BASEBALL LABOR TALKS : Counsel Asks for OK to Seek Injunction

As acting Commissioner Bud Selig left for a vacation in Scottsdale, Ariz., and baseball’s labor talks remained in limbo, the National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel made an expected move Friday, asking the agency’s five-member board for permission to seek an injunction that would force owners to reinstate the rules and conditions of the expired bargaining agreement.

William Gould, chairman of the NLRB, said the board would meet in Washington on Thursday to discuss and vote on counsel Fred Feinstein’s request. If approved, and only one of Feinstein’s more than 100 requests has been denied, a hearing before a federal judge in New York could be held in seven to 10 days, Gould speculated.

The union has said it will end the strike that began Aug. 12 if the injunction is granted, but the owners are almost certain to appeal and lock the players out, providing a lockout is approved by 21 of the 28 clubs.

Selig, meanwhile, spoke by phone with union leader Donald Fehr before leaving Milwaukee for his Arizona vacation home, but they did not set a date for the resumption of negotiations, which broke off March 4.

The union, and some management people, believe Selig is stalling in the hope that striking players will begin to break ranks and return to their teams in the two weeks before the season starts, but Selig could not be reached for comment.

Asked when talks might resume, Fehr said: “I think the greatest likelihood is Tuesday, but we don’t know where and in what format. I assume it will be smaller groups rather than larger.”

In another development, American League President Gene Budig said the league would set a timetable next week for addressing the Baltimore Orioles’ refusal to field a replacement team.

Budig, who has threatened owner Peter Angelos with fines of up to $250,000 a game, suspension and even forfeiture of the club, said: “We continue to believe the Orioles have responsibilities to meet their announced schedule.

“We further believe our position is a defensible one under the American League constitution.”