For several weeks, lawyers for MLB owners and players have
traveled to MLB cities Pittsburgh, Detroit, New York, and
Milwaukee twice for labor meetings, according to the N.Y. TIMES.
Murray Chass writes that from each meeting, both sides have
emerged with better "chemistry" than negotiators had during the
strike. But Chass adds that any advances made during
negotiations because of "chemistry" will not necessarily
translate into an agreement on the "economics" of baseball.
Chass writes "hard-line owners, led by the White Sox' Jerry
Reinsdorf," still hold a leadership position among owners and
they won't allow an agreement until the players are "sufficiently
punished" for costing the owners "hundreds of millions of
dollars," or until MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr is sent "into
exile." Enough owners, however, have "grown weary" of the
dispute and if they were presented with a "realistic plan,"
enough would vote for it so that Reinsdorf couldn't block it.
One "high-level management person" even believes Reinsdorf
prefers the "status quo," thinking neither side will engage in a
work stoppage next year (N.Y. TIMES, 9/12).
OTHER THOUGHTS: Hal Bodley writes, "If Ripken can shatter a
consecutive-games record once thought unreachable, 28 wealthy men
and women ought to be smart enough to realize they cannot
continue to hold fans hostage." Bodley notes Astros Owner
Drayton McLane has prepared an "exhaustive report" on revenue
sharing, interleague play, and realignment, but it has "little
chance" of approval from major market owners (USA TODAY, 9/12).
In Denver, Tony DeMarco reports that when asked if there was a
chance for "serious progress" in labor talks before the World
Series ends, Rockies Owner Jerry McMorris said: "Possibly. But
I'm not making any promises" (DENVER POST, 9/11).
