BASEBALL . . . STRIKE, DAY ONE

Negotiators for the players and owners of major league teams resumed their discussions for two hours in New York, but why bother? Neither side budged on the owners' nettlesome salary cap idea. But the people who urged the parties to get together one last time -- politicians -- got the sides to agree to meet next week with federal mediators. Also on baseball watchers' minds today: With 52 days (or 669 unplayed games) left in the season, will the World Series be nixed for the first time since 1904?