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I don't think this has anything to do with the economy. This seems to me to be move by PBUC to have a "stable" of on-call guys that they know are working a reasonably high caliber of wood bat baseball while they are waiting for a slot to open up in the minor leagues. I think the logic behind this move is reasonably clear from a PBUC standpoint.
The effects of this move on all of those involved are much more complicated. I don't know how many umpires were on the staff of the CPL but it was definitely over 20 umpires as the league stretched through 3 states including my home state of NC. I know guys affected by this move and the only one I have spoken to is not happy. I can think of several guys I know who work in my American Legion association who also work CPL. Will they be effecting how many AL games I work this summer? I don't know.
Pete Bock is the president of the CPL. Pete was an umpire in college baseball (as well as GM for the Durham Bulls) when I was an undergrad. I would hope he considered the effects on all those involved before he agreed to this...
Lawrence
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