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Yep,
They should get what they "deserve" . . .
This is simply a union arguement . . . I deal with the same issue every three years in my profession.
We live in a society were competition drives pricing.
If there were not "any" umpires unions what would the going price be for a AAA base umpire?
We have a difficult issue that "appentice level umpires" earn far less than "journeyman" umpires. The entire gamble, made willingly by MiLB umpires, is that they will one day "cash in."
In the most general of terms, I look at umpire as an "non-critical" skill . . . they ain't doctors . . . and the market will set the price of service.
I mean no disrespect to any MiLB umpire . . . but I do believe the following:
GIVEN TIME, minor league baseball would still flourish EVEN if they used local umpires of the college and high school level.
Don't get me wrong . . . professional umpires are far superior to those of us that work in the non-professional trenches . . . the issue is, MiLB can "get by" with umpires of lesser quality. It will eventually not change the game.
MiLB teams struggle to make ends meet. I would guess a settlement is close at hand and the umpires will settle for far less than they are currently seeking.
But that again, is just opinion.
[Edited by Tim C on Jan 31st, 2006 at 12:22 PM]
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