Some workers work well with spreadsheets and numbers. They tend to be used as accountants. Some workers are good with science and analyzing illness. They tend to be employed as doctors or nurses. Some workers are really good selling items or services they represent. Those workers tend to be in sales. Finally, some people are really good do nothing productive while lying. We call those people Congressmen.
In American society, we tend to have people do what they’re best at. Yet in baseball, rarely do we allow umpires to specialize in what they’re best at. Some are really good at calling balls and strikes. Yet, they only do that one out of every four games. Some umpires are very good at getting the correct call on checked swings. Yet, they get to be on the first and third base line only every other game. Some umpires are very good at getting calls correct on the base paths, but even there, they perform better or worse depending on the particular base. This may because of the relative vision in one eye versus another, or the way they tilt their head, or any other number of factors.
The fact is, umpires rotate around the diamond in a counterclockwise motion. The result is the American public, and batters, are subject to the home plate calls of the likes of Angel Hernandez once every four days. In regards to umpires, MLB is having sales people be accountants, accountants playing doctor and so forth.
Now is the time to stop this forced rotation of umpires. The Umpires Union may try to fight it, but frankly the union should be in favor of it. Removing the worse performing umpires from behind home plate and assigning them to where they could be their best, will improve the percentage of ball/strike calls made correctly, and might help delay the movement towards an automated strike zone. Removing the worst umpires from each base will reduce incorrect calls, speed the pace of play and frankly reduce umpire embarrassment from having calls overturned upon replay. From an economic perspective, umpire wages could even be adjusted, with a bump for umpires making ball/strike calls behind the plate, the most physically demanding position.
Let’s hear it, MMO readers. Should umpires become specialists in one position? Comments are welcome below.
