Citing the Dodgers' signing of P Kevin Brown to a $105M
contract, the AP's Ronald Blum writes that "If nothing
changes, this will all intensify over the next three years
and baseball will be shut down by a spring training lockout
in February 2002." D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry
Colangelo: "No one is waiting until the last minute here. I
think we're trying to address all these issues early and
head on. ... There may be 10 or 11 teams who may be players
right now. Then maybe another bracket of four, five. Then
maybe the rest." MLB Exec VP/Baseball Ops Sandy Alderson:
"The only clubs making money are at the top end and the
bottom end. The other clubs will figure it out" (AP, 12/18).
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: "On April 1, the baseball fan
has two things -- hope and faith. It's my job to make sure
hope and faith prevail in as many franchises as possible."
Selig has said that he will have "some announcements as soon
as January" regarding possible solutions to the issue of
competitive balance (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/21).
ANGELOS' ANGLE: Orioles Owner Peter Angelos spoke with
the Baltimore SUN's Mike Ricigliano about the state of MLB,
and said, "Profit is not the driving force of this
organization. We are able to compete for players because of
the supportive way the public has responded. I spend the
equivalent to what our attendance allows." Angelos, on
MLB's salary structure: "The concessions made to the
players, going back 25 years, literally disarmed ownership.
The players' agents have whipsawed the owners. The
financial aspects of player salaries have reached the level
of absurdity. Pure and simple, the basic economics don't
allow a team to sustain the salaries that are being paid."
The SUN's Ricigliano: "Angelos obviously believes he has to
pay to win and isn't reluctant to keep covering the cost, or
picking up the check" (Baltimore SUN, 12/20).
BIG TROUBLE? Although revenue rose from $28M ten years
ago to a projected $116M, the Rangers will lose $14M this
year. President Tom Schieffer: "We get a lot more money
coming in the front door but it goes right out the back
door. There's just a sense of disbelief that you could draw
3 million people and still lose money" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
12/20). Indians GM John Hart, whose projected '99 payroll
is $65M: "It used to be the haves and the have-nots. Now
it's the super-haves. There's a third tier of teams that
are media driven. That concerns me" (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/20).
DIVISION DIVIDERS? Reds GM Jim Bowden suggested
division realignment, with "all of the low-revenue teams in
the same division," according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI
HERALD. Bowden: "They may win 60 or 70, but at least fans
know they are in a pennant race. It's a better solution
than the clubs being eliminated on May 20." Marlins Owner
John Henry: "This is the best idea I've heard. ... With this
system, games that traditionally don't draw well -- like
Pittsburgh and Montreal -- would have better attendance."
Henry said he "will not push the idea with other owners."
Henry: "I'm a little too junior to throw my weight around."
A source "in frequent contact" with Selig said the plan "is
unlikely to be instituted" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/20).
