Owner George Steinbrenner

How did it happen? How did a self-interested group of small- and medium-market teams persuade baseball's heaviest financial hitters to go along with a program that has left the large-market teams essentially powerless to alter the course of the deadlocked labor negotiations?That has become a relevant question as the 20-day-old baseball strike moves closer to the point where the regular season -- as well as the playoffs and World Series -- cannot be saved.The large-market clubs may be getting more and more uncomfortable with the prospect of a season-killing strike and the legal mess that is sure to follow, but an internal rule that requires a 75 percent majority to approve any settlement has made it possible for a group of as few as eight teams to hold the rest of the major leagues hostage.

Most people don't even notice anymore, and that's just the way Jim Abbott likes it.He arrived in the major leagues 5 1/2 years ago as a highly touted pitching prospect . . . and as a perpetual human interest story. But the boy with one hand has become a man who can handle the likes of Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey, which makes the term "disabled" seem -- at the very least -- disingenuous.There is little Abbott can't do on the mound. He had Cy Young-caliber statistics (18-11, 2.89 ERA) in 1991.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The search for a new baseball commissioner inched forward last night, when the search committee presented its recommendation during the opening session of a three-day owners meeting, but it remains unclear whether any candidate will be able to garner enough votes for approval.The committee was set to present its candidate at a meeting of Major League Baseball's Executive Council, which would then decide whether to put the name in front of the full ownership tomorrow.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner yesterday said he hopes that Orioles president Larry Lucchino will be a part of one of the five groups bidding for the team in bankruptcy court.After speaking to a luncheon of horse racing officials at a downtown hotel, Steinbrenner said Lucchino's presence would be good for franchise stability."He and I have been on opposite sides of the fence sometimes, but he's a very bright guy and I think it would be nice if he were in the picture because that would give us the continuity," Steinbrenner said of Lucchino.

Start spreading the news. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner will take charge of the club early next year, which can mean only one thing.The Yankees will be exciting.No. No. It's not what you think. The Yankees aren't going to be a bet- ter team. They aren't going to rebuild the dynasty that reigned over baseball for more than a half century. They could actually be worse for Steinbrenner's new whereabouts. But that isn't the issue.The Boss is back, which means that the Big Apple isn't going to be boring anymore.

NEW YORK -- Howard Spira, a 32-year-old Bronx man who New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner says "ruined my life," had his own life jolted yesterday when a federal jury convicted him of attempting to extort money from Steinbrenner.Spira was convicted on five of six charges involving Steinbrenner and on three of the other four charges against him.The outcome of the four-week trial is expected to lead to a renewed effort by Steinbrenner to challenge the investigation of him last year by baseball commissioner Fay Vincent.

Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants will appeal the two-game suspension he was given yesterday by National League president Bill White for his role in a brawl Wednesday at San Diego.Mitchell was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for charging the mound after being hit with a pitch by Padres pitcher Bruce Hurst. The suspension was scheduled to begin today but will delayed until after a hearing.Mitchell was brushed back by Hurst in the fourth inning after hitting a home run in his first at-bat.