AROUND THE MAJORS : Umpires Sue Again Over Lost Jobs

In yet another legal effort to keep their jobs, umpires once again sued major league baseball in federal court Monday, asking for an injunction to keep 22 umps working.

In papers filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, the Major League Umpires Assn. claimed the 22 are being terminated against their will, and union head Richie Phillips said “permanent unemployment . . . is a virtual certainty.”

Baseball said the umpires aren’t being fired, that it accepted the resignations of the 22, effective after Wednesday’s games, as a result of a failed mass resignation strategy the umpires embarked on after the All-Star game.

Umpires also sued baseball July 26, but withdrew the case Aug. 16 just before the leagues were to file a motion to dismiss.

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Tim Raines visited the Yankee clubhouse for the first time since revealing he had Lupus earlier this month, then received his World Series ring in a pregame ceremony. Lupus, which has no known cure, is a connective tissue disease in which the immune system turns against a person’s own body.. . . . Boston Manager Jimy Williams said the team will activate Ramon Martinez from the 60-day disabled list to start Thursday against Kansas City.. . . . Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar will try to withstand the pain and delay knee surgery in hopes of playing again this season. He underwent knee surgery May 21.

Twenty-year-old Vernon Wells, Toronto’s top prospect, was called up and will play every day in center field. The Blue Jays released outfielder Geronimo Berroa and optioned third baseman Casey Blake to the minors.