Friday’s Deadline Is Disputed by Union Official : Baseball: Orza says a settlement by Sept. 17 would still allow time for the season to resume.

Gene Orza, associate general counsel of the baseball players ‘ union, said Tuesday it is “patently absurd” to cancel the rest of the season, including playoffs and World Series, as early as Friday, a tentative deadline set by acting commissioner Bud Selig if there is no bargaining agreement.

“The idea that you couldn’t be playing on Sept. 24 because the season was canceled two weeks before that is ludicrous,” Orza said on Day 26 of the players ‘ strike. “The idea that you couldn’t play the World Series because the season had been canceled before it needed to be is ridiculous.”

Orza said a settlement could be reached as late as Sept. 17, preserving enough of the season--a week of conditioning and a week of games--to make the playoffs and World Series meaningful.

He said the union believes that Friday is a soft deadline at best.

Selig said: “I really think Friday is the appropriate ( termination ) date, but we wouldn’t be foolish about it if we were close to a deal. It’s just that we’re not close, and I’m not optimistic that we will be.”

Selig will discuss the termination date with Donald Fehr, the union’s executive director, again today. There are no bargaining sessions scheduled through Friday.

In other developments Tuesday:

--The union filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board, charging owners with unfair labor practice in refusing to make a $7.8-million pension and welfare payment due on Aug. 1 from All-Star game receipts.

Selig said the owners were no longer obligated because the pension agreement had expired.

The matter could ultimately be decided by an administrative law judge if the NLRB agrees with the union’s complaint.

--Selig continued to insist that not one club has suggested altering the salary-cap proposal, denying a rumor that the high-revenue clubs would be willing to dissolve the link between a salary cap and increased sharing with the small markets if it produced a settlement.

--Informal contacts--”the only thing we have going right now,” one club official said--between the union and some owners continued. Orza said the “sidebar discussions” have been constructive to the point that “if we save the World Series it will be because of them,” but the owners continue to stress the need for a salary cap or equivalent mechanism, preventing progress.

--Sources said the union may be preparing a substantive proposal that addresses removal of the salary cap, increased revenue sharing among the clubs and modifications of existing systems, such as arbitration and free agency.

--The union’s executive board, made up of the 28 player representatives, will meet in New York on Monday and Tuesday.