Phillies President Bill Giles said he would invite his
players to cross the line if the strike lasted much longer, but
only with the approval of MLB's Executive Council and only if
another team "joined in his act of rebellion." Giles: "I
wouldn't want to do this alone." Giles added that he thought at
least half of his team would have to cross for his plan to work.
He claimed to know through "indirect" conversations that his
players "want this thing over with. And if any team crosses the
line first, I think our guys might be the ones." In Orlando,
Phillies catcher Darren Daulton said he would bring Giles'
comments up with the MLBPA (Frank Fitzpatrick, PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 3/15).
BARNSTORMING TOUR: The players are set to announce their
plans today for a barnstorming tour. Also in Orlando for a
meeting of high-profile players, Paul Molitor sought to dispel
reports that MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr was losing support.
Molitor: "Don, despite the rumors, is not the problem" (Peter
Schmuck, Baltimore SUN, 3/15). Molitor said that a "number of
companies" are interested in backing the tour, and that Reebok
may still want to be involved although maybe not as a title
sponsor (USA TODAY, 3/15).
