In a USA TODAY BASEBALL WEEKLY/Gallup poll of 461 baseball
fans, conducted January 16-18, 56% said they would be interested
in games with replacements and 42% said they would be willing to
pay full price to watch games with replacements. Also, 46% would
follow replacement teams as closely as they would with the
regulars, while 43% would be less interested. As for the labor
dispute itself, 50% said they side with the owners and 28% favor
the players. Last August, 39% favored the owners and 32% favored
the players (USA TODAY, 1/26).
FOCUS GROUP: The poll also surveyed 150 fans in a focus
group who regularly attend games or watch them on TV: 72 said
they would not attend/watch a game with replacements, 54 said
they would, and 24 said they would but at a reduced level. Given
the choice between watching a replacement game or an exhibition
with striking players, 65 said they would watch the exhibition,
52 would watch the replacements, 31 would watch neither and two
would watch both. If the strike is settled, 120 said they would
return to watching/attending games the same as they did before,
16 would not return at all and 14 would return at a reduced
level. When asked who they blame for the strike, 56 blame the
players, 52 blame both sides and 42 blame the owners (USA TODAY,
1/26).
THE CANADA PROBLEM: Paul Cavalluzzo, a Toronto-based lawyer
working with the MLBPA, said yesterday that the union would fight
the Expos should they seek an exemption from federal immigration
law in order to field a replacement team with U.S. players.
Cavalluzzo: "The immigration department has given us a clear
message that they will maintain their position" (Tim Harper,
TORONTO STAR, 1/26). The PALM BEACH POST reports the Expos are
considering playing regular season games in West Palm Beach,
although the Marlins hold territorial rights to that area (PALM
BEACH POST, 1/24).
MARLINS CUT PRICES IN HALF: The Marlins will charge half-
price for tickets as long as replacement players are used,
according to this morning's MIAMI HERALD. But unlike other MLB
clubs, the team will allow season-ticket holders "to get back 100
percent of their money and still retain the right to their seast
even if they choose to sit out the replacement games." Any
unused tickets would have to be returned "on a homestand-to
homestand basis" (Mike Phillips, MIAMI HERALD, 1/26). Marlins GM
Dave Dombrowski said the team has signed 40 to 50 players for
their "non-tradtional roster." Dombrowski: "There will be major
league baseball. It will be the best baseball played by the best
players available" (Gordon Edes, Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL,
1/26).
Also, the Yankees announced they would cut their ticket prices in
half for regular season games with replacements. The price cuts
will remain until 15 or more players from the 40-man roster are
on the team. Season ticket holders will receive a 50% refund or
credit (AP/N.Y. POST, 1/26). The A's announced some tickets will
be cut by as much as 78% as they roll back prices to equal or
less than their '81 levels (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/26).
SPRING SLUMP: In Ft. Lauderdale, Eric Conrad reports that
the reaction thus far from fans toward a spring training staffed
by replacement players has been "apathy." Singel-game sales "are
way off, with five teams reporting 80 percent drops." The early
signs don't bode well for the Florida economy. Florida Sports
Foundation Dir Larry Pendleton: "Certainly, it's a concern.
This is big money for Florida." The best estimate is that '94
spring training generated $350M from 20 teams in FL and $135M
from eight teams in AZ (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 1/26).
NEWS & NOTES: Mangers and coaches from all 28 teams, many
who draw benefits from the MLBPA, have been invited to an
informational meeting in Dallas on February 6 to discuss the
issue of coaching replacements (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26).
