NEW YORK -- Baseball's chief operating officer said he was surprised Wednesday that the players' union interpreted the commissioner's no-lockout pledge as a possible prelude to a change in work rules after the World Series.

"Our pledge to protect the integrity of the season was designed to allay the concerns of our fans and the players," Bob DuPuy said.

The pledge he referred to was made Tuesday by Bud Selig, who said owners wouldn't lock out players during the regular season or the postseason, and wouldn't attempt to impose new work rules through the World Series.

Union head Donald Fehr immediately reacted to Selig's statement, interpreting it as a threat to either change work rules or lock out players right after the World Series. In 1994, the union expected a change in work rules and struck on Aug. 12, wiping out the World Series for the first time since 1904. The walkout lasted 232 days.

"We were very surprised by Mr. Fehr's hostile reaction," said DuPuy, who is Selig's longtime lawyer.

"While touring the spring training camps, (Fehr) repeatedly cautioned the players to save their money and expect the worst in the form of a work stoppage. Now the players, media and fans know they need not fear a work stoppage initiated by the clubs."

Fehr was in Kansas City, Mo., and couldn't be reached for comment, union spokesman Greg Bouris said.

Pledging not to lock out players during the season and the postseason means little to the union since players have signed their 2002 contracts. The sides have been without a labor contract since Nov. 7, and negotiations for a new deal have been unproductive so far.

Because the union fears work-rule changes, a late-season strike is possible this year. It would be baseball's ninth work stoppage since 1972.

Selig claims owners had a $232 million operating loss last year and that teams need vast economic change. The union is skeptical of the claims of losses and doesn't agree with Selig's claim that the sport must end the disparity in revenue among the teams.

"The union's claim that our pledge rings hollow is totally without merit," DuPuy said. "Economic action by the clubs during the course of the 2002 season would generate considerable financial benefits to the clubs. But, we have declined that option because we do care about our fans, our players, and the integrity of the game."