When Ivan Rodriguez fires the ball to second base to nab the weary base stealer, we are on our toes to see what the umpire's judgment is. We need the umpires to make the final call, but it is the majesty of seeing the ball smack the shortstop's glove seconds before the runner arrives that we love to see. We love to see Randy Johnson retire 10 batters in a row on strikes. We get excited as he sends batters back to the dugout discouraged. We are more excited to watch the batters swing and miss and leave the umpire's ruling obvious, than we are to watch the batter stand there and take three called strikes.
Umpires are a vital part of baseball.
I will not deny that. However, they are faced with a job that pays handsomely, provides more than five months of vacation and requires less than an entire work day for less than half a year. I do not pity the umpires. I am astonished at their selfishness.