BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Umpires Call Strikes From Picket Line

Major league baseball appeared headed for an opening day with replacement umpires after no progress in negotiations with the locked-out regulars.

Given that in 1991 the sides settled only a few hours before the first pitch, there was still a chance for a late agreement before tonight’s opener, but management negotiator Robert Kheel and union head Richie Phillips weren’t optimistic.

“It’s with regret that we can’t make a deal,” Kheel said. “We would rather have the disruption at the present time, however unattractive that may be, rather than at a time of the association’s choosing.”

Coming off the players’ 232-day strike, the last thing owners wanted was another labor confrontation. Players indicated their support for the umpires but said they would play. Umpires intend to picket tonight’s season opener in Miami between the Dodgers and the Florida Marlins.

The leagues are proposing a raise in starting salaries to $70,000 from $60,000. The top of the scale calls for the pay of a 30-year veteran to rise to $215,000 from $175,000. In their last public proposal, umpires asked for starting pay of $85,000 with a top scale of $240,000.

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Baseball owners received a May 11 hearing date in their attempt to overturn the injunction that caused players to end their 7 1/2-month strike.

The owners have only slim chance of success before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, given the skepticism expressed by a three-judge panel this month when the appellate court denied management’s attempt to stay the injunction.

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The Detroit Tigers placed shortstop Alan Trammell on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 21.

Trammell, who has a pulled left hamstring, joins second baseman Lou Whitaker and pitcher Greg Gohr on the injury list.

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Three-time All-Star Sandy Alomar returned to Cleveland to have his ailing knee examined, and John Hart, Indian general manager, said the catcher probably would miss the first week of the season.

Alomar sat out the Indians’ final six Florida exhibition games because of soreness in his left knee, which required arthroscopic surgery in November after he hurt it playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.

“At this stage, I guess I don’t want to bring him into the season not fully ready,” Hart said. “I just don’t think as a group that we are confident that he is ready to go.”

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Reliever Tony Castillo and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to two-year contract worth $1,270,500. Castillo, who earned $437,500 in 1994, gets $610,500 this season.

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Boston pitcher Roger Clemens will remain in extended spring training for a month to work his sore shoulder into shape after being placed on the 15-day disabled list, as was reliever Stan Belinda.

The Red Sox and first baseman Mo Vaughn agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2,675,000. Vaughn hit .310 with 26 home runs last season and earned $675,000.

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The St. Louis Cardinals will open the regular season without cleanup hitter Todd Zeile after placing the first baseman on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed tendon in his left hand. Manager Joe Torre said he was considering platooning Darnell Coles and left-handed hitting Gerald Perry until Zeile returns.

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Colorado Rockies’ right-hander David Nied, scheduled to get some work in Monday’s final exhibition game, again experienced discomfort in his right elbow and was unable to pitch. He has been scratched from his scheduled start, Friday in Houston.

Nied was expected to be the Rockies’ No. 3 starter this season but has pitched only two innings this spring. An MRI conducted after the game showed he has a strained muscle in his elbow.

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Former Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser gave up seven hits in five innings and struck out eight to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 10-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Plant City, Fla. Hershiser gave up two runs and 11 hits and struck out 12 in 10 innings this spring.