MLB Commissioner Bud Selig still is "aggressively pursuing expanded playoffs in the next labor agreement but is skeptical whether it can happen before" the '13 season, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Selig also "isn't sure whether the labor agreement can be concluded before the end of the World Series but said the talks have been 'very good, very constructive.'" Selig added, "Both sides are very constructive and have work to do and understand that trying this in the media is not a good thing." Selig also acknowledged that with the regular-season schedule already finalized, it "'may be a little optimistic' to think there could be expanded playoffs in 2012." But Selig is "committed to seeing expanded playoffs," and said that having 10 teams in the playoffs, out of 30 total, "would not be an oversaturation" (USA TODAY, 10/11). In St. Louis, Reid Laymance writes, "As exciting as baseball's last day of the season was ... don't think it is going to change Bud Selig's plan to expand the postseason." If MLB had the extra playoff team in place this year, "the drama of the Cards-Braves for the final NL spot or Red Sox-Rays for the AL would have been lost." But Selig said, "We can't let one year influence us. This is for the long term. We can't keep doing the same things. Change is difficult. Baseball is a social institution, very difficult to change. But once you've made it, people are comfortable with it" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/11).
THE LAST OF THE BIG TIME SPENDERS? Selig said that the fact that "not a single one of the four teams remaining in postseason play was among the game's biggest spenders demonstrates that MLB's economic policies are functioning as planned." MLB.com's Mike Bauman noted none of the "top nine teams in player payroll has reached the League Championship Series" this year. Selig said, "I really regard my job, and our job, to provide as much hope and faith in as many places as possible. I believe the sport is healthier as a result. We know the sport is as healthy as it's ever been. ... Has our system worked overall? The answer to your question is yes, and it's worked well" (MLB.com, 10/10).
FRANCHISE NOTES: Selig confirmed that he "met privately last week with Houston businessman Jim Crane, who has an agreement in place to purchase the Astros for $680 million but has not been presented to the owners for approval." Selig indicated that the meeting "was constructive" (USA TODAY, 10/11). In Houston, Zachary Levine noted Crane's prospective ownership group and outgoing Astros Owner Drayton McLane "have a Nov. 30 deadline for their contract to transfer ownership of the Astros, the lease on Minute Maid Park, and a share of a regional sports network to begin broadcasting baseball in 2013." If the transfer comes "to a vote, the Nov. 15 and 16 owners meetings in Milwaukee could be a target, which would be almost exactly six months after a news conference to announce the sale" (CHRON.com, 10/10). Meanwhile, Selig said that there is "still no timetable for the Mets to repay the $25 million they received last season" from MLB, and he is "satisfied with the progress the Mets have made trying to rectify their financial problems." Selig said he has talked to Mets Owner Fred Wilpon, and team executives seem "to be making good progress at what they're trying to do." Selig: "He feels comfortable with it, and I really don't (have concerns) at this point" (N.Y. POST, 10/11).
