Friday, September 18, 1998 BY GEOFF HOBSON
MILWAUKEE -- Major League Baseball doesn't know what to do with Marge Schott. But the game has a place for John Allen.
As Allen's future hangs in limbo, a member of Major League Baseball's executive council said Thursday Allen will have a job in the sport next year.
"John Allen's done a tremendous job and you can count on it, he'll have a job in baseball," said the official after the owners adjourned their two-day meeting here at the Pfister Hotel.
The official didn't respond when asked if Allen would be with another team or in the MLB office in New York. As Allen emerged from what could be his last ownership meeting as Reds' managing executive in Schott's place, he had no comment when asked if his future has been addressed.
That's probably because MLB has yet to decide the future regarding Schott's suspension running the Cincinnati Reds day-to-day. Allen could find out in the next 10 days whether he's staying with the Reds beyond the World Series.
That's when Schott's suspension runs out next month, but she's in danger of getting suspended again for allegedly using the names of Reds' employees to help defraud General Motors. GM filed a complaint with the state of Ohio alleging 57 phony car sales in December 1996, but dropped the complaint in January 1997, when she sold her Montgomery Chevrolet-GEO dealership.
In his first owners meeting as the game's permanent commissioner, Bud Selig on Thursday received ownership updates from Kansas City, Florida and Minnesota, franchises facing possible sales. But he said he received no report from Cincinnati.
Selig has heard Schott is talking to potential buyers. Her limited partners are prepared to match offers and buy out her 6 1/2 shares that include two general partner shares.
"I know she's been talking to some people, but I don't know if anything is going to come out of it," Selig said.
If nothing comes of it, Selig can extend Schott's suspension to as far as Dec. 31, 2000, which amounts to a lifetime ban. That's the day the Reds' limited partnership expires, and limited partners are likely to wrest control of the club from Schott.
"It's the same position it's always been. She's suspended," Selig said. "I can't tell you anything new on that subject."
An MLB source said if Selig extended the suspension based on the GM affair, he would meet with her to hear her side of the story before making a decision.
Selig said he had no plans Thursday to meet with Schott.
Now that Selig is the permanent commissioner, he doesn't have to rely on the council to discipline owners.
"My call solely," Selig said.
His decision could come as early as before Sept. 29, the day the playoffs start. MLB has a guideline that no major news is to be announced during the World Series, and a source said baseball would not like anything to overshadow the playoffs.
The owners got an update on the Cincinnati stadium plan and Hamilton County's recent decision to hire HOK Sport to design a facility the Reds want between Cinergy Field and the Crown. Selig deflected a question about MLB's Plan B if county voters shoot down the so-called "Wedge" site.
"That's a local club issue," Selig said. "Baseball doesn't get involved in that."
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