MLBUA Exec Dir Richie Phillips recently wrote a letter
to MLB Acting Commissioner Bud Selig and other league execs
and said that umpires will have "no tolerance" for players
who question umpires calls during MLB's postseason,
according to Murray Chass of the N.Y. TIMES. The letter was
just one part of an extensive, above-the-fold feature in
Sunday's N.Y. TIMES entitled, "Who Runs This Game? Baseball
Squabbles Into The Playoffs." Chass wrote that MLB execs
"were outraged at the possibility of unilateral action by
the umpires because they look forward to the post-season as
the climax of a gratifying year. Fans continued their
return to the ball parks, and the last thing baseball needs
is any kind of disruptive action." But the "game's
triumvirate of factions" -- owners, players and umpires --
"battles on," and from the "outside, at least, the factions
appear to be struggling for control of the game." Chass
profiled MLB owners, the MLBPA and the MLBUA. On ownership,
Chass wrote that Acting Commissioner Bud Selig "is so
entrenched with the other owners that even if he does not
become the new commissioner, he will remain a force that a
new commissioner will have to deal with" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/28).
POLL NUMBERS: A N.Y. TIMES poll surveyed 1,051 fans
from September 18-20 on the state of MLB. Of the adults
polled, 15% said they were very interested in MLB, 27% were
somewhat interested and 58% were not interested. Among the
results: On interleague play, 75% like it; 17% don't and 8%
have no opinion. On geographic realignment, 44% favor it;
40% don't and 16% have no opinion. Asked if MLB needs a
permanent commissioner, or if Acting Commissioner Bud Selig
should continue to serve, 45% want a permanent commissioner;
42% like the status quo and 13% have no opinion. Those who
want a permanent commissioner were asked if they want Selig
or someone else. Of the 45% who want a permanent
commissioner, 16% want Selig; 22% want "someone else" and 7%
have no opinion (Frank Litsky, N.Y. TIMES, 9/28).
NOTES: In L.A., Ross Newhan reported that a settlement
in the Yankees/adidas lawsuit against MLB is "close."
Under the deal, adidas will remain a Yankees sponsor "but
will also sponsor several other clubs. In addition, other
companies, such as Nike and Reebok, perhaps, will join in
the venture as a joint national and international marketing
agreement covering all 30 clubs" (L.A. TIMES, 9/28)....USA
TODAY's cover story examines the role of Latin American and
Hispanic-heritage MLB players, as Tom Weir writes that the
'97 season saw a "subtle, but significant, demographic
shift" which "marks a new era" for MLB (USA TODAY, 9/29).
