-=> Quoting John Vickers to Andrew Serrano <=-
JV>Now that we are STUCK with inner league play whether we like it or
JV>not, one thing I think MLB needs to work on *very badly* is the
JV>umpiring.   Last year was some of the worst umpiring I have ever
JV>seen.  We have too many umps with rabbit ears going around chasing
JV>managers and players into arguments.  Umpires will *never* admit that
JV>they are looking for arguments and to throw people out of games but,
JV>there is more of a confrontational style with the umpires than I have
JV>ever seen before and I have been watching baseball around 35 years.
   Good, I'm not the only one who saw umpiring go down the tubes last
   year.  If you want to talk about looking for arguments, just look
   towards John Hirshbeck, and what he did with that Alomar play.  I
   don't agree with how Alomar acted, but he had NO right to be thrown
   out of the game from the dugout.  After all, he was only complaining
   about it to HIS OWN TEAMATES.  I can see being thrown out if he was
   on the field arguring with the umpires, but not from the bench.  One
   of these days an umpire is going to get the crap kicked out of him by
   one of the bigger guys with no temper (namely Albert Belle).
JV>Texas is really going to be in trouble next year if they let Pudge
JV>Rodriguez become a free agent.  I heard where the Rangers have said
JV>that they don't think Rodriguez will be productive as a catcher more
JV>than three more years.  If that is true, why didn't they sign him to
JV>a five year deal two years ago?  I am quite sure they could have
JV>gotten him for much less than the 85 million/10 year contract his
JV>agent recently proposed.  Like a sportscaster here said recently, 8.5
JV>million per year may be cheap for a catcher 10 years from now.
JV>I certainly don't think the Rangers have a catcher who can come up
JV>next year and do the things Pudge does if we lose him to free agency
JV>next year.
   If they ever lose Pudge they are going to regret it.
JV>I am upset because our cable company took WGN, the superstation out
JV>of Chicago off our cable system.  Now I won't get to see The Cubs or
JV>White Sox this year.  We still get TBS from Atlanta.  I don't
JV>understand why they took WGN off though.  I like to watch all the
JV>baseball I can, no matter how bad the teams are.   I told our
JV>cable company that I think their decision to take WGN off stinks!
   I also followed the Cubs, and was very dissapointed when WGN was cut
   from my area too.
JV>Andrew, who do you think are the teams to beat in each league?  Since
JV>you asked me the question, you must have an opinion.
   I'm a long time Yankees fan so I'm looking for a repeat.  As for the
   NL, the Braves still look good, but so do the Marlins.
   e-mail: a_serrano@juno.com
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   Moderator: TEEN2613
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