Finger-Pointing Dominates Realignment Talk

With baseball owners far apart on realignment, San Francisco blamed Arizona for the impasse and the Diamondbacks said it was the fault of some American League owners.

Giants owner Peter Magowan, trying to prevent owners from putting the Oakland Athletics in the National League, said Wednesday that all the problems could be solved if the Diamondbacks were shifted to the A.L.

Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo said no one had asked him to move, and that none of the plans he had seen would move his team out of the N.L.

“I understand his argument why the National League is preferable to the American League, but really he could be very successful in the American League West, too, and it would solve a lot of baseball’s scheduling problems,” Magowan said, adding that the Diamondbacks “are going to be sold out, no matter what.”

Colangelo had lobbied to be placed in the N.L. West, where his team hopes to develop rivalries with Colorado, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“They did the right thing,” he said of his team’s division assignment. “Why change it? Because someone else is … complaining? That’s not a reason to do anything.”

Magowan, citing a provision in the National League constitution that gives him exclusive N.L. rights to areas within 10 miles of the San Francisco city limits, has threatened to sue if owners try to move Oakland into his league. The A’s ballpark is about seven miles from the city line.

“Magowan is pointing to us, we could solve the problem if we go to the American League West. He has his own agenda,” Colangelo said. “He’s protecting the Giants and what he believes is his interest.”

A.L. official promoted

Phyllis Merhige, who has taken an increasingly prominent role in the operation of the American League, was promoted to senior vice president.

Merhige, who joined the A.L. in 1974, became director of public relations in 1984 and was elected vice president of administration and public affairs in December 1992.

Umpires nix watches

Major league umpires have one word for a plan that would force them to carry stopwatches: Out!

Baseball, under pressure from Fox and other television networks that claimed there wasn’t enough time between innings to show their commercials, wanted the umps to track the breaks with watches.

The umpires refused, saying they were not required to hold up games for the benefit of TV. Baseball filed a grievance that went to a hearing in early August, and arbitrator James Jordan is expected to issue a final decision shortly after the World Series.

Ripken due rest

Cal Ripken won’t get a day off after the Orioles clinch the A.L. East title, even though he’s obviously bothered by a sore back that hampers his range at third base.

Ripken will, however, get his rest in the form of working a shorter day.

“Once we clinch this thing he doesn’t need to be playing nine innings. It will be some sort of spring training regimen,” said manager Davey Johnson.

Cone may be ready

David Cone walked toward the dugout along with his manager, doctor and pitching coach looking more concerned than confident.

Cone had just completed his most important workout to date since being sidelined by tendinitis in his right shoulder last month, and the right-hander’s body language said there might still be trouble.

However, once Cone got a chance to speak, he gave the Yankees, manager Joe Torre and New York fans the news they’d hoped for.

“It went really well,” he said. “I’m ready to make a start… . I felt I could have pitched today.”