An umpire’s life p1 - Military Transition - Success Stories - Military Career - Civilian Job - Military Times Edge

The things Laz Diaz misses most about being a Marine are cadence, running in formation — and drill instructors. If the 12-year reservist had chosen active duty, that’s what he would have wanted to be.

And if his unit had been activated during the Persian Gulf War, things might look a lot different for Diaz, a Major League Baseball umpire since he was promoted from Triple-A ball in 1999.

Diaz played both college and minor league baseball, so he had the instinct for the sport. An outfielder and third baseman, he played for Florida Memorial College in his native Miami and later for the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League — where he roomed with lefty pitcher Yorkis Perez, a nine-season major leaguer — and later for minor league teams in Kenosha, Wis., and Visalia, Calif.

After an injury, some time off and a couple of disappointing major league tryouts, Diaz decided to switch gears. But he stuck with baseball. He packed his bags and headed for umpire school in 1991.

The rest of his career his history.

Diaz was on the field for Wade Boggs’ 3,000th hit, and he was there the day Barry Bonds broke the major league home run record. He was the third-base umpire for Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in July. He was proud that his parents could be in the stands during Game 2 of the 2007 World Series to see him work home plate.

Diaz the Marine

Lazaro “Laz” Diaz joined the Marine Corps Reserve during his first year of college. He was looking for something different from his usual summer job — working for his dad in construction. So he went to boot camp, then to aviation supply school the following summer.

He signed with the Minnesota Twins organization in 1984, and there followed a year of creative scheduling to fulfill his reserve requirements while he moved from city to city playing in the minor leagues.

He said he’s never regretted his military commitment, because being both a baseball player and a Marine are what made him major-league umpire material.

“I attribute a lot to the Marine Corps,” Diaz said, “just the way that they give you the attitude to be your best, to work hard.” The experience toughened him up, he said, and an MLB umpire has to be tough.

“The Marine Corps — boot camp especially — helped me through my umpiring. Discipline, being able to adjust to the situation, being able to endure the comments from the fans and from the players,” Diaz said. “I heard words from A to Z in boot camp. You have to take it, not being able to respond or lash out. It gives you a tough skin.”

Working his way up

MLB umpires start in the same place players do — in the minors. But first they have to be among the best in their class at one of two professional umpire schools held for five weeks each January and February.

Diaz’s class studied the rule book and worked on umpire mechanics in the mornings. In the afternoons, they called simulated games, where instructors — major- and minor-league umpires — shouted insults and otherwise tested how the prospects would handle tough situations.

“It’s how they see if you have it or you don’t have it,” Diaz said.

Next was the Professional Baseball Umpire Corps’ annual evaluation course, where Diaz made the cut and went to work officiating rookie ball. He moved up to Single-A in 1992; umpired in Double-A for the 1993 and 1994 seasons; and was promoted to Triple-A in 1995, the season he made his MLB debut, filling in for three games at the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

He moved up to the majors full-time in 1999.

The lifestyle

“It’s glamorous once you get to a city,” Diaz said.

Between games, MLB’s 17 four-man umpire crews spend a lot of time waiting in airport security lines and trying to catch flights after delays and missed connections. They may be able to make a red-eye after a late game if they’re on the West Coast headed east. Otherwise, they’re on the first flight out the following morning.

It’s a tougher travel schedule than any other pro sports officials deal with, even tougher than MLB players’, Diaz said.

“The players might have a 10-game home stand,” Diaz said. “We do a series, and then we’re out of the city.” MLB umps spend the off-season with their families but may go more than a month at a time away from home during the season.

Check him out online

Fans can glimpse Diaz in action at MLB.com, in a 1 minute, 16 second-long shouting match with Yankees manager Joe Girardi in July 2008. In a YouTube video, he smiles and acknowledges fans.

And archived news stories tell about the day a drunken fan leaped onto the field and attacked Diaz during a White Sox-Royals game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 2003. Diaz easily fended off the guy, who later was deeply apologetic.

“I’m physically OK,” Diaz told The Associated Press after the game. “I think you should talk to the other guy and see how he’s feeling.”

A NEW WAY IN

The Professional Baseball Umpire Corps evaluates and recommends new minor league umpires each spring, and a new program is giving some umpire prospects an edge.

Those candidates still have to be among the top of their class after a five-week professional umpire school — either Jim Evans’ Academy of Professional Umpiring in Kissimmee, Fla., or Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in Ormond Beach, Fla..

And for the past three years, MLB Umpire Camps has offered a week of intensive training each fall. This year’s is scheduled for Nov. 8-15 at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.

As MLB Umpire Supervisor and Umpire Camps coordinator Rich Rieker learned during a one-day camp for Marines in March — service members make good umpires.

“It was very rewarding in the fact that they really took to it,” Rieker said. “Quite frankly, I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of it sooner. We hope we can expand it in the future.”

Of about 150 students who attended the past three weeklong Umpire Camps, Rieker said, about 50 went on to umpire school, and 23 became minor-league umpires. As such, they’ll be evaluated twice a year and expected to improve and advance.

Even umpires who excel in the minor leagues may never reach the majors — an average of one new MLB umpire gets called up each year.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PAY

Professional baseball umpires must hold a high school or GED diploma, be of reasonable body weight and somewhat athletic with quick reflexes and good coordination, have 20/20 vision with or without glasses and have complete training at a professional umpire school.

Monthly minor league umpire pay for the 2009 season: $1,900-$3,500

Major league umpire annual salaries: $120,000 to about $350,000

Sources: Minor League Baseball, MLB.com