Selig wants expanded '12 MLB playoffs
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Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said he expects baseball to expand its playoffs this season. Selig spoke Friday night at a fan festival for the Chicago White Sox.
Baseball intends to add an additional wild-card team in each league. Selig said there still scheduling issues to be worked out but once they are, the new 10-team format would begin with a one-game playoff.
While MLB and the players association still are discussing whether the expanded playoffs will start in 2012 or '13, they've reached a consensus that ties for division titles will be broken on the field under the new playoff format. Since 1995, head-to-head record has been used to determine first place if both teams are going to the postseason. But with the start of a one-game, winner-take-all wild-card round, the sides agreed that the difference between first place and a wild-card berth is too important to decide with a formula and a tiebreaker game would be played.
Right fielder Hunter Pence and Philadelphia agreed to a $10.4 million, one-year contract. The deal was at the midpoint between the $11.8 million he had asked for in arbitration last week and the $9 million the Phillies had offered. He can earn additional award bonuses.
San Francisco reached agreement on a $1.25 million, one-year contract with utility infielder Ryan Theriot to give them depth at shortstop and second base.
Former pitcher Camilo Pascual was elected to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame, as the 24th member. Pascual, 78, a Cuban-born right-hander, will be honored during a pregame ceremony July 14 at Target Field. He is 78. The Twins also will retire former manager Tom Kelly 's uniform number (10) Sept. 8 against Cleveland.
First Published January 28, 2012 12:00 am
