MLB NEWS & NOTES: KING GEORGE NO BOOSTER OF BUDIG

     Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner criticized AL President
Gene Budig for not being present during the Orioles-Yankees game
last night that featured a three and a half-hour rain delay
before being postponed.  Budig was in Kansas for a Kauffman
Foundation function. Steinbrenner: "I'm not blasting him. I'm not
ripping him. But he should have been here."  AL VP Phyllis
Merhige: "Texas-Seattle is important. Chicago-Cleveland is
important.  We can't be everywhere" (Jon Heyman, NEWSDAY, 9/18).
More Steinbrenner: "Budig is a damn good man and he could be a
damn good league president, but he's got to get his priorities
straight. He should have been on the job" (Tom Pedulla, USA
TODAY, 9/18).
     IN THE INTERIM: A union source told the AP that the MLBPA
won't consider a partial labor agreement that covers only
interleague play for next season if MLB owners fail to approve a
labor deal.  Owners approved interleague play last year but can
only go ahead with it after agreement by the union (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 9/18).