DETROIT -- A day after umpires donned white wristbands to call attention to escalating "verbal attacks," their union has agreed to end the protest.
The World Umpires Association said recent comments by Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler that "publicly and harshly impugned the character and integrity" of umpire Angel Hernandez were a catalyst for the protest.
"It's 'open season' on umpires and that's bad for the game," the union said in its statement.
On Sunday, the WUA said baseball commissioner Rob Manfred had agreed to meet to discuss the issue. As a show of good faith, the union said, umpires would no longer wear the white wristbands.