MLBPA Exec Board Gives Weiner Preliminary OK To Succeed Fehr

Weiner Will Not Officially Replace Fehr Until Exec Board Meets After Season

The MLBPA Exec Board yesterday notified union members of its preliminary decision to name General Counsel Michael Weiner as the union’s next Exec Dir, replacing Donald Fehr. The Board has put Weiner’s selection to a vote of the MLBPA’s full membership (MLBPA). In N.Y., Nathaniel Vinton writes there were "no dissenting votes, but Weiner won't officially take the helm until the executive board meets again following the season to formally name him as the successor" to Fehr. Weiner is "well known to the union's members for his role in salary arbitration, collective bargaining negotiations, and the implementation of baseball's drug-testing program" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/9).

DRUG TESTING ISSUES: The AP's Ronald Blum reported WADA President John Fahey has urged MLB to "adopt its code, which includes a two-year suspension for an athlete's first positive test." Fahey in a statement yesterday said, "With recent cases, investigations and revelations, including in recently published books, the evidence is indisputable that doping remains an entrenched issue in baseball." But MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred "quickly dismissed criticism" from Fahey, "calling him 'sadly misinformed.'" Manfred: "It is absurd to suggest that 'recently published books' -- which allege steroid use that occurred years ago -- have any relevance to our current program. As demonstrated by recent events, when a player tests positive, the penalty is public and severe" (AP, 7/8).

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy appeared on Fox Business yesterday to discuss the financial state of the game, which he said "is very good." DuPuy: "Our sponsors, recognizing that baseball provides wholesome value family entertainment, have hung with us." DuPuy discussed Fox selling out the ad inventory for next week's All-Star Game, and said, “The ad sales have been very good. Over 40% of the ads are with our national sponsors. Many of them are going to be doing baseball-themed advertising during the All-Star Game.” He added, "On the local level, the teams are pushing very hard to sell advertising and sell sponsorships, but are doing quite well given the state of the economy." DuPuy said it is a "terrific honor" to have President Obama throwing out the first pitch at the All-Star Game. DuPuy: "It's only the seventh sitting president to attend a Major League Baseball All-Star Game in history and to have him come and throw out the first pitch and focus on the charitable elements that surround the All-Star Game we think is very, very critical" ("Money for Breakfast," Fox Business, 7/8).