A high-ranking MLB exec indicated that the plan to add an additional wild card team in each league for the '12 season is "all but a done deal," according to Anthony Rieber of NEWSDAY. The exec added that "all that remains is for postseason scheduling issues to be resolved." Under the new CBA, MLB "has the right to add the extra wild card for this season or next." The league "must inform the union by March 1 if the extra playoff teams are going to be added for this season." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said he is "very hopeful" the playoff expansion will go into effect in '12 (NEWSDAY, 1/13).
SELIG'S DECISION TO STAY: Selig said that he "finally came around to the idea of staying on two more years" as Commissioner "about a week ago." Selig said, "This was it for me. But this was such a groundswell that I guess was going on for some time. (The owners) were so intense and aggressive. The sincerity and loyalty came from everywhere. How could I say no?" In Milwaukee, Tom Haudricourt notes with MLB in an "extended era of prosperity and labor peace, owners simply weren't ready for a change at the top." No search committee "was formed to find a successor," and owners individually "prodded Selig to stay" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/13). Selig said, "I had been hearing people tell me there was a real groundswell, but one or two months ago, I hadn't changed my mind. But I guess the thing that did it was the feeling that this was in the best interests of baseball. People saying, 'Please, you've got to do this' -- it was so consistent, one person after another. I guess about a week ago, I finally decided that if they really feel that way, with that much emotion and intensity, I really should think about doing this" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/13). Selig said during the extension there will be a formalized process to identify his eventual successor, but he offered no details on how that will take shape (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). CBSSPORTS.com's Jon Heyman wrote nobody can "pull together disparate and often cranky millionaire and billionaire owners like Selig." He has "generally made the right calls weeding out bad ownership candidates in his meticulous process of vetting" new owners, and attendance and revenues "keep rising in an awful economy" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/12). The Bergen Record's Bob Klapisch said, "We have 19 teams that made the postseason in the last five years, so Bud is getting his wish. Attendance is flat, that’s to be expected in a down economy, but $7 billion in revenue that speaks to the popularity of the game.” YES Network's Jack Curry: "When he took over as commissioner, baseball was a $1.2 billion dollar sport, so it shows you how much it has soared" ("Yankees Baseball Daily," YES Network, 1/12). L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke: "I know he's taken a lot of heat ... but the bottom line is he's been a great commissioner for baseball" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/12).
OTHER LEAGUE ISSUES: Other MLB issues were addressed Thursday during the owners' meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. Joe Torre, who stepped down last week as MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations, remains on Selig's Special Committee for On-Field Matters and was scheduled to attend a separate meeting of that panel Thursday. Selig did not say exactly when or how he intends to fill the league role vacated by Torre, but added he "likes the chances" of MLB Senior VP/Baseball Operations Peter Woodfork eventually assuming the position. Selig said he will make announcements "in the near future" on the '13 All-Star Game, as well as future All-Star Games. The '13 game, expected to go to Citi Field, has still not yet been announced, well behind customary league timing for advance planning of the event. Meanwhile, after an extended report yesterday by the committee studying the A's unresolved ballpark situation, Selig said the issue is "moving at a very quick pace" and "on the front burner" after more than three years of study. But Selig once again offered no further details as to when a final decision on the matter will arrive (Fisher).
