BASEBALL OWNERS MEETINGS END IN DETROIT: LITTLE ACCOMPLISHED

     MLB owners, as promised, took no votes at their meetings in
Detroit, but spent "plenty of time" discussing the game's labor
problems, according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST.  One
owner noted that talks moved away from a salary cap toward a
payroll tax (WASHINGTON POST, 9/15).  Hal Bodley also writes the
meetings produced few results.  Phillies President Bill Giles:
"I'm not disappointed because I really didn't expect anything
would happen here" (USA TODAY, 9/15).  Claire Smith notes the
urgency for MLB to settle its problems, saying that "labor
uncertainty" could kill the game's second selling season (N.Y.
TIMES, 9/15).
     NEW LABOR GUY:  New York City Labor Commissioner Randy
Levine yesterday "tentatively" agreed to become chief labor
negotiator for  baseball owners.  Owners have been without a
labor negotiator since PRC chief Dick Ravitch decided not renew
in January (Joel Siegel, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/15).