If MLB and the umps union will allow that, it could improve the performance of the older umps. So that should be used as a carrot they would like to avoid the stick they wouldn't.
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MLB 2024
- Thread starter jedimasterkyle
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But isn't just that, 50 is not very old for an official. If Tom Brady can play QB untill 44, umps can work until at least 60. Gordie Howe played hockey until he was 50.
That wild suggestion comes from the study finding that the older umps were the poor performers. I believe the authors of the study would say, yes, 50 is old for an ump, if you're grading performance. They are physically capable of standing out on the field for three hours, sure, but while making more bad calls than the younger guys. Comparing the athletes to the officials might be useful in one respect. You can't say that an athlete in his late 40's, early 50's ever performed as well as he did in his prime. Play, yes, but at the highest level, no. The older umps are demonstrably impacting the game negatively, taking the bat out of a player's hands, almost literally.
But, yeah, I know, a mandatory retirement age significantly lower than that of the fans who have less demanding jobs will never be a popular idea.
MLB has plenty of money. Retire the umps at 50 and give them a really nice pension.
A pilot can fly a commercial airliner in the U.S. until age 65 which is a significantly more impactful-to-human-life job than umpiring. Forcing retirement on umps at 50 would be a hard sell. Just like autopilot primarily exists to take the mundane out of flying, the calling of balls and strikes will eventually be done electronically, IMO. With most everything else in the game being subject to video challenge, you leave the home plate ump in place to make calls related to that line of sight on the field, but take away the calling of balls and strikes.
Just my poorly thought-out two cents.
Just my poorly thought-out two cents.
So are the Cardinals. Maybe we should form a support group 😂🤣
No where near as bad as the Rockies. Can’t believe Bud hasn’t been fired yet.
The White Sox were predicted to finish third if you put stock in PECOTA, but 3-21 is a VERY slow start if they're going to make that happen.
At this rate, it wouldn't surprise me if they nuke the roster by the trade deadline. Only one worth a damn IMO is Benintendi.
Are they on pace to lose even more than 120 games?
Actually more than 140 if they continue this slide, which they probably won't. It's still early, but they have a lot to do to if they're going to avoid a record-setting horrible season.
Heck, you should be able to get five wins just by dumb luck by showing up to the park. After a hot start, KC cooled off.
Well I have settled into a season of watching the Red Sox selectively. I’m honestly not expecting them to finish far from the bottom of the AL East, with a rotation made mostly of rookies. But I enjoyed the 17-0 thrashing of the Cubs.
Same. With Casas, Story, Pivetta and Bello all going on the IL this early into the season, I'm not expecting much from them at all. Story being out for the entire year though is a huge kick to the nuts for the Red Sox though because he finally got healthy again 🤦♂️. It's like Sale all over again.