Baseball wants the Montreal Expos to have one -- and only one -- home next season. But no one knows where.
Commissioner Bud Selig acknowledged on Thursday that baseball is unlikely to repeat the experiment that had the Expos playing home games in both Montreal and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Asked if any plans with multiple Expos homes were still being discussed, Selig said, ``Yes, but we're concentrating on the others.''
After years of financial struggles, the Expos were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season. They moved 22 of their home games to Puerto Rico this year, a setup that had players complaining about the long road trips and the difficulty of getting settled in either home.
The player's union said last month it would oppose plans to play another split home season. That opposition appears insurmountable.
``We understand the union's concerns,'' Selig said, adding that the Expos weren't discussed during the meetings. ``They've got work to do yet -- and lots of it. The priority here is to get it done right, not to get it done fast.''
The Expos are being sought by Northern Virginia; Portland, Ore.; and Washington, D.C. Puerto Rico also has offered to host the team for all 81 games in 2004.
``I really believe we'll be 100 percent wherever we are,'' Expos president Tony Tavares said. ``The union's taken a very strong position that they're not going to support'' a split home schedule.
The release of the baseball schedule, already delayed because of the Expos, could be delayed until Sept. 1 but not much after that, Tavares said.
The Expos were not discussed at the two days of meetings at the Ritz Carlton hotel, where the owners were briefed on many issues but made news on few. The only announcement was that the first round of the playoffs would be on ESPN and ESPN2 in addition to Fox.
Previously, games had been on lesser-known networks such as FX and Fox Family Channel, making them difficult for some viewers to find.
``I really felt badly, because that's a wonderful week for baseball,'' Selig said. ``Now we're on ESPN and Fox Sports, where people watch us all year long.''
Selig also made his first comments on an Internet report that baseball had reached an agreement to lift the ban on Pete Rose, calling it indefensible, disgraceful and fiction.
``This is as irresponsible a bit of journalism as I've seen in my career,'' Selig said. ``When I heard it, I thought it was some kind of joke. It's so wrong. I don't even know how people justify why they do things like that.''
``I'm the judge in this case, and it's inappropriate for me to comment,'' he said.
Selig said none of baseball's business would be put on hold because of the injury to president and chief operating officer Bob DuPuy. DuPuy tripped on the stairs after the meetings on Wednesday and tore his right quadriceps.
Surgery at St. Elizabeth's Hospital was successful, Selig said.
wrveres wrote:Two damn days and they never even talked about? .. please .. This is nuts ..
Sorry bro..I haven't been on much in a couple of days...been spending quality time with the wife....
The two main sources I have about major league contracts do not have anything about his arbitration status...I will still dig a little further and see if I can find anything for ya....
[b]Useless Trivia of the day[/b]
England's Worcester Canoe Club set the world record for paddling a hand-propelled bathtub. The 25 man team covered a distance of 55 miles, 425 yards in 24 hours on September 28 and 29, 1979.
Just a little more food for thought .. again I think the Los Expos could be Huge .. The could play in "XX's Park" .. its all to perfect ..
Dos Equis Park... nice
Maybe they can get Salma Hayek to manage the team!
Dos Equis and Salma Hayek? Count me in . Lol.
Yes doctor, I am sick. Sick of those who are spineless. Sick of those who feel self-entitled. Sick of those who are hypocrites. Yes doctor, an army is forming. Yes doctor, there will be a war. Yes doctor, there will be blood.....
Peter Gammons said on the Coors Light Silver Spotlight last night that the most likely suitor for Vladis, get this, BALTIMORE. Man, if the Jays get any pitching and the O's get Vlad, the AL East is gonna be RIDICULOUS.
Rest in peace Mitch Hedberg. I name my fantasy team "Buoyancy of Citrus", in your honor.
1968-2005
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