Field of Schemes
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January 04, 2006

MLB seeks AAA status

And away we go: Major League Baseball officials have announced they plan to file a claim with the American Arbitration Association seeking to resolve the Washington Nationals lease situation. Under the agreement signed by MLB and D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams last year, the two sides must spend 15 days with a mediator before proceeding to binding arbitration. (No, they're not the same thing.) Pro-stadium city councilmember Jack Evans proclaimed himself "disappointed" at the move, saying, "We're working with colleagues on the council, and this is a delicate time. Filing a claim at this time, although it may seem logical from their point of view, it is like throwing gas on the fire."

It's also not clear what MLB has to gain by this move, since it's already reached an agreement with Mayor Williams on a lease deal. The body that's holding out and refusing to sign the lease - or rather, refusing to commit to voting for it, which has Williams refusing to submit it for a vote that he would lose - is the city council, which isn't a party to the baseball agreement, or the arbitration. Like yesterday's Bob DuPuy op-ed, it's all stick and no carrot, which while certainly the Seligian way, isn't likely to win many friends among the swing votes on the council.

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