Umps Call Foul on Background Check Plan

MLB talks break off over Donaghy-inspired 'integrity' probes
By Max Brallier
Posted Aug 7, 2007 4:34 AM CDT
Umps Call Foul on Background Check Plan
Home plate umpire Brian Runge wipes sweat off his forehead during a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, in Washington. The Nationals won 6-3. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)

Major League Baseball is planning a series of detailed background checks for all umpires, spurred by the NBA's referee gambling scandal. But the umps aren't pleased: Discussions with their new union drifted foul when the league balked at their compromise request to add a 7th ump to postseason games.

MLB says it won't make an "economic concession in return for the members being forthcoming on what we regard to be an integrity issue."  A union spokesman replied: "We understand the need in light of what's taken place. But we feel we just don't need to have a knee-jerk reaction and a witch hunt." (More MLB stories.)

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