At MLB's quarterly owners meetings in N.Y., which concluded earlier today, owners approved the 2-3 format for the Division Series in which the higher-seeded team in each grouping plays the first two games on the road. The shift, being used for the '12 season only, is designed to accommodate the inclusion of a second Wild Card team in each league, while still preserving th schedule for the World Series.
In other news from the meetings, owners approved a six-year extension of the league's Constitution, now running through '18, including the charter for MLBAM.
There was no formal movement on the A's stadium situation. But both the A's and Giants made presentations Wednesday to MLB's Exec Council, further articulating their opposing positions on the A's bid to move to San Jose. Bud Selig declined to answer whether the league would approve the A's relocation. Selig: "This is a complex, complicated issue. ... The idea is to get it right even if it takes a little longer." Pressed further, Selig said. "I don't really want to say any more about it. We're handling it the way we should."
The '13 master schedule, featuring everyday interleague play as a result of the Astros' relocation to the AL, remains under construction. But Selig said he is confident the new format will be a success. Selig: "I was the last one to come around to 15-15 (teams in each league). But I really like it now. I think it's going to work out very well."
