Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner will reportedly suggest a
reorganization of baseball's hierarchy during the owners meeting
today in Chicago, according to USA TODAY's Hal Bodley. Under the
Steinbrenner plan, acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig would become
full-time commissioner and AL President Gene Budig and NL
President Len Coleman would become dual chief operating officers.
Selig said that while he "appreciated George's support," he has
not changed his mind on going full-time (USA TODAY, 5/10). It
also appears owners are attempting to convince Rob Manfred to
accept a full-time job with the Players Relation Committee and
become their lead negotiator. Manfred is a partner in the
Washington office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius -- the firm of
record for MLB's labor relations issues and employer of former
PRC head Chuck O'Connor. In addition, one MLB owner reports that
MLB Properties has received "several telephone calls" from
advertisers worried that the players will boycott the All-Star
Game if the owners fail to guarantee a pension payment
(AP/ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/10).
GO 'SPOS: The Expos' three-game series against the Marlins
outdrew the Yankees' three-game series against the Brewers,
76,003 to 60,796 (USA TODAY, 5/10). The success of small-market
teams is examined by George Vescey in today's N.Y. TIMES. Vecsey
writes, "I'm not so sure television money is everything. ... It's
too soon to be proclaimed a trend, but it bears watching" (N.Y.
TIMES, 5/10).
GAMMONS' "DIAMOND NOTES": ESPN's Peter Gammons reports that
the Padres' experiment with Fernando Valenzuela -- designed to
bring in more fans from Tijuana generated only 50 additional
ticket sales for Valenzuela's last start. "The Fernando
Marketing Experience" will continue for one more start, with the
team looking to bring up more pitching prospects....The Angels
are holding off on trading Mark Langston because that several in
the organization believe that recent interest from Disney in
buying the team "will result in their pushing Peter Ueberroth out
of the way and bringing in heavier entertainment investment
dollars"....The Angels are inviting players Chili Davis and Tim
Salmon to sit in on management meetings "to try and foster some
understanding of what management tries to do." Also, Giants
Owner Peter Magowan and his players split the cost of a park for
inner-city youth. Gammons called those moves: "Two small steps
for baseball's mankind" ("SportsCenter," 5/9).
