MLB PLAYERS SAID TO BE APPROVING PROPOSED CBA DEAL

     The MLBPA has "quietly conducted" a players' team-by-team
vote in the past few weeks, seeking approval for the union's
executive board to finalize the proposed CBA, according to Peter
Pascarelli of USA TODAY's BASEBALL WEEKLY.  All the votes have
not been returned, but union officials say "they are running
heavily in favor of the deal."  Pascarelli notes MLB owners
"likely will view the players' vote as a sign of weakness and
urge" negotiator Randy Levine and Acting Commissioner Bud Selig
to "hold out for a better deal" (BASEBALL WEEKLY, 10/9 issue).
Player agent Tony Attanasio, on the possibility of another
players strike: "If we don't reach agreement soon, it will never
get any better than it is right now from the union's side"
(Stefan Fatsis, WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/11).