The MLBPA issued a press release Friday guaranteeing a post-
season and World Series. The union had delayed on such a promise
holding out for credit for missed service time from the strike,
but they "finally relented," according to I.J. Rosenberg of the
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. The delay "had upset owners who offered on
August 22 to make their annual payment to the players pension and
wanted to make a joint announcement." The union "then realized
the owners were not going to consider giving back service time
until an agreement was reached." Braves Player Rep Tom Glavine:
"I don't know that we ever threatened to do anything, but there
was enough speculation" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/23). Since the
All-Star break, lawyers for both sides and some players "have
held a dozen secret sessions." One source with knowledge of the
talks: "The people in those meetings have related well to each
other, but they have made no progress. The one positive is that
they haven't publicly cast spears at each other" (Michael
Sokolove, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/24).
WHO SAID WHAT: Acting Commissioner Bud Selig claims that
Randy Levine, the owners' new chief labor negotiator, did not say
that he hoped to get an agreement with the union before the post-
season began, as was originally reported. Selig: "He's just an
optimist with high hopes and would like to get something done as
soon as possible" (Tom Haudricourt, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL,
9/24).
