MLB owners adjourned their meetings in Atlanta Thursday
"without solving their realignment riddle. But make no
mistake: Realignment is approaching, and more than likely
will affect no more than seven teams, possibly as few as
five," according to Jerome Holtzman of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
The owners also extended their original realignment deadline
from September 30 to October 15 and "indicated it could be
delayed further if necessary." Of note is that "a simple
majority vote from both leagues will remain the manner of
deciding the issue, but if settlement is not achieved before
or immediately after the World Series, a two-thirds majority
would be required" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/19).
NEW PLAN: In N.Y., Murray Chass writes that a "key" in
approving a compromise plan of two leagues, with four NL
divisions and two AL divisions, is convincing the Astros to
move to an AL Midwest division. Chass: "If the planners
want the Astros to move, they will very likely offer a
financial inducement." It is also "possible" that the
Giants could be compensated for any economic loss stemming
from the A's joining them in the NL (N.Y. TIMES, 9/19). In
Houston, Alan Truex writes that while Astros Owner Drayton
McLane wants to be in the same division as the Rangers, he
"doesn't want the Astros to move." Truex: "Privately, other
owners blame McLane for the ... stalemate" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 9/19). ESPN's Peter Gammons reported last night
from Atlanta that Selig "hopes to have this realignment done
in three weeks. Then, he has to take it to the union, which
begins another story" ("SportsCenter," 9/18).
