MLB owners began "formal consideration" of a proposal to
introduce interleague play in '97, according to the WASHINGTON
POST. The plan -- which would have teams playing 15 or 16 games
against clubs from the corresponding division in the other league
-- was presented to MLB's Executive Council last night as the
owners opened three days of quarterly meetings in L.A. Red Sox
CEO John Harrington was hopeful for a vote from full ownership
tomorrow. There are "obstacles," however -- namely approval from
the MLBPA. According to Mark Maske, interleague play "could set
the stage" for elimination of the DH. Union sources said "the
players would oppose the elimination of the DH, but don't
necessarily have any other major problems with interleague play"
(WASHINGTON POST, 1/17). Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said
interleague play was "aggressively supported" by the Council and
that they would recommend acceptance of the proposal (Larry
Whiteside, BOSTON GLOBE, 1/17). ESPN's Peter Gammons answered
"absolutely" when asked if thought interleague play would go
through ("SportsCenter," 1/16).
RAMIFICATIONS: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley notes that
interleague play would "solve" the problem of placing the
expansion teams in '98, allowing each league to go to 15 teams.
Phillies President Bill Giles also held out the possibility of
some realignment when the Devil Rays and Diamondbacks join in '98
(USA TODAY, 1/17).
OUTLOOK: MLBPA exec Dir Don Fehr: "Clearly, this is an
idea that deserves a very serious study and a good, hard look"
(Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 1/17). In Houston, Alan Truex notes one
team exec said the votes may not be there -- should teams vote on
self-interest. One Rangers official noted it would mean an extra
West Coast trip for them, and that not playing Houston (which is
in the NL Central) would be "another negative" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 1/17). Braves GM John Schuerholz: "I haven't always
been for it. But I think you are now dealing with a modern-day
fan" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/17). Brewers GM Sal Bando: "Any
time you can improve the product and improve the visibility of
teams in other parts of the country, you're only going to improve
the industry" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/17). In Dallas, Ken
Daley reports some owners "are leery of letting the union hold
them hostage on an issue" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/17). One AL
exec told the CHICAGO TRIBUNE: "We're going too fast. We have
things backward. First, we should be certain the players agree"
(Jerome Holtzman, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/17). Blue Jays GM Gord Ash:
"I don't like the idea at all." Ash added he did not know how
President Paul Beeston would vote (Bob Elliott, TORONTO SUN,
1/17).
TRADITION BE DAMNED: ESPN's Bob Ley said this "could leave
the baseball traditionalists sputtering and in need of sedation."
Later, Keith Olbermann borrowed a line from Bill Murray in
"Ghostbusters": "Cats and dogs living together!"
("SportsCenter," 1/16). In Atlanta, I.J. Rosenberg writes
interleague play "should bring some excitement to a sport that,
without question, craves a major lift" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
1/17). In Philadelphia, Jayson Stark writes, "There was a time
when baseball was about as likely to think about playing games in
the nude as to seriously consider interleague play" (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 1/17).
