Players, owners still split on key issues

NEW YORK-- Another day at the bargaining table produced only slight progress for baseball players and owners, who still appear headed toward the sport's ninth work stoppage since 1972.

Negotiators for the sides met twice Tuesday, for a total of about 3 1/2 hours. The primary topic of the first session was revenue sharing, with owners wanting a large increase in the amount of locally generated money that is shared by all teams. Management also wants a new formula that would be less favorable to the clubs with the highest and lowest revenue.

"In some respects, the conversation was productive," said Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official. "We got a little closer, but there are still significant hurdles we have to find a way to get through."

Meantime, union head Donald Fehr met in New York with players from the Houston Astros, the 26th team on his tour of the 30 clubs, then went to Dallas to meet with the New York Yankees.

Board meets next week

Fehr said the union's executive board is likely to hold a conference call next week and could hold a meeting the week of Aug. 12. A strike date could be set following Fehr's tour, and dates from mid-August to mid-September have been mentioned for a walkout.

"I don't feel like setting a strike date is imminent, though it is probably necessary in order to get things solved," Houston's Brad Ausmus said. "I think we might be even closer to solving this than the owners think we are. But it's a fluid situation, and it changes daily."

Players don't want to complete the season without an agreement, fearing management would lock them out or change work rules. Owners, having pledged in March to play this season under the terms of the deal that expired Nov. 7, want players to complete the season.

"I don't buy this theory that they have no choice but to go on strike," said Rob Manfred, the owners' top labor lawyer. "They clearly have a choice."

A strike, while depriving players of their salary for the final weeks of the season, would put more pressure on owners. It not only would threaten to wipe out the World Series for the second time in nine years, it would depress ticket sales for 2003.

"If Rob really believes that, and I don't really believe he does, then he is living in a dream world," Fehr said. "We live in the real world of NBA players, who were locked out immediately after their last agreement."