MLB labor negotiators met Sunday for the third straight day
in New York "amid optimism than an agreement between players and
owners was near," but the absence of Acting Commissioner Bud
Selig "prevented any significant progress," according to Tom
Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Selig arrived
Sunday afternoon, but not in time to attend yesterday's three-
hour session (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/21). In New York,
Murray Chass notes MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr hopes to meet with
Selig before finalizing any agreement. If Selig "is willing,
they will most likely meet today." Chass notes unresolved issues
discussed during yesterday's bargaining are not expected to block
any deal (N.Y. TIMES, 10/21). Negotiations reportedly reached
the "serious stage" on Saturday after the MLBPA on Friday
rejected a series of proposals by management negotiator Randy
Levine which were "based on the objections" of hard-line MLB
owners, including White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf and Marlins
Chair Wayne Huizenga (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 10/20). In
L.A., DiGiovanna & Newhan note a source who said the union is "at
a point where it wants Selig present for the final give-and-take"
(L.A. TIMES, 10/20). In Boston, Peter Gammons notes, if there is
no deal, "we are headed to a lockout or strike next spring." He
adds one Eastern big-market owner said Selig will finish a deal
before the World Series is over. If a deal is not completed,
"should we not ask serious questions about the honor and
integrity of the owners? They bargained with the clear
understanding that Levine was empowered to make a deal. He made
one. If the self-interested owners choose to submarine that
deal, fine; let Levine, Greg Murphy and others walk, and the
public will know once and for all that the Lords of the Flies are
the alpha and omega of all the game's problems" (BOSTON GLOBE,
10/20).
SELIG: At the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette,
Selig said MLB will someday have to allow financially strapped
teams to move, something it hasn't done in 25 years. Selig:
"We're in a different economic era. And baseball is going to
have to look at each situation. If a club can't make it ...
we're going to have to have far more flexibility than we've had
in the past. ... You cannot consign folks to bankruptcy" (Tom
Haudricourt, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/19).
