Selig Foresees 12-14 Money-Losing Teams

Bud Selig, baseball's acting commissioner, backed off the claimthat 19 teams would lose money this year, saying Sunday the minimumnumber was 12 to 14.

Union head Donald Fehr called the original estimate laughable,and management negotiator Richard Ravitch said last week the list wasbased on projections.

"You can debate the numbers," Selig said during an interviewbroadcast by CBS. "But you can't debate a minimum of 12 to 14. Andwe just can't ignore that anymore."

No formal negotiations on management's demand for a salary capare scheduled until Wednesday, two days before Friday's strikedeadline.

Monday's meeting is scheduled to be devoted to non-economicissues and Tuesday's talks are to be at the committee level.

Labor Secretary Robert Reich said fans will be the real losersin a prolonged baseball strike.

Reich and his son, Adam, spoke with players on both teams beforewatching the Boston Red Sox host the Cleveland Indians in adoubleheader Sunday.

"The national economy won't be crippled if baseball stops, butit's just that a lot of 13-year-olds like my son will have brokenhearts," Reich said.

"It's kind of a funny feeling. It almost feels like the last week of the season even though it's onlyAugust," Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike Moore said. "Everyone isscurrying around like they're going home."

Management, too, prepared for a strike. The Baltimore Oriolespredict a revenue loss of up to $13 million. John Harrington, thechief executive of the Red Sox, said his club would lose $6 millionto $8 million if the final 52 days of the season aren't played.

The Clinton administration will not intervene in the disputebetween baseball owners and players unless both sides request suchmediation, Reich said.

Reich met recently with Fehr and Ravitch and offered theadministration's help in resolving the dispute.

Neither side has accepted the offer.

Teams also prepared for the work stoppage by juggling theirrosters. The Red Sox brought up pitcher Todd Frohwirth, who had beenat Class AAA Pawtucket. They wouldn't have to pay his $400,000salary during a strike, saving $2,186 per day.

Selig argued Sunday that these negotiations will determine thefuture of baseball in some markets.

"The consequences of not dealing with these problems are really,really scary," he said. "They have not only serious economicconsequences but they have very serious social consequences in manycities, cities whose ability to have major league baseball is verymuch at stake."

Kent Hrbek of the Minnesota Twins, who last week said he willretire after the season, was wondering how many games he has left.

"It's a sit-and-ponder week," he said. "Is Wednesday my lastgame? Or are we going to keep playing?"