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Compelling races may come to nothing if labor talks can't produce a deal.
By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 11, 2002
MILWAUKEE -- At times in the cramped comfort of the Fenway Park clubhouse, they've allowed themselves to look ahead and dream of the possibility.
What if the Red Sox, believed cursed since the organization sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, won the World Series this year?
"We speculate as players," Boston third baseman Shea Hillenbrand said this week. "We speculate that we'd probably have to spend a night in the clubhouse because we wouldn't be able to leave. It would be incredible."
It also might not happen, and for reasons other than competition or the bounty of bills in George Steinbrenner's wallet.
Baseball's second half begins today and in any other season that that might be reason for optimism, excitement or dreamy thoughts by guys like Hillenbrand and a city like Boston.
But today also could be one step closer to baseball's ninth work stoppage, a canceled World Series and further damage to a fan base already bubbling with discontent, compounded after commissioner Bud Selig called the All-Star Game after 11 innings Tuesday in Milwaukee.
"Obviously we have some issues that we have to address," Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez said. "We should spend more time on what we should do to make baseball better, not what's wrong with baseball.
"If you spend all your time trying to figure things out and don't spend time trying to grow the game and make it better ... that's where I think the NBA and NFL have really taken a step above us."
On the field in the second half, the National League West could be the most competitive division in the majors with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Giants worthy contenders.
"We know our division is one of the toughest in baseball," Arizona leftfielder and Tampa native Luis Gonzalez said. "We're expecting this to go down to the wire again."
Will the Cardinals be able to recover enough from the death of teammate Darryl Kile and dominate the rest of the NL Central? The Expos might not be able to make another blockbuster trade that could keep them in range of the Braves in the NL East.
"I felt leaving spring training we had the best team we had in a long time," Atlanta closer John Smoltz said.
In the AL West, the Mariners could find a challenge in the surprising Angels, who return from the break three games behind Seattle.
"The bottom line is our chemistry is stronger," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's where I think we've taken huge strides the last couple of years."
The Twins will try to avoid the second-half collapse that ended their hopes last season. Minnesota has a 71/2-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central despite being slowed by injuries all season.
The Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East could both make the playoffs, but it might depend on who does better against the Rays. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play Boston and New York 14 times in September, seven in the final week.
But all those division races could be null and void if owners and the players union fail to agree on a new labor agreement.
Both sides also are awaiting an arbitrator's decision on the union's grievance against the contraction of two teams in 2003.
The union executive board met last week, and though no strike date was set it asked the players for authority to do so in the coming weeks. The existing labor agreement expired in November.
"There is only one solution, one mechanism to create a solution," Selig said hours before the All-Star Game. "That's at the table."
The sides meet today in New York.
The owners have proposed the institution of a tax of up to 50 percent on payrolls above $98-million in addition to an increase in revenue sharing.
Steroid testing and a possible worldwide draft also are up for discussion.
"I'm an optimist and I believe the players association ... shares the same sentiment," Selig said. "If you can avoid a work stoppage, that's what you do."
The players aren't underestimating the damage to the game by another work stoppage, which would be the first since 1994 when play was halted for 232 days and the World Series canceled.
"As long as both sides are talking, that's a positive," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully we can get something worked out. I don't think anybody wants to see baseball stop again like it did a couple of years back."
After the last strike, Cal Ripken's games-played streak and the home run battle between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa helped reinvigorate fans.
Could the same happen again?
"I think it's unfortunate we're already back in this situation," Padres closer Trevor Hoffman said. "It took some large issues and Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa doing some pretty spectacular things in the game to bring people back the last time.
"Those types of things don't come along too often and save the game."