BY  Mel Antonen

Baseball owners imposed a new economic system on its players Friday morning, and while general managers are prepared to carry out the marching orders, they are not happy about it.
        "We're disappointed because the owners made every effort to reach an agreement," says Oakland general manager Sandy Alderson. "We're prepared to operate under the new system."
        The owners' salary-cap implementation is not a shocker, says Atlanta GM John Schuerholz: "It should not surprise anyone who followed the negotiations or the lack thereof."
        Boston GM Dan Duquette, says he thought there was a glimmer of hope when the owners' postponed the implementation at a meeting last week in Chicago:
        "I hope now that the two sides go back to the table."
        There's confusion because no one is sure who will arrive in spring training: major-leaguers or replacements?
        Ron Schueler, GM for the Chicago White Sox, said his scouts planned for both: "All we need to know is what system we are going to follow."
        Milwaukee manager Phil Garner says he's planning for all spring scenarios.
        But so far, members of the players' union have shown no signs of breaking ranks if an agreement isn't reached.
        Minnesota's Chuck Knoblauch says he's saved money and is prepared to sit out.
        But Henry Cotto, who played in the big leagues for 10 seasons and in Japan last season, says he thinks there might be players who will cross.
        The new economic system means an extra 63 restricted free agents will be on the market, including Jim Abbott, Ben McDonald, Marquis Grissom and Kevin Appier.
        A $34 million salary cap for each team will mean that "accountants will dictates signings, not general managers," says agent Dennis Gilbert.
        Throughout negotiations, owners said they didn't want to impose a salary cap because they said it would increase tension.
        "I am concerned about how it might affect baseball," Alderson says. "I was also concerned about where baseball was heading."