Owners’ Lawyer Produces Analogy

American League

The new lawyer for baseball owners compared players to pipe fitters and produce salesmen Thursday as he tried to convince an appeals court panel to overturn the injunction issued against the teams.

The three judges of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, who last month rejected the owners’ attempt to stay the injunction, didn’t say when they will issue their decision.

They asked Douglas Leslie, a University of Virginia law professor hired by the owners, about two dozen questions but directed just one at the lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board and none to the lawyer for the players.

At the April 4 hearing on the stay request, Chief Judge Jon Newman and Judges Ralph Winter and J. Daniel Mahoney were so harsh in their questioning of lawyer Frank Casey the owners replaced him.

Leslie compared free agents seeking offers from different teams to a supermarket worker who asks “the produce department to compete with the department that runs the cashiers.”

Newman didn’t think much of Leslie’s argument comparing baseball to other industries.

“I don’t believe plumbers are reserved to anybody, nor are produce salesmen,” he said.

Bosio cleared

Right-hander Chris Bosio, sent home to have a tender right knee examined, underwent extensive testing Wednesday and the diagnosis was a huge relief for the Seattle Mariners.

No damage was found, and though Bosio may miss his scheduled Sunday start, he won’t miss more.

Rangers 6, Angels 2

Anaheim, Calif.

Kenny Rogers (2-2), who pitched a perfect game the last time he faced California, settled for eight shutout innings as Texas avoided a sweep.

Yankees 12, Blue Jays 11

Toronto

In a game featuring 16 runs in the final three innings, New York scored three runs in the top of the ninth and held on for a win over Toronto.

Tigers 8, Brewers 0

Milwaukee

Sean Bergman pitched seven scoreless innings and Travis Fryman drove in four runs to lead Detroit over Milwaukee.

Orioles at Red Sox, ppd.

Boston

Baltimore’s road game was rained out and will be made up Aug. 10.