Acting Commissioner Bud Selig is "reluctant to take a formal
vote" on a proposed CBA until he "has unanimity on the issues"
from owners," a management source told Patrick Reusse of the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The source said "there are only five
solid 'no' votes. Selig has the votes right now. He's still
trying to get the others on board, so this comes off as something
positive for baseball." Twins Owner Carl Pohlad has reportedly
told Selig that he will support the proposed deal (Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE, 10/10).
UMP SUMMIT: After meetings with league presidents, MLBUA
General Counsel Richie Phillips said yesterday players who have
been suspended no longer will be entitled to continue playing
while their appeal to the league presidents are pending,
according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. Phillips said he
was told by both AL President Gene Budig and NL President Len
Coleman that "such stays of suspensions will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis in the future and that some players may have
to begin serving suspensions while awaiting appeals hearings."
MLBPA officials said they would file a grievance over any case in
which a player would be required to serve his suspension while
awaiting a hearing. One union official found "it interesting"
that league presidents and the umpires union "were debating the
fine points of the players' collective bargaining agreement
without us being represented" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/10).
