Realignment Vote Is Expected Soon

Baseball teams will vote on the sport’s radical realignment plan next month even though there still is opposition, acting Commissioner Bud Selig said Monday.

Following a realignment committee conference call, committee chairman John Harrington admitted there is opposition in the NL from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh.

San Diego and San Francisco also are seen as possible no votes, but Harrington said their opposition was less staunch.

“We’re still moving ahead with the geographic realignment,” Harrington said. “That’s not saying we might not change. It’s really the best for the game.

“It may not be the best for a few clubs. But when you measure the advantages of the scheduling for geographic realignment, it’s remarkable how advantageous it is. So you start chipping away at it.”

Selig, who is strongly in favor of the plan, said he was trying to change enough votes to gain approval.

“Each club has legitimate concerns, and we’re dealing with those concerns,” Selig said.

“I’m always an optimist. I was through revenue sharing, interleague play, three divisions and a wild card. So we’re talking to each club and trying to find out what we can do.”

Owners will consider the plan when they meet in Atlanta on Sept. 16-18.

“A number of clubs have veto power. We’ll just have to see if they want to exercise it,” Harrington said. “The question is, ‘How will they vote when it comes time?’ ”

Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are taking the traditionalist point of view, arguing that the historical nature of the leagues should not be altered.

“You can’t let it block progress if the progress has merit to it,” Harrington said.

“I’m not saying throw tradition to the wind. The American League, the National League will still exist as the leagues. The records will stand and the record-keeping will still exist.”