Red Sox CEO John Harrington, the head of ownership's
Bargaining Committee, said yesterday that should "baseball's
labor dispute continue into December, ownership will probably
declare an impasse and unilaterally implement its own terms,
leading, perhaps, to another strike," writes John Strege in
today's ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Harrington, in Detroit for the
owners' quarterly meetings today and tomorrow, said revenue
sharing and cost containment will be discussed (ORANGE COUNTY
REGISTER, 9/13). Harrington added it is "extremely important"
that players and owners reach an agreement that guarantees the
playoffs and World Series will be played. Harrington: "It would
be comforting to the fans and sponsors to know it's definitely on
track" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 9/13). Astros Owner Drayton
McLane, who will present a comprehensive list of proposed changes
in revenue sharing, said the players' union is "not really trying
to negotiate." McLane: "They know that anything that's
negotiated will not be as good for them as what they have now"
(Alex Truex, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/13).
BABY STEPS: Although no vote is scheduled on placing the
new expansion franchises into either league, Harrington believes
the two teams would be put in the same league, "probably the
American" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 9/13). Harrington: "I'd rather
see us put one team in each league, than two years after that
expand again by two teams. But if we don't get a satisfactory
labor deal, we will face relocation issues" (ORANGE COUNTY
REGISTER, 9/13).
