GaryMrMets
07-11-2004, 02:56 AM
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBI_JAPAN_MERGER?SITE=NJCAM&SECTION=SPORTS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Jul 10, 11:06 AM EDT
Japanese Baseball Players Fight Mergers
By JIM ARMSTRONG
Associated Press Writer
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) -- Representatives of the Japanese baseball player's association vowed a united front against the proposed merger of several Pacific League teams, but stopped short of calling for a strike.
"The way things are now, we won't have a strike," Atsuya Furuta, the head of the player's association, said Saturday. "What's most important now is to get everyone's opinion and decide what our options are."
Officials of the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes announced their proposed merger on June 13.
Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi said a July 7 owners' meeting that his team is also considering a merger. Other teams listed as possible candidates were the Nippon Ham Fighters, the Lotte Marines and the Daiei Hawks.
The owners are expected to decide on the proposed mergers at a meeting in September. Many of the owners, including Tsutsumi and Tsuneo Watanabe of the Central League's Yomiuri Giants, are said to favor a one-league system with 10 teams instead of the current two league, 12 team format, which has been in place since 1950.
If the mergers are approved over 100 players could lose their jobs, along with front office staff and other personnel.
Despite the developments, Furuta said Saturday there was no plan to hold a strike vote.
"We agreed to work together to fight this," Furuta said. "The association is very united on this and that's a good sign."
In a separate meeting Friday, the owners explained their reasons for wanting a merger, saying they were losing too much money under the current system.
Furuta said after Saturday's meeting of the player representatives that the association is willing to consider proposals like a luxury tax to alleviate losses.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Jul 10, 11:06 AM EDT
Japanese Baseball Players Fight Mergers
By JIM ARMSTRONG
Associated Press Writer
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) -- Representatives of the Japanese baseball player's association vowed a united front against the proposed merger of several Pacific League teams, but stopped short of calling for a strike.
"The way things are now, we won't have a strike," Atsuya Furuta, the head of the player's association, said Saturday. "What's most important now is to get everyone's opinion and decide what our options are."
Officials of the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes announced their proposed merger on June 13.
Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi said a July 7 owners' meeting that his team is also considering a merger. Other teams listed as possible candidates were the Nippon Ham Fighters, the Lotte Marines and the Daiei Hawks.
The owners are expected to decide on the proposed mergers at a meeting in September. Many of the owners, including Tsutsumi and Tsuneo Watanabe of the Central League's Yomiuri Giants, are said to favor a one-league system with 10 teams instead of the current two league, 12 team format, which has been in place since 1950.
If the mergers are approved over 100 players could lose their jobs, along with front office staff and other personnel.
Despite the developments, Furuta said Saturday there was no plan to hold a strike vote.
"We agreed to work together to fight this," Furuta said. "The association is very united on this and that's a good sign."
In a separate meeting Friday, the owners explained their reasons for wanting a merger, saying they were losing too much money under the current system.
Furuta said after Saturday's meeting of the player representatives that the association is willing to consider proposals like a luxury tax to alleviate losses.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.