Gms Eye More Playoffs

Major League Baseball general managers recommended extending the first round of the playoffs to a best-of-seven format from the current five games.

They also voted to base first-round playoff matchups strictly on records, with the No. 1 team playing No. 4, and No. 2 meeting No. 3.

The plan will be presented to the owners’ executive council Monday.

Under the general managers’ proposal to base postseason matchups on teams’ records, a division champion could play a wildcard team from the same division in the first round.

The general managers also voted for a 2-3-2 setup in which the homefield advantage would go to the club with the higher regular-season winning percentage.

With Minnesota lawmakers balking at a plan to finance a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins, Don Beaver cautioned that his bid to move the team to North Carolina could meet a similar fate if voters in that area reject a plan to use public funds to finance the bulk of the cost of a new stadium.

The Minnesota House of Representatives rejected a stadium-funding plan Thursday night and the Senate adjourned Friday, apparently clearing a major hurdle for the Twins to move to North Carolina.

A Dade County judge has ruled that Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco may have contact with his wife Jessica after the latter testified she is no longer afraid of him. “We have a daughter,” Jessica Canseco said. “We’re just trying to be civilized.”