David Cone, the MLBPA's AL player rep, said yesterday
"significant progress" has been made between players and owners
during recent labor negotiations, writes Murray Chass of the N.Y.
TIMES. Though Cone expressed "a cautionary note," when asked if
an agreement could be made by the All-Star Game on July 9, he
responded, "I would hope so. That would be a nice announcement
to make over the All-Star break and it seems like the timing is
good. It makes sense. I just don't know if it's realistic."
Cone's assessment came at a news conference, where he announced
the first contributions for the Players Trust for Children, which
is making donations to the New York City Parks Foundation to
support the city's youth baseball program (N.Y. TIMES, 6/21). On
ESPN's "Baseball Tonight," Peter Gammons also reports "optimism"
in negotiations, but added "In the last 48 hours, they've hit a
little bit of a stall. What's interesting is that there seems to
be a strong feeling that the players are going to get all of the
service time that they lost during the strike." He notes that
would change the whole free agent market next year (ESPN, 6/21).
BELLE SENTENCE REDUCED: Through a deal negotiated by the
MLBPA, Albert Belle agreed to a reduced suspension of two games
and $25,000, which along with the $50,000 Belle was fined for
yelling obscenities at NBC's Hannah Storm, are the two largest
fines issued in baseball history. AL President Gene Budig also
reduced Brewers catcher Mike Metheney's suspension from five
games to three games for his part in the brawl. Belle will sit
out today's doubleheader (USA TODAY, 6/21). In a statement issued
through his agent, Arn Tellem, Belle said, "Although the league
president has taken action against me that he would not take
against any other player, it is time for me to put the interests
of my teammates, the Indians, and the fans of Cleveland ahead of
my own" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/21). USA TODAY's Hal Bodley
writes, "Maybe Budig caved in by cutting this deal, but it was in
the best interest of baseball" since "fans are fed up with the
off-the-field headlines" (USA TODAY, 6/21).
NOT FOR BUD: On the possibility of Acting Commissioner Bud
Selig becoming full-time commissioner, George Vecsey of the N.Y.
TIMES writes, "Baseball must combat the impression of the past
four years that its home office is only occasionally visited by a
commuter from Milwaukee, who keeps one corner of his mind on the
number of bratwursts being sold at his own ball yard" (N.Y.
TIMES, 6/21). Bill Conlin of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS: "I
guess there actually are owners who figure that any owner who has
thoroughly screwed up his own franchise has more than adequate
credentials to play czar" (PHILLY DAILY NEWS, 6/21).
NEWS AND NOTES: In a column entitled, "Falling Stars Also
Injure the Game," Claire Smith of the N.Y. TIMES, noting injuries
to Ken Griffey, Jr., Kirby Pucket, David Cone, the death of
umpire John McSherry and the suspension of Belle, writes
"Baseball and those who try to market its better points haven't
been able to collect their thoughts often this year before being
hit with another roundhouse" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/21)....MLBPA
officials said nearly $1M in donations and pledges has been
raised for the Players Trust for Children. Each MLB player
contributes a minimum 2% of his annual licensing revenue (L.A.
TIMES, 6/20).
