[JRutledge]

I think people who assign umpires pick the best people. If you feel that someone "took your job" then it was not your job to begin with. Or at the very least you were not good enough to stay there. I have been working all Minor League guys all spring and they have not hurt my schedule in any way. Even if the strike had ended, I think anyone that has the opportunity to work any game can work any game. Amateur baseball for the most part has an "independent contractor" relationship. Leagues and conferences can hire who ever they want to and when they want to. It just happens that many umpires are currently in a strike.

Peace