John Ace of Norwood was busy Friday night selling bottled water and peanuts to fans as they entered Cinergy Field.

        But Mr. Ace's busy summer nights might come to a halt if players decide to punch out a month early.

        “It would kill the business,” said Mr. Ace, 32, of Norwood, before the Houston Astros game. “People out here like me are struggling to make a $80-$100 a night,” while players and owners “make millions.”

WILL BASEBALL STRIKE OUT? • Walkout Aug. 30 as talks stumble • Team and city are staring at a Big Red-Ink Machine • Salaries, disparity (PDF) • Young Reds optimistic labor talks will succeed • Fans have no sympathy for players, owners • Lawmakers unlikely to go to bat for game • Strike would end Cinergy's life early

        If the squabbling between owners and players isn't resolved, resulting in a strike and an early end to the 2002 season, Mr. Ace says he's done working baseball games for good.

        Several fans at Friday's Reds game say they may leave the sport with him.

        “I stuck around after the 1994 strike, but this may be the end for me,” said Tim Humphrey, 42, a native of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Humphrey, who now lives in San Francisco, was in Cincinnati visiting Cinergy Field for the last time Friday night.

        If players strike, the only reason the Leffert brothers of Indiana would come out is to see the big leaguers holding picket signs. “I might drop in and say hi,” said Scott Leffert, 38 of Valparaiso. “But they'll probably be out playing golf.”

        His brother, Mick, 33, of Logansport, says he won't spend his time making the long drive to come out to the park, but he may still follow the Reds on television. “You would think grown men could work it out instead of fighting like they are 13,” he said.

        Erika Bradley, a 20-year-old baseball fan from Franklin Furnace, Ohio usually catches a few Reds games each season. A strike, she says, would be “sad.”

        If players and owners want baseball to continue as a favorite pastime, “then they don't need a strike,” she said.

        “People are already sick of it.”

        Gary Hudson, 50, a lifelong baseball fan from Greenville, Ohio, is one of those people.

        “I hate this,” he said, adding another strike would be devastating. During the last strike, the Reds were in contention before the season was cut short. That year, Mr. Hudson said, “My life stopped.”

        “I'm a baseball man, my brother is a baseball man,” he said. “I think it would be terrible, horrible for baseball.”

        Howard Eckler, 62, of Florence, took his grandson, Logan, 7, to Friday's game. Mr. Eckler said a strike would hurt baseball, and the sport may “never make it up.”

        But some fans weren't so sure that striking was the wrong prescription for getting the sport back on track.

        “It is probably necessary to get things worked out,” said Sharon Richie of Columbus, who watched the game with her 8-year-old son, Zac.. It may turn many fans away, she says, but the sport “isn't going to get fixed on its own.”

        Scott Herrle, 25, of Pittsburgh, said there are several issues between the owners and players that need to be resolved. “The only way to resolve them is through a strike,” he said.

Team and city are staring at a Big Red-Ink Machine Walkout Aug. 30 as talks stumble Young Reds optimistic labor talks will succeed Fans have no sympathy for players, owners Lawmakers unlikely to go to bat for game Strike would end Cinergy's life early Reds 9, Astros 3 Reds Box, Runs Larson's promising season may be ended by broken toe Moehler starting to feel comfortable in Cincinnati Phillies 4, Cardinals 0 Rolen welcomed, Philadelphia style Late games Notes from Friday's games Louisville 7, Toledo 3

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