STRIKE NOTES: PLAYERS FILE ON BEHALF OF RECALLED PLAYERS

     The MLBPA filed default notices claiming that 18 players
were "improperly deprived" of $1M in pay when they were recalled
in the weeks before the strike began.  If arbitrator George
Nicolau "finds that any of their clubs did default by putting
them on strike so they didn't have to pay them, he could declare
them free agents.  In that case, the clubs could not correct the
default.  Rather than face the risk of losing the players, clubs
may pay them by Oct. 2, then file grievances of their own to try
to recover the money."  MLB labor relations attorney John
Westhoff:  "We will defend all the grievances on the basis that
the clubs have the right to minimize their costs during a strike.
... [But] it will be up to each individual club to decide if they
want to cure the default that was filed for each player" (Murray
Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 9/23).