MLB named FRANK ROBINSON as VP/On-Field Operations.
Robinson will handle discipline, time of game, uniform
policy, stadium configuration and all other on-field
matters. He will report directly to MLB Exec VP SANDY
ALDERSON. Since May '97, Robinson has been Dir of Baseball
Operations for the Arizona Fall League and Consultant to the
Commissioner for Special Projects (MLB). In DC, Richard
Justice reports that the "newly-created job is part of a
restructuring that resulted in the abolishment" of the AL
and NL offices and the positions of league presidents.
Robinson: "The scope of the job appealed to me. It deals
with just about everything that happens on the field except
the umpires" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/28). In Baltimore, Peter
Schmuck lauded the choice: "Could anyone be more qualified?
... Who better to oversee the on-field presentation of the
sport?" (Baltimore SUN, 2/28). In N.Y., Bill Madden wrote
that MLB Commissioner BUD SELIG made a "terrific choice"
with Robinson (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/27).
OTHER MOVES: MLB promoted TIM BROSNAN to Exec VP/
Business, where he will oversee MLB's domestic and int'l
business interests. In other moves, JIMMIE LEE SOLOMON was
promoted to Senior VP/Baseball Operations and LOU MELENDEZ
was promoted to VP/Int'l Baseball Operations (MLB).
HIRSCHBECK LEADS UMPS: The World Umpires Association
(WUA) named JOHN HIRSCHBECK as President, JOE BRINKMAN as VP
and TIM WELKE as Secretary-Treasurer (Mult., 2/28). The WUA
said it would now begin talks on a new labor deal with MLB.
Hirschbeck: "I think baseball would like to get something
done before opening day, and we'd like to get something done
before opening day." Hirschbeck said that 48 of the 71 MLB
umpires have joined the new union (N.Y. TIMES, 2/28).
