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Leagues and Governing Bodies

ON SECOND THOUGHT ... MLB UMPS CHANGE CALL ON RESIGNATIONS

          Forty-two MLB umpires rescinded their resignations
     yesterday, according to Murray Chass of the N.Y. TIMES, who
     writes that the union's "failed labor strategy" will result
     in the loss of jobs for one-third of the MLBUA.  Chass notes
     that the move by the "severely split union" came late in the
     afternoon after a "legal setback" in U.S. District Court in
     Philadelphia.  Chass: "The development is a significant blow
     to the umpires in their effort to get baseball officials to
     negotiate with them through a strategy of mass resignation." 
     An MLB official said that the AL sent letters yesterday to
     nine umpires who resigned, notifying them that their
     resignations "had been accepted."  Chass adds that the NL
     has hired 13 umpires, meaning it has 49 umpires for 36
     positions.  An anonymous MLB official, on NL President Len
     Coleman: "[He] has to make some decisions.  There are going
     to be certain guys who aren't going to have jobs."  NL
     umpire Bruce Froemming, on MLBUA General Counsel Richie
     Phillips: "Richie said he knows we'll take some hits for
     changing our position.  But we changed our position to move
     the process forward and open up a dialogue between the
     parties."  Froemming, on the two umps "considered" to be the
     leaders of the dissident group: "I think John Hirschbeck and
     Joe Brinkman have caused us a lot of problems."  An
     anonymous umpire, who voted against Phillips last February:
     "Richie is caught in a time warp, using ice picks and
     baseball bats to drive his points home" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/28). 
     USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports that Coleman accepted
     resignations from 13 NL umpires and only Wally Bell, Mark
     Hirschbeck and Jeff Nelson are "assured of their jobs" (USA
     TODAY, 7/28).  In DC, Richard Justice: "What they [MLBUA]
     apparently didn't anticipate was [MLB's] decision to accept
     the resignations and move quickly to hire replacements." 
     Froemming, on MLB taking the resignations: "They turned
     their backs on us.  Obviously they think they're going to
     get a better deal somewhere else" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/28). 
     The AP's Ronald Blum reports that U.S. District Judge Edmund
     Ludwig "refused to issue a temporary restraining order to
     prevent owners" from accepting the resignations.  NL umpire
     Randy Marsh: "It's not over with yet.  Our contract doesn't
     expire until Dec. 31, so we will go on through the year and
     then negotiate a new deal" (AP, 7/28).  Phillips said the
     umpires "stand very tall and will hold their heads high
     forever.  They are to be admired for their resolve and
     courage.  They are confident they will eventually prevail in
     this unseemly affair that was deliberately provoked by major
     league baseball" ("Sports Tonight," 7/27).  
          YER OUT! In Philadelphia, Bill Conlin: "It turns out
     [MLB] didn't have to bust the umpires union after all.  The
     union busted itself when the American League rebels turned
     on Phillips" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 7/28).  In L.A., Matt
     McHale writes Phillips "was too arrogant thinking that The
     Show could not go on without him" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/28).
          WHAT'S THE NEXT CALL? ESPN's Tim Kurkjian: "What [the
     umpires] have to do now is they have to negotiate.  The
     question is can Richie Phillips negotiate a deal.  I think
     he can" ("Baseball Tonight," 7/27).  In Philadelphia, Jayson
     Stark cites an AL umpire who said, "Richie came up with this
     [the mass resignations.]  And my understanding is that he
     didn't even go over it first with our board of directors. 
     They just passed out the papers, and we signed.  I've always
     followed Richie with blind faith, because he always knew the
     right thing to do.  But this time, it looks like it was the
     wrong thing to do" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/28).  One
     umpire who resigned after the July 14 meeting: "It's like we
     drank the Kool-Aid and had ether shot into the room.  I got
     home that night and told my wife what we had done and she
     said, `Don't you think you should have a cooling off period
     and talk it over with your family?'" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/28). 

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