George Nicolau, who has served as baseball's impartial
arbitrator since '86, has been dismissed by club owners. Murray
Chass reports in this morning's N.Y. TIMES that the move "was not
a reaction to any specific decisions," according to John Westoff,
a lawyer representing the clubs on the Player Relations
Committee. Rob Manfred, an attorney for the owners: "We were at
the point in our relationship where we thought it was good to
have someone with a fresh eye." Manfred "did not view the move
as a negative step in the labor area." However, MLBPA Associate
Counsel Gene Orza had a different opinion. Orza: "How it serves
their professed interest in labor peace is something only they
can answer." Chass reports lawyers for both sides will meet
today and tomorrow "to continue their low-key efforts" in trying
to come up with a new CBA (N.Y. TIMES, 8/16).
LET'S MAKE A DEAL, ANY DEAL: Peter Gammons reported in his
"Diamond Notes" that chief owners negotiator John Harrington
"says a deal will be agreed upon momentarily that will assure
that the World Series will be played without any more threat of a
strike. Harrington also says there's a good chance they could
have a national TV deal before they have a basic agreement --
which tells us the owners still aren't sure how to get what they
want from the union" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/15).
