GaryMrMets
01-16-2003, 02:27 AM
Owners Seem to Support Selig's Idea for All-Star Game
Winner Gets Home Field for World Series
By RONALD BLUM
.c The Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Jan. 15) -- Baseball owners appeared set to approve commissioner Bud Selig's plan to give the league that wins the All-Star Game home-field advantage in the World Series.
The proposal is due to be voted on Thursday, and owners praised the idea Wednesday as they arrived for the two-day meeting.
"It will put back a little of the sizzle,'' San Francisco executive vice president Larry Baer said.
Selig developed the proposal after last year's All-Star Game at Milwaukee ended in a 7-7, 11-inning tie when both leagues ran out of pitchers. Managers said they felt pressure to get everyone in the game, and players in recent years have regarded the game as more of a show than a contest between the AL and the NL.
Since the start of the World Series in 1903, home field has alternated between the leagues.
"The game has lost importance. It's turned into an exhibition,'' Montreal Expos president Tony Tavares said. "Last year was embarrassing and difficult.''
Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane and Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino also endorsed the idea.
"It used to be that players were interested in the outcome,'' Lucchino said. "For years, players cared about it and played and hard and took a chance.''
If owners approve the proposal, their labor lawyers would seek an agreement with the players association, which also must approve the change. Selig already has been in touch with union head Donald Fehr.
"We've been discussing it with players,'' Fehr said. "We know they're interested in it, and we'll get back to them.''
Asked how long it would take for the union to decide its position, Fehr said he wasn't sure.
01/15/03 22:01 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Winner Gets Home Field for World Series
By RONALD BLUM
.c The Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Jan. 15) -- Baseball owners appeared set to approve commissioner Bud Selig's plan to give the league that wins the All-Star Game home-field advantage in the World Series.
The proposal is due to be voted on Thursday, and owners praised the idea Wednesday as they arrived for the two-day meeting.
"It will put back a little of the sizzle,'' San Francisco executive vice president Larry Baer said.
Selig developed the proposal after last year's All-Star Game at Milwaukee ended in a 7-7, 11-inning tie when both leagues ran out of pitchers. Managers said they felt pressure to get everyone in the game, and players in recent years have regarded the game as more of a show than a contest between the AL and the NL.
Since the start of the World Series in 1903, home field has alternated between the leagues.
"The game has lost importance. It's turned into an exhibition,'' Montreal Expos president Tony Tavares said. "Last year was embarrassing and difficult.''
Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane and Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino also endorsed the idea.
"It used to be that players were interested in the outcome,'' Lucchino said. "For years, players cared about it and played and hard and took a chance.''
If owners approve the proposal, their labor lawyers would seek an agreement with the players association, which also must approve the change. Selig already has been in touch with union head Donald Fehr.
"We've been discussing it with players,'' Fehr said. "We know they're interested in it, and we'll get back to them.''
Asked how long it would take for the union to decide its position, Fehr said he wasn't sure.
01/15/03 22:01 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.