AFTER NINE HOURS OF MLB MEETINGS, AL OK'S EXPANSION SPOTS

          MLB owners voted yesterday to place the expansion
     D'Backs and Devil Rays in the NL and AL, respectively, but
     the "decision didn't come without considerable infighting,"
     according to Tom Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
     SENTINEL.  It took "petitioning and pleading" by Acting
     Commissioner Bud Selig before AL clubs voted to approve the
     placements, 12-2, one more than the 11 votes needed. Selig
     said a committee chaired by Red Sox CEO John Harrington
     would study possible realignment of MLB (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
     SENTINEL, 1/17).  In N.Y., Murray Chass notes Selig, "after
     suffering perhaps the biggest surprise of his tenure ...
     squeezed out" the votes (N.Y. TIMES, 1/17).
          THE COMMISH: Ownership sources say Rockies Chair Jerry
     McMorris and Mets CEO Fred Wilpon "may serve" as co-chairs
     of the commissioner search committee (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON
     POST, 1/17). MLB also designated the Boys and Girls Clubs of
     America as its official charity (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/17).