Baseball to pick Expos' new home

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Selig confident decision finally will be made

 

NEW YORK -- Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expressed confidence Thursday that a new home for the Montreal Expos will be selected by mid-July.

 

After missing targets for decisions in 2002 and 2003, baseball officials finally appear to be moving ahead. Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia appear to be the leading contenders.

 

"While this has been a painful process, the time I think has probably helped us because it's given the cities and given everybody a chance to respond and do the things they have to do," Selig said following an owners' meeting. "Sure, in a perfect world, you'd like things to happen quicker. It's time to get this done."

 

San Francisco closer Matt Herges agreed.

 

"In terms of the whole Expos situation, I think it's a joke. It bothers me," said Herges, who played for Montreal in 2002. "In my opinion, it should have been taken care of a long time ago. I feel sorry for those guys, and I hope it gets resolved."

 

Montreal, among the lowest-drawing clubs for more than a decade, was bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season. The Expos also are being sought by Las Vegas; Monterrey, Mexico; Norfolk, Va.; Portland, Ore.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

Asked whether the team would have a new permanent home by next year, Selig responded: "I do feel comfortable. ... absolutely."

 

In other business, Selig had doctors address owners about steroids, said the sport is moving ahead with plans to start a baseball-only channel and said a decision whether to start a World Cup tournament next March must be made within a month.

 

While no decisions were made this week about the Expos, baseball's relocation committee plans to meet with Selig within a month. He then will recommend a site to the executive council and all owners.

 

Both the original Washington Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) and the expansion Senators (now the Texas Rangers) left the nation's capital, which has been without a major league team since 1971. While it is the largest market among the bidders, the major obstacle is presence of the Baltimore Orioles, just an hour's drive away.

 

Orioles owner Peter Angelos has said the Expos would siphon fans from his team's market. Selig said he was paying attention to market cannibalization in all areas, not just Washington.

 

"It isn't only the Orioles, it's all teams," Selig said. "I think it's the commissioner's responsibility to protect the 30 franchises."

 

He refused to say whether there was a difference between the capital's Northern Virginia suburbs, which are farther from the Orioles' Camden Yards ballpark than downtown Washington. He also was ambiguous when asked how he would judge what is too close.

 

"You have to use common sense, judgment," he said. "I can't answer that generically because every situation is different."

 

Selig also said it was "premature" to address whether legalized gambling is a hindrance to Las Vegas, which has a growing population and little competition from other pro sports.

 

"I was raised in a generation, an era, where I understand the concerns about gambling very well," he said. "Life has changed. We have stadiums where there are casinos very close by now. All over. Are there conditions to Las Vegas if we -- once we get into the final phases that we would seriously look at? -- Yes, of course there are. But it's premature. ... That's for another day."

 

Portland Mayor Vera Katz remains optimistic about her city's chances of luring major league baseball, even if it's not the Expos. Katz, who is finishing her final term, said she'll complete a financing plan before leaving office.

 

Neither candidate for mayor -- former Police Chief Tom Potter or City Commissioner Jim Francesconi -- has expressed support for getting a team, but Katz hopes to convince them.

 

"We're going to put together a plan that will be sustainable," she said.

 

Supporters say they'll be ready to accommodate other teams.

 

"It's never been about one franchise. Never," said David Kahn, who heads the Oregon Stadium Campaign. "It's about putting ourselves in the position for a franchise."