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WASHINGTON - Baseball officials wanted to know where the money is coming from. City officials wanted to know if baseball is serious about locating in Washington.
When it was over, both sides gave positive reviews to Thursday's meeting in which Mayor Anthony Williams explained his plan for a 100 percent taxpayer-funded stadium if the Montreal Expos are moved to the nation's capital.
"If we weren't serious about Washington, D.C., we would not be here," Major League Baseball executive vice president John McHale Jr. said in a rare public statement. "We consider it to have been a positive afternoon."
Owners Jerry Reinsdorf of the White Sox, Tom Hicks of the Rangers and Wendy Selig-Prieb of the Brewers and other members of the relocation committee met with Williams and a host of city officials, including three members of the City Council, which would have to approve stadium financing.
Council member Jack Evans wanted frank answers from baseball on two fronts. Is Washington again being used as a pawn to attract other cities? And will baseball yield to Baltimore owner Peter Angelos' contention that Washington should not have a team because it is part of the Orioles' market?
"I think they liked the presentation, and they were less comfortable with my questioning," Evans said. "It somewhat made them squirm, but I think the questions needed to be asked. I don't want to sit here and waste my time. If we're just getting used, or if Angelos is a problem, what are we doing here?"
Evans said he received assurances on both issues, but added, "I still don't believe the Angelos story."
BREWERS AUDIT: The team was $133-million in debt at the end of 2003, but its revenues have increased more than 70 percent since taxpayer-financed Miller Park opened, according to two reports. The family of commissioner Bud Selig owns a controlling interest in the team, which is up for sale. Wisconsin lawmakers called for a full public audit when the team's payroll decreased after the stadium opened in 2001. The Brewers opened their books to state auditors and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
McGRAW GRANT: A foundation honoring former Mets and Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw will assist with a research center and grant program at Duke University's Brain Tumor Center. McGraw, who died in January of a brain tumor, was a patient at the center last year. His foundation's grant will create the Tug McGraw Center for Neuro-Oncology Quality of Life Research at Duke.
A'S: Bud Selig visited Oakland's ballpark for the first time since 1989 and declared the team needs a new stadium soon to survive. He added that "there's no question the club will have to make a considerable contribution."
BRAVES: Rightfielder J.D. Drew was a late scratch and missed his third straight game with a stiff neck.
CUBS: Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is out 6-8 weeks after breaking a bone in his right wrist. The team already is missing second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, out since April 10 with a partial tear of his right Achilles' tendon.
MARLINS: Right-hander Jeff Allison, the team's top draft pick in June, left minor-league camp without permission for undisclosed reasons less than a month after reporting late.
YANKEES: Former Rays first baseman Travis Lee plans to have surgery next week on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. ... First baseman Jason Giambi was held out with the stomach flu, believed to be the same illness that sidelined shortstop Derek Jeter a night earlier. ... Third baseman Alex Rodriguez will field questions this season from young readers in a Sports Illustrated for Kids column called "Ask A-Rod."