ATLANTA -- COX STEERS OWNERS' LINE: ESPN's Peter Gammons
reported from the Braves spring training site. Braves Manager
Bobby Cox: "I've worked for Ted Turner for an awful lot of years
and he has paid the bills for me and my family for a long time
now. You know, you signed on, you have to work." Braves
President Stan Kasten, on the MLBPA's position on minor leaguers:
"I think from the start this has been about how high we can get
salaries, and how we can protect the people at the very top of
the salary scale, with not a whole lot of thought given to the
rest of the players in the industry" ("SportsCenter," 2/24).
BALTIMORE -- NO FRIENDS, NO FOES: The Orioles' spring
schedule "could be wiped out because of the organization's stance
against replacement players, leaving the club's minor-leaguers
with a month of intrasquad games" (Olney & Schmuck, Baltimore
SUN, 2/26). Orioles Owner Peter Angelos, asked which teams he
thinks will show: "Maybe nobody" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST,
2/27).
CALIFORNIA -- OPTIMISTIC AUTRY: Angels Owner Jackie Autry:
"It's too early to tell, but every survey we've done shows fans
will support replacement players because their anger is such that
they may come out just to prove a point" (Mike DiGiovanna, L.A.
TIMES, 2/26).
CHICAGO -- CHECK THE MESSAGE BOARD: White Sox GM Ron
Schueler said a meeting reportedly called by minor league pitcher
Barry Johnson and attended by White Sox Player Rep Mike
LaValliere had nothing to do with Johnson being asked to leave
camp. Johnson had decided he wouldn't play in exhibition games.
Schueler did say he didn't think minor leaguers needed to attend
union meetings, but that he didn't care if they did. But Paul
Sullivan writes, "The decision on Johnson could be intrepreted by
some as a not-so-gentle persuader to stay away" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
2/27).
CINCINNATI -- BIG-NAME ON THE WAY? Reds GM Jim Bowden said
a "high-profile" player was headed into camp: "It's a big
Cincinnati Reds name. It's a name you're not going to guess and
it's going to shock you and excite you and do all kinds of things
to your emotions." Guesses ranged from George Foster to Ted
Power (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/27).
DETROIT -- TAPE DELAY: While Channel 50 was to debut as the
Tigers' TV outlet Saturday, the team may delay the first telecast
until March 15 (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/27).
LOS ANGELES -- RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: The Dodgers say they
have a replacement team in place. Manager Tommy Lasorda: "It's
like if you can't have pasta, you have to have something else,
like pork chops" (L.A. TIMES, 2/25).
MILWAUKEE -- Brewers Baseball Dir Sal Bando said "he will
not issue ultimatums to play in exhibition games unless there
aren't enough volunteers to field a team" (Tom Haudricourt,
MILWAUKEE SENTINEL, 2/27).
NEW YORK -- KING GEORGE SPEAKS: ESPN's Peter Gammons spoke
with Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner for ESPN's "Sunday
Conversation." Steinbrenner: "Teams like Minnesota, Milwaukee,
Pittsburgh ... even Anaheim, I want to help those people. But I
don't want to help some other teams. I don't want to help
Montreal. ... If they [Montreal residents] don't want baseball,
they don't want baseball." Steinbrenner believes lost paychecks
will eventually force the players to return ("SportsCenter,"
ESPN, 2/26). Steinbrenner will be named to replace the Angels'
Jackie Autry as one of the four AL owners on the MLB Executive
Council at the March 7-9 owners meeting (N.Y. TIMES, 2/27).
OAKLAND -- KEY ISSUE? A's Manager Tony LaRussa said the
MLBPA's minors policy "could be the issue that brings things to a
head" (Frank Blackman, S.F. EXAMINER, 2/27).
PHILADELPHIA -- UNION MEN: Frank Fitzpatrick reports a
"strong preference" among Phils' minor leaguers towards abiding
by the MLBPA edict (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/25).
SAN FRANCISCO -- GOOD COP/WORRIED COP: Giants GM Bob Quinn:
"We're ready to roll. We like our numbers." Giants Asst GM
Brain Sabean: "I just want to know who will say 'yes'" (Mark
Gonzales, SAN JOSE MEFCURY NEWS, 2/26).
SEATTLE -- EXTRA CHEESE? Mariners VP of Baseball Ops Woddy
Woodward and Manager Lou Piniella met with 30 replacement players
and 60 minor-leaguers over approx. 50 pizzas to outline the
team's policy: Players who come forward will be given $100 per
game plus an additional per diem of $80 (Jim Street, SEATTLE
POST-INTELLIGENCER, 2/27).
TEXAS -- FIELD OF TEAMS? Rangers GM Doug Melvin is
confident the club can field a replacement team despite 14
defections from camp over the past two days (T.R. Sullivan, FT.
WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/27).
