Owners Expect Full Slate

Baseball owners, debating what their position will be when they return to the bargaining table, said they thought this season will be played to conclusion.

“Both sides are rational enough to know they can’t have a work stoppage in 1995 and probably 1996,” said John Harrington, the chairman of the owners’ negotiating committee. “You can’t do that to the fans again, one on top of the other.”

Owners, facing at least $300 million in losses this year, didn’t discuss falling attendance much as they concluded their quarterly meeting, but did adopt rules aimed at cutting the average game time by about 30 minutes from the current 3 hours.

The proposals, presented by former major league umpire Steve Palermo, include raising the mound, calling strikes high in the strike zone and forcing hitters to stay in the batters box.

Average attendance is down 25 percent from last year’s final figure.

“The numbers are down and we’re very concerned, but let’s see how the summer plays out before we get hysterical,” acting commissioner Bud Selig said.