On the Clock

Though there are only 40 hours left until the strike, there are a number of favorable signs. Today they finalized (finally) the steroid plan. Bud Selig showed up for his photo op. And both sides are meeting into the night. Let's play two, boys.

In a related story, Murray Chass of the New York Times has appointed himself Bud's press secretary. Witness this ode to the commissioner. I love the picture of Bud signing balls for the wee little fans. It's also nice to hear that Bud is punctual in returning phone calls. Keep in mind that this is The New York Times, all the news that fit to print and all that.

It is amazing that in New York where both Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and former Met owner Nelson Doubleday have openly questioned Selig (Doubleday in court and Steinbrenner threatening to follow suit as it were), Chass can say with no snese of irony, "If there is any owner who does not feel he gets a full hearing from Selig, he has not talked about it publicly." Also the following quote is amusing: "He is a master politician; he'd be at home in the U.S. Senate or the House of Parliament," Larry Lucchino, chief executive of the Boston Red Sox, said. He really impressed Rep. Maxine Waters last December: "Remember, Mr. Selig, you are under oath."