Dear Baseball:
I would like to publically apologize for what I am being blamed for by Mr. Steinbrenner for throwing out both managers in Sunday’s important Blue Jays / Yankees game. I realize that these games in April are of great importance to both teams especialy the Yankees who need every win they can get even when they win. But please note that I was not playing favorites as I rung up Blue Jays manager John Gibbons also for doing the same thing. But I imagine the Blue Jays owner is thinking things like this too even if he is too busy to say anything because he’s busy doing owner stuff. I realize that it is hard to give a rookie like me a chance to succeed because it is a Catch 22 with experience not coming without experience and rookies having none.
But I would like to say that it is standard operating procedure for an umpire to ring up managers that argue balls and strikes because those are judgement calls I must make as an umpire. This is what we are taught in umpire school and it is drilled into us when we umpire games from home plate. Having managers flagrantly question my authority on these judgement calls is a slight against my authority as an umpire so I need to show them that they should respect my authority even if they think I have none. Whether I am right or wrong I am the final authority on these matters and should only be questioned in a certain way that is respectful of my position as the authority on calls like balls and strikes. I would not go so far as to say we are the law or the game but we are the ones that ultimately determine what will happen in a game and as such have a very hard job that isn’t made easier when we’re assaulted verbally by managers that think they can do our job. If they could do our job they should do our job and see how hard it is to do our job that they think we can’t do.
This has been a rough time for umpires of late especially because players are feeling free to flip bats at us for what they think are questionable calls. We are spit at or insulted repeatedly and it is part of the game but it is also something that we shouldn’t have to deal with. And it makes our job that much more difficult especially with machines in addition to players and managers and press reporters judging us repeatedly. It is getting to the point that I don’t even think about these sorts of things like blown strike calls and missed outs because thinking about them too much makes me dwell on things I might have done wrong and limits my ability to do my job effectively. (I know I am only a rookie so I can only speak for myself but I feel like I know what my umpiring brothers have gone through all these years so please keep this in mind when I am talking for myself and everyone that I work with.)
Anyway, I am sorry for doing my job to the best of my ability that people think isn’t enough and I am sorry to Mr. Steinbrenner for making him think that I can’t do my job and also to future managers or people that think I can’t do my job any better than a one-eyed donkey or their dead uncle. I can only give what I have to give every time I go out on the field and I only wish that people could understand this better so us umpires would be able to do our job in peace. We’re working stiffs too, you know, and we punch the clock the same as anyone working in a sheet metal plant or at a Chick-Fil-A. I hope that the next time we meet on the baseball field we can meet as friends or at least contientious co-workers that hate each other’s guts but act professional about it when called for. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Umpire Adam Dowdy
I went to professional umpire school, and Adam Dowdy was one of my instructors. He’s a good kid, a good teacher, and a very good umpire. Being part of the umpiring fraternity, I know and understand what goes on in the mind of an umpire. Umpires take as much pride in their work as any profession out there. They try to be perfect from the moment they step on the field until the game is over. It is a highly skilled job, one that most people could never do, no matter how much effort they put into it. With the system that is in place, it is a huge sacrifice to even work as a professional umpire. It certainly isn’t glamorous or lucrative. Minor league umpires are not paid a living wage, and have to put in many years just to keep slim hopes alive that they someday could get a call from the Major Leagues. Most never get that call, and retire after 8-10 years with nothing to show for their work.
George Steinbrenner should stop commenting about things he knows little or nothing about. Adam Dowdy has risen through the minor league ranks and proven that he is among the best of the best. He belongs. And umpires have no choice but to keep control of a game and toss managers when they cross the line. Managers all know exactly what they can and cannot do. They can never leave their position to argue balls and strikes. It is an automatic ejection every time, and they know that. Any time a manager gets tossed, it is because he has made the decision to get thrown out. The common perception among the public and people like George Steinbrenner is that umpires enjoy throwing out players and managers, and they want to draw attention to themselves by exercising authority. That couldn’t be further from the truth. An umpire’s goal is the get through a game unnoticed.
Adam Dowdy has earned the right to work at the Major League Level. When you watch him work, you will see that although he isn’t perfect, you are watching a true professional do a very difficult job. A job that most of you could never begin to do.
Actually Dowdy those comments show just how much you were favouring the Yankees on Sunday. Those two balls on A-Rod in the 5th were disgusting calls. And now that you’re apologizing to Steinbrenner demonstrates that indeed you WERE playing favourites.
Whats wrong, are you afraid of making a close call in front of the Yankee stadium crowd? Or worse, in front of Steinbrenner? Honestly man, you belong in the minors. Next time they call you up, do us a favour and decline.
I can’t count the number of “fans” who berate umpires and curse them because their team lost a call. These bums are the first to cheer and take advantage of any oversight or favoring of their club. Many out of shape, over the hill hypocrites who couldn’t make a call on what they want from the concession stand much less from behind the plate. Umpires work and sacrifice their lives to get a chance at the big leagues and commitment and dedication gets them there. If only half the population had the dedication of an aspiring umpire who has earned his stripes enough to get to the game there would be world peace and cures for diseases the bums who criticize them can’t even spell much less pronounce.
Get a life and get a job that your dedication shows you have earned before you have the nerve to voice opinions about a career few will ever hold and even fewer will even get the shot at because they don’t have what it takes. Give a guy a break that has earned it. Coaches who can’t control themselves and act professionally don’t belong in the ball park-acting like a child throwing a temper tantrum earns you an “out” not attention or respect from those who are there to keep order and fairness in pro ball. Umpires are not beneath any other individual on the playing field they are part of the game and without them there would be no “great” games. It would be just like boys hitting a ball with a stick judging in their own biased manner how well they have performed and who has the best team. Odds are they will pick themselves. That is why we have umpires who also coincidentally like the players and the coaches happen to be human. Next time your favorite player goes up to bat and misses the ball and you said don\’t give up-get ‘em next time-give the umpire a minute amount of slack for the ball players nor the coaches, nor any umpire is ever perfect-likely, not even you.
I have known Adam for many years, we became friends when he had just started umpiring 12 years ago. To most people in the crowd the umpire is seen as the enemy or possibly the savior, but all I know is Adam Dowdy is a man of intergrity, honesty, and perseverence. He has worked extremely hard to be where he is today and I admire him. Keep working hard Adam, you are a perfect example of a person chasing their dream and I am very proud of you!
I have known Adam since he was in grade school. Umpires have one of thankless jobs you can think of. 99.9% of the time the umpires make the correct call in a second. There is no need EVER for umpires to apologize. THe sad thing is you see people treating umpires the same way at every level. You see them berating them at LL games. Adam, if you are still reading these postst. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you on the field.