[JRutledge]

Each umpire is going to have to make a personal decision and they might suffer the consequences for their actions. Of course there will be some umpires that come out, but I do not think that is going to hurt the union. First of all there has to be a system to train, evaluate and hopefully progress these umpires to the next level. If management and the union do not come to some agreement, then who are going to be the umpires that will years down the road replace the Major League Umpires? The issue is never been from my point of view the money or the specifics of the contract. The issue is there going to be a system that will encourage umpires to work for a realistic future in pro umpiring. I made more money working a single JUCO game then these guys get for working a 9 inning pro game. I do not see guys giving up the opportunity to work D1 to become a full time umpire. Also in many cases D1 umpires are older, make more money in their real jobs than they could umpiring a few games, so I do not see these guys as a whole crossing over and working MiLB ball. Now all of this is speculation and we will not see who won or lost until these issues is resolved either way.

Peace