Umps Reportedly Plot to Oust Phillips

As umpires filed a new unfair labor practice charge against owners, there were indications Wednesday that the group opposed to union head Richie Phillips will try to topple him next month.

The anti-Phillips faction has been organizing, a person with knowledge of their activities said.

The faction could try to force him out in a union vote, but it’s more likely they will file a decertification petition with the National Labor Relations Board.

“We haven’t discussed that yet,” said Dave Phillips, a senior umpire with the opposition.

“But we want our union to be based on democracy, with a non-dictatorial leadership.”

The opposition group voted last spring against giving Richie Phillips a new contract and were among the 27 umpires who refused to go along with the union’s strategy of mass resignations, causing the plan to collapse.

The union had hoped to force the start of negotiations for a new labor deal. Instead, 22 umpires’ resignations were accepted.

Umpires claim the resignations were merely symbolic and want the NLRB to seek an injunction to keep owners from terminating the 22. It’s unclear when the agency will act.

*

Greg Maddux (16-6), who chipped a bone in his wrist last weekend while diving for a pop-up, will miss his next start for the Atlanta Braves after fluid was discovered in the wrist and reliever Rudy Seanez could miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his elbow. Terry Mulholland will start for Maddux on Friday. Seanez, on the 15-day disabled list, expects to undergo another examination next week before a final decision is made. . . . Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr., on the disabled list because of nerve irritation in his lower back, got the green light from the Oriole medical staff to perform light exercises and toss a ball for the first time since Aug. 1. Ripken needs one more home run to reach 400 for his career. He is also 32 hits shy of 3,000. . . . Kansas City Royal rookie right-hander Dan Reichert, who suffered a crack in his right elbow after being struck Monday night by a liner off the bat of Albert Belle, will miss the rest of the season. Reichert was 2-2 with a 9.08 earned-run average. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired right-hander Jason Boyd, 26, from the Arizona Diamondbacks, completing the deal that sent Tony Womack to Arizona on Feb. 26.