by David Neilsen

Wednesday, September 1st, was the last day of work for 22 of 68 Major League Baseball Umpires. In what will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the dumbest labor moves ever, The Baseball Umpire's Union declared in July that all Umpires would be resigning as of Sept. 2. The thought was that this mass-resignation would force Baseball to negotiate a better deal with the Umpires' Union, but when only 57 of the 68 actually turned in their written resignations, the solidarity was broken, and the ploy began to fail horribly. Eventually, all 57 resignations were rescinded, but it was too late. Baseball had accepted 22 of the 57 resignations.

And now one knew why those 22 resignations were accepted while 35 other umpires were allowed to return to work.

Until now.

Our inside sources have uncovered the Criteria used by Commissioner Bud Selig in deciding whose resignations were accepted, and whose weren't. It follows a simple "Three Strikes, You're Out!" ideology. Selig created the following list, and any umpire who fit three or more of the criteria was cut loose. Here now, for the first time, is that list.