Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 9, 1993 TAG: 9309090070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BOSTON LENGTH: Medium
AL President Bobby Brown said Cleveland agreed to play in the AL Central instead of remaining in the East, and Detroit would stay in the East instead of moving to the Central.
NL President Bill White said various alignments still were being discussed in his league, and others said the talks involved Atlanta and Pittsburgh, which both prefer the East.
While each league requires 10 of 14 votes to make any changes, NL teams switching divisions have veto power over such moves.
"Those teams that would be in the Central have to vote to be in the Central," White said.
Owners voted in June to expand the playoffs from four teams to eight next season, but the players' union said in August it wouldn't give its approval without a switch to a three-division format in each league. The current plan would move Atlanta from the West to the Central, so the Braves can block a move. Pittsburgh would be in the same position if an attempt is made to move it from the East to the Central.
After Cleveland and Detroit agreed to switch, Brown said 12 AL teams indicated they favored the three-division plan as long as a balanced schedule is kept through at least 1997. Brown said the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox opposed the plan.
Owners will attempt to take a formal vote at today's joint meeting of the leagues, but they probably won't be able to take one because they didn't give clubs the required 20 days notice and need unanimity to waive that requirement.
The proposal, after Wednesday's change, calls for the following alignment:
AL East-Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New York Yankees and Toronto.
AL Central-Chicago White Sox, Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Minnesota.
AL West-California, Oakland, Seattle and Texas.
NL East-Florida, Montreal, New York Mets, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
NL Central-Atlanta, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati, Houston and St. Louis.
NL West-Colorado, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.
by CNB