually I suppose I could look at the game log and figure it out, couldn't I.

What did you guys think of your home plate umpire yesterday? I guess if you really didn't notice that he made any bad calls, he must have done a good job. I ask because he is my cousin. He's been working his way up the ranks in the minors, he's now in AAA, and has been "called up" several times in the past two months to fill in. Might be full time in the majors next year. Just wondering and looking for some unbiased opinions... Thanks.

QUOTE(103 mph screwball @ Jun 28, 2007 -> 01:45 PM) Aim higher than holding off the scrubs. Win it all. You never know what might happen next year. Sheets might get hurt, or your team might hit 230 for some unexplained reason. Next thing you know those youngsters start to get expensive and the team can't afford them all. With the Sox dominant pitching and increased payroll after the Championship, I thought we could have a several year run of success. Now, we are sellers. The Brewers look to be good for several years, but I hope they take the opportunity to win a weak NL. Good luck to the Brewers. Well, yes that's of course what I'm hoping for, and the team has said they are going to go for it this year. The owner has given Melvin the green light to go get someone if he thinks it will help the team. I'm just trying to not get too carried away yet. Just win the division first, I'll be happy with that much. Then in the playoffs anyone can get hot or cold for a few weeks.

Looks like your team is giving him an extension anyway, so the trade rumors with him are probably dead. You could still send that lefty up our way thou.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 09:00 PM) Welcome aboard...appreciate the insite and opinion of a fan on the other side of the rumors. I know a couple people around here have talked in the past about the Brewers being pretty good fits for either MacDougall or Thornton. Thanks. I have heard Thornton's name thrown around, but not so much MacDougall. I would think Melvin would be more interested in the lefty, but of course what team isn't interested in a lefty pitcher with a heartbeat. Here is a link to the quality Brewers message board: http://p092.ezboard.com/bbrewersfandemonium There is a thread in the Trade Rumors section about Buehrle.

QUOTE(chisox2334 @ Jun 26, 2007 -> 08:13 PM) lets see we go off what we hear in newspapers and everything else. I didnt know you the gm of your team And I can only go off what I read in our papers and what Melvin himself says in our pre-game shows. This was in our paper up here: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=624362 It talks about the Yovani situation and the Buehrle rumors. I'm not necessarily saying a deal won't be done, if it does happen, it would probably be because of a major injury to a Sheets or a Suppan, or if Cappy goes into the tank. But it's not going to involve any of their young core of players that I mentioned before. Melvin would be an idiot to break up what may become the best infield in the NL for the next few years. But lucky for us, he's far from being an idiot. I believe the sane, rational Brewer fans like me, think they have enough right now to hold off the sCrubs. That would be enough for me, as this is happening a year earlier than we anticipated, so any post season this year is gravy, imo. I would hope Melvin sees that as well.

The Crew will not trade any of the young infield, Hart, or Yovani. Melvin won't give up the future for half a season. Some of us Brewer fans can see past this year, to what this team can become. So if they don't make a move to "guarantee" the fans a playoff win this year, I'm fine with it. I can't speak for "the sky is falling" type of idiot fan, thou. They are probably going to put Yovani in the pen now, to save the majority of his innings for starts in late August and September. I don't really think they need another starter. Villanueva can also start if needed. Melvin said he was not interested in Buehrle anyway. I believe him. If anything I would say he is looking for a lefty in the pen and a replacement for Mench, but neither is crucial, imo. You probably should look at some other teams.