Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994                   TAG: 9409240028
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

BASEBALL OWNERS PREPARING FOR WORST

``You have to prepare now for the unknown, and I don't think anybody knows how long its going to be,'' acting commissioner Bud Selig said. ``You prepare for the worst and hope for the best.''

Two management officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said owners are contemplating starting spring training next year with any available players, including major-leaguers who break ranks, minor-leaguers willing to suit up and players from Latin America and possibly Japan.

Selig, speaking by telephone Tuesday from Milwaukee, said it was too early to make those decisions. Union head Donald Fehr said he isn't trying to figure out management's intentions yet.

``If you look at the pattern of this so far, you have to assume the worst,'' agent Tom Reich said. ``We're in an all-out war. If you look at their strategy up until now, it would follow that they'll use whatever tactics they think they can get away with in dealing with the public to intimidate major-league players about their jobs.''

At least 12 teams have cut staff and three more are cutting salaries. Cincinnati, Milwaukee and San Diego got rid of their public relations directors. Even Selig admits there's a chance baseball will be a smaller industry when the battle ends.

``There's a lot of economic damage being done, and some clubs are going to come back in a very streamlined fashion,'' he said.

Selig's Milwaukee Brewers terminated 30 of 73 full-time employees this week and the New York Mets got rid of 28 of 79. San Diego cut 25 workers, 40 percent of its payroll.

The Cincinnati Reds, who had 53 employees before the strike, have seven left, according to a management official speaking on the condition of anonymity.

``We've got a situation where a lot of people are going to have to take on a lot more responsibility and work a lot harder,'' general manager Jim Bowden said. ``We're doing the best we can with limited staff.''

Montreal cut 35 full-timers, about half its staff, and San Francisco cut 43 of 94. Houston cut 19 of 62 full-time workers, Oakland cut 17 of 71, and Pittsburgh cut 16 of 80 workers. In addition, the Pirates put about 80 percent of their remaining employees on shortened work weeks.

Baltimore, California and the New York Yankees also made cuts, while Los Angeles slashed salaries. Texas will cut employees' pay next month and Minnesota said it probably will announce layoffs.

Some long-time baseball employees have been casualties. Selig fired Tom Skibosh, the Brewers' public relations director since 1976. San Diego got rid of John ``Doc'' Mattei, the Padres' traveling secretary since the team began play in 1969.

San Diego also fired Jim Ferguson, a baseball publicist for 22 seasons, including the past four with the Padres. The voice mail on his telephone says: ``This is Jim Ferguson. Press zero to return to the switchboard. You'll need to talk to somebody else. I don't work here anymore.''