THIS BUD'S FOR YOU: SELIG TO BE NAMED COMMISSIONER THURSDAY

          MLB's long-term search for a commissioner "is over," as
     baseball will "finally elect" Bud Selig on Thursday after
     six years without a full-time commissioner (Mult./AP, 7/7). 
          PEACE PLAN? In Boston, Peter Gammons wrote that this is
     a "critical time" for MLB, as Selig "takes office promising
     an overhaul of the baseball operations overseeing the draft,
     minor leagues and international scouting ... a new marketing
     focus, increasing input from [GMs] and club personnel who
     know something about the operation of the business (which
     cannot be said for at least 20 owners), and, perhaps most
     important, a peace plan for the players, which Selig claims
     will include the guild's participation in the decision-
     making process" (Peter Gammons, BOSTON GLOBE, 7/5).         
          MORE FROM BUD: Selig was interviewed by ESPN's Chris
     Myers before the Home Run Derby.  Selig said that baseball
     currently is in "the middle stages" of a recovery: "Things
     are really on the upbeat -- but there's no margin for error. 
     And I know the one thing we have to do is we have to take
     labor discord and remove it from the equation" (ESPN, 7/6).
          HE DOESN'T HAVE TO LIKE IT: Giants Owner Peter Magowan,
     who "never has been a big fan" of Selig as commissioner,
     said that he will "vote with the majority."  Magowan: "This
     wasn't really the way I wanted to see things go, which is
     not a secret.  But the decision has been made and we've got
     to do whatever we can to help him" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/7).
          DH STAYS: MLB President Paul Beeston said that the DH
     rule in interleague play will remain the same in '99, as
     teams will use the DH in AL parks only (USA TODAY, 7/7).