Players Make A New Proposal; Owners Study It
Baseball players made a new proposal to owners, but it was not immediately clear if the plan created progress.
“We’re taking baby steps,” Gene Orza, the union’s No. 2 official, said after the meeting in Tampa, Fla. “But eventually a baby grows into an adolescent. Hopefully, it won’t take as long as real life.”
Randy Levine, the owners’ chief negotiator, studied the proposal with his aides. Players and owners did not plan to meet again until next week at the earliest.
The sides, which have bickered over a contract for more than three years, met for the first time since Feb. 21, when owners made a new offer.
Thursday afternoon’s meeting was over issues not at the center of the dispute. The central issue of a luxury tax was to be the subject of the night session.
Family affair
It’s no longer dad’s job to pick up the check for a Griffey family outing.
Ken Griffey Sr. was parked in the first base coaching box for the Colorado Rockies’ game against Seattle in Peoria, Ariz. The Mariners’ lineup included two of Ken Sr.’s kids, Ken Jr. and Craig.
Ken Jr. had two singles in three at-bats and Craig, a six-year minor leaguer in the Seattle system, had a hit in four trips, but the Rockies beat the Mariners 5-1. Randy Johnson pitched three solid innings, striking out three and allowing a solo home run.
After the game, the talk was of where the Griffeys would eat dinner.
“Who do you think is buying?” Ken Sr. said. “Junior just signed a new contract.”
Camp notes: Chris Bosio, a brace on his right knee and bouncing back from severe stomach cramps, will pitch in the ‘B’ game today… . Paul Sorrento’s sprained right ankle has improved enough for him to take batting practice. … First cuts will be made tonight, although players may not be notified until Saturday morning. … Jay Buhner’s first-inning RBI on an infield grounder was his first in 13 spring at-bats.
One stadium is enough for any neighborhood, Seattle business operators and residents near the Kingdome have told a panel seeking a site for a new ballpark for the Mariners.
The business people met Wednesday with a seven-member board that is choosing a site for the $320 million, retractable-roof ballpark.
Out of 13 potential sites, the board plans to narrow the list to three by March 18 and to one by June 1, followed by an environmental review and final selection by August, chairwoman Joan Enticknap said.
Around the camps
Boston’s power-filled lineup is about to become even more powerful. The Red Sox are very close to signing former N.L. MVP Kevin Mitchell to a minor-league contract that will pay him $250,000 if he makes the team. He could earn $1.5 million more in performance bonuses. … Phillies outfielder Tony Longmire will miss the entire 1996 season with a damaged left wrist. … Brien Taylor, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 amateur draft, was optioned by the New York Yankees to their Eastern League (Class AA) affiliate at Norwich, Conn. Taylor, 24, returned from shoulder surgery last season and went 2-5 with a 6.08 ERA with Tampa of the Gulf Coast League.