Umpire's stories fill the airwaves

WARREN -- The staff of WANR's sports talk show put New York-Penn League umpire John Tumpane on the hot seat.
Hosts John Brown and Eric Baker grilled the 20-year-old Tumpane about life in professional baseball during their Saturday show earlier this month.
OK, so I also answered questions from the duo in their 1570-AM studios, but their questions of Tumpane, who was umpiring the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' home series, and his answers were more notable for this column.
A sampling
"How many players or managers have you given the boot to?" Answer: One manager.
"What New York-Penn League town has the most critical fans?" Brooklyn.
"What's the weirdest game in which you've been involved?" Anything with weather-related issues.
"When do you hope to umpire in the major leagues?" Five to 10 years.
Before the show, Tumpane was apprehensive about the type of questions he'd be asked. Once the pre-show music began, and the hosts started chattering, the Chicago native settled in.
"In the New York-Penn League, there's a lot of long trips," Tumpane said.
"Night in and night out, you're living out of a hotel room. You're away from your family and friends."
But it's a lifestyle that Tumpane accepts and relishes because he knows, by doing an efficient job, he's one step closer to the major leagues.
"Unfortunately, I couldn't keep playing at the higher levels, so I looked to umpiring," Tumpane said.
"It's a long process, but hopefully it works out to the ultimate dream of the major leagues."
Getting started
Umpires usually begin their training at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School or the Jim Evans Academy, Tumpane explained to the show's hosts and its listeners.
After a six-week course, 25 umpires selected from each school advance to a minor league baseball evaluation, from which umpires are determined for the season.
Tumpane was one of 38 umpires in his class to be selected, and he spent last season, his first in professional baseball, in the Gulf Coast League.
This year, he was promoted to Class A short-season, and it's already been a fulfilling experience.
"You're evaluated three random times during the season," he said. "At the end of the season, they give you a ranking. That's how promotions go."
Around the league
Tumpane is most impressed by the atmosphere in Brooklyn, N.Y., where the Cyclones get 8,000 fans per game at their new stadium on Coney Island. But fans there can sometimes get testy.
"Brooklyn, by far" is the worst for critical fans, Tumpane said. "They can be ruthless. If a call doesn't go their way, you're going to hear it."
Tumpane even chuckles at one of the criticisms a Cyclone fan levied against him.
"Some things do catch your ear," he said. Like one fan who yelled, "Hey officer! Arrest that man for impersonating an umpire!"
In the New York-Penn League, two umpires call the action, putting added pressure on the young professionals. Four umpires work each game in the majors.
"The toughest calls [with two-man crews] are pickoffs at first base and balks to first," Tumpane said.
"With two men, it's almost impossible to get that great look that everyone wants you to get. All you can do is anticipate."
And be prepared to make the best call. Like the players, umpires try to work their way up the minor league ladder; they just aren't as popular.
"Even if you make the right call," Tumpane said, "someone's not going to be happy."
XBrian Richesson is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.