MLB Commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday said that the playoffs "could expand to 10 teams as early as next season." Selig: "Moving toward expanding the playoffs. I think 10 is a fine number ... 10 out of 30 is good. Maybe as soon as next season." Selig did not "go into details on how the two extra wild-cards would factor in" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/22). Selig said, "I would say we're moving to expanding the playoffs, but there's a myriad of details to work out." MLB.com's Barry Bloom noted the issue "must be determined in collective bargaining with the Players Association, which has to agree on adding the games and how it fits into an already tight schedule" (MLB.com, 4/21). In Boston, Scott Lauber notes if expansion occurs, a "new wild card round likely would be introduced, with two wild card teams playing for the right to advance to face a division winner" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/22).
PICKING APPLES: MLS President Mark Abbott said that the league "believes New York is a soccer market and is committed to putting the next expansion franchise in Queens if a deal can be reached to build a soccer-only stadium." Abbott said, "The market is large enough and diverse enough to support two teams. Geographically, we think a team on the New York side could prosper, and the Red Bulls agree it could help them" (NEWSDAY, 4/22). In Newark, Michael Fensom noted MLS and the Red Bulls both "feel a second team in the area would form a natural rivalry" (NJ.com, 4/21).
UFL IN TROUBLE: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp reports while the NFL prepares for next week's Draft amid questions about the '11 season, the UFL is "moving forward with plans for its third season, even though it, too, is dealing with uncertainties." The league "still has no TV contract," and expansion plans "are in limbo, so the schedule can't be finalized." Additionally, the league is "still paying off creditors; about $100,000 in debt is tied to the two-time champion Las Vegas Locomotives." UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue: "It doesn't change our position. We're still committed to play in 2011." He added that the NFL lockout "has hampered the UFL's attempt to lock up a TV deal, which also is tying up its game schedule" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/22).
