September 10, 2004
The first hit is always free
This just in from Rocky Mountain News baseball columnist (and official MLB suck-up) Tracy Ringolsby: Bud Selig is currently trying to get owners to back a plan to "place the [Montreal Expos] in Washington in what can be announced as a two-year trial." That way, continues Ringolsby, it "would give baseball a chance to see what type of legitimate ownership interest surfaces." Er, Tracy? MLB isn't looking for owners, it's looking for stadium funds. Try to keep up.
A trial relocation would solve several problems for Selig, though: It would stanch the league's bleeding of red ink up in Montreal, and would possibly placate D.C. officials who want to be declared the team's new home before passing a stadium bill - all without actually committing the team and thereby giving up the league's only leverage. Of course, the Expos RICO suit plaintiffs would likely still file for an injunction against even a "trial" move, so nothing's likely to happen until their arbitration case is resolved next month.
Meanwhile, Ringolsby also reports that MLB officials have begun preliminary talks with Olympic Stadium officials about the Expos remaining in Montreal for 2005. Mmm, poutine!
