Umpires File New Grievance

Baseball umpires filed a grievance against major league teams Wednesday, charging that the computer system chosen to evaluate them was not reliable.

Umpires have also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board over management’s refusal to provide information about the Questec Umpire Information System.

Management lawyers met with the NLRB’s general counsel in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the charge. The NLRB has not yet made a decision.

In the grievance, the World Umpires Assn. said the computer system “is too heavily dependent upon decisions and actions by the Questec ballpark operators.” Umpires also said the computer “often incorrectly interprets the strike zone, producing inconsistencies between strike zones from ballpark to ballpark and from day to day in the same ballpark.”

Umpires said the system “frequently malfunctions” and “has not been subjected to independent evaluations, reviews or reports.”

In a Feb. 14 letter to the union, management said umpires whose calls do not match Questec at least 90% of the time will be judged as not meeting standards.

“Our view is this is just the latest attempt by the WUA to avoid an agreement that clearly allows the commissioner’s office to utilize Questec,” said Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the commissioner’s office.

On Tuesday, 47 of the 68 umpires issued a statement saying they had no confidence in the Questec system.

*

New York Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi was scratched from Wednesday’s game against Atlanta because of abdominal muscle stiffness.

“When it’s all out of there, he’ll play,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “Obviously we’ll be as conservative as we need to be.”

*

Seattle Mariner outfield prospect Jamal Strong, a former Pasadena High standout, will sit out at least 10 to 14 days after dislocating his left shoulder while sliding into third base in an exhibition game against the Angels.

A sixth-round selection in the June 2000 draft, Strong played last season at double-A San Antonio. He led the Mariner organization for the third straight year with 46 stolen bases.

*

Houston Astro pitcher Brandon Puffer had an X-ray of his tender right elbow, but results won’t be known until today. The 27-year-old right-hander was 3-3 with a 4.43 earned-run average in 55 games last season.

*

The San Francisco Giants agreed to terms with infielder Pedro Feliz. Feliz hit .253 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in in 67 games last year with the Giants.

*

Seattle Mariner shortstop Carlos Guillen was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for negligent driving. Prosecutors agreed to drop a drunken driving charge in January, when Guillen entered the plea in Kirkland (Wash.) Municipal Court.