Owners May Bounce Montreal
N E W Y O R K, July 14 -- Owners appeared set to put off realignment until 2002 and might even discuss getting rid of the Montreal Expos and another team when they meet today.
Colorado owner Jerry McMorris first discussed so-calledcontraction a year ago, but commissioner Bud Selig played down theidea.
When asked the question on national TV last weekend, Selig said:“I don’t want to rule anything out today, because there’s noquestion that we do have to solve that problem, because (disparity)is getting worse by the day.”
Economic Study
Owners gather today to receive the sport’s latest economicstudy report, and to be briefed on the format of next year’sschedule and the negotiations for new national TV contracts.
While contraction may not be on the formal agenda, two owners,speaking on the condition they not be identified, said the idea isbeing given increased attention by team heads because of Montreal’sinability to get a new ballpark and probably will be discussed inthe hallways.
“It is being taken more seriously,” McMorris said Thursdaynight. “It’s just because of disparity and how do we find our wayout of difficult situations.”
If the major leagues ever decide to shrink, its central fund,which gets money from national broadcasting and licensingcontracts, could be used to buy back the Expos along with one otherteam, one of the owners said.
“If we disappear, they’re going to have to come up with anotherclub that could produce as many Guerreros and Martinezes andWalkers,” Expos manager Felipe Alou said, referring to ValdimirGuerrero, Pedro Martinez and Larry Walker, who became stars inMontreal.
“We’ve heard all kinds of stuff in the last two years about usand about baseball, so nothing surprises me,” Alou said.
Death Blow for Another Team?
While there is no obvious choice for a second team, Florida,Minnesota and Oakland have failed to get new ballparks, and TampaBay has seen a large decrease in attendance.
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