Pay peanuts, get monkeys.
If leagues want reliable, trained, and committed umpires, they have to treat officiating as a valuable part of the game. Low compensation, long travel, and little appreciation naturally make it harder to attract and retain experienced officials.
Good umpires don’t appear out of nowhere. They need training, experience, and motivation. If you want quality on the field, you have to invest in the people who make the game possible.
