Injunction junction

Minnesota high court asked to move quickly on appeal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Before sending players south for spring training, the Twins and major league baseball want Minnesota's highest court to determine if the team will play at all in 2002.

The fight over a plan to fold two teams is back before the state Supreme Court, which was asked by baseball's lawyers Wednesday to hear an appeal by Feb. 11 -- just days before spring training starts.

Separately, Twins owner Carl Pohlad met with Alabama businessman Donald Watkins to discuss Watkins' desire to purchase the team.

The request for swift judicial action came a day after the Court of Appeals let stand an injunction that compels the Twins to honor their lease at the Metrodome and play 81 home games there in 2002.

"Baseball must know if it can proceed with contraction so that players can be reallocated among the remaining teams, and schedules and rosters can be finalized," wrote Roger Magnuson, a lawyer for the Twins and baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

Watkins meets with Pohlad MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Alabama businessman Donald Watkins, who has expressed an interest in purchasing the Minnesota Twins, on Wednesday met with team officials for the first time. Watkins and his attorney, Kenneth Thomas, met with Twins owner Carl Pohland and team president Jerry Bell for two hours in Minneapolis. Watkins has said he would keep the Twins in Minnesota if he is allowed to buy the franchise and said he has the financial resources to build a new stadium with private funds. Watkins, who also has expressed interest in purchasing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, received permission last week from baseball's ownership committee to begin talks with the Twins.

The appellate court voted 3-0 to uphold the Nov. 16 decision by a district judge, who said any breach of the Twins' lease wouldn't be satisfied by money alone.

Baseball's lawyers argue the injunction runs contrary to 80 years of Minnesota law and represents an "articulation of a peculiar and anomalous legal principle" that demands review by the Supreme Court.

Baseball owners voted Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams before this season. Baseball hasn't officially selected the teams, but the Twins and Montreal Expos are the likely targets because of their low revenue and inability to secure government funding for new ballparks.

Magnuson asked for the speedy review because the Twins are due to start spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 17, three days after teams are allowed to start workouts.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which obtained the injunction as the Twins' landlord, opposes quick consideration, lawyer Andy Shea said.

"The calendar of contraction was established by commissioner Selig," Shea said. "He, obviously, did not allow sufficient time for any orderly legal process."

Minnesota's Supreme Court, which on Nov. 30 refused to hear a direct appeal of the original ruling, typically takes several months to hear and decide cases, though it has moved more quickly in special circumstances. For the court to take the case, at least three of the seven justices must agree to accept an appeal.

Watkins, who wants to examine the Twins' financial records before making a formal offer, has said he could finance a new stadium without public help if he buys the team.

Watkins did not return a message left at his office. The Twins said both parties signed confidentiality agreements to keep the discussion process private.

Meanwhile, a grievance by the players' association to block contraction was to resume Thursday in New York with the 11th day of testimony before arbitrator Shyam Das. Delegations from management and the union, including Yankees reliever Mike Stanton, met for about three hours Wednesday at the commissioner's office, discussing mostly procedural issues and scheduling.

 

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