Down the line

We already knew Mike Scioscia was the most powerful manager in baseball. What we did not know is that his power extends beyond the Angels’ organization and directly to the desk of the commissioner.

Scioscia complained long and loud last October about the lengthy postseason schedule. In a sport where change often is measured in decades, Bud Selig has responded to Scioscia’s concern in less than a year.

The tentative schedule for next year has clubs opening Thursday, March 31, or Friday, April 1, and closing the regular season Wednesday, Sept. 28.

By moving up each date by a few days, Selig can condense the postseason by a few days, still satisfy Fox with a midweek start for the World Series and finish the postseason before the calendar turns to November.

“I live in fear of November,” Selig said.

The new schedule should rectify some of the issues that steamed Scioscia last fall, such as the Angels’ getting three days off before starting the playoffs and the Philadelphia Phillies’ and New York Yankees’ each having more days off than game days between the end of the regular season and the start of the World Series.

The Yankees took advantage of the leisurely postseason schedule, using three starters in 15 games en route to the World Series championship.

“I think it is important to uphold the integrity of the season,” Scioscia said. “You want to have the advantage of clinching early so you can reset your rotation. You want a flow through the playoffs, not these unusual breaks.”

The October scheduling was addressed by Selig’s blue ribbon committee, which includes Scioscia and Dodgers Manager Joe Torre. Scioscia took no credit for the reform.

“This would have happened if I said anything or not,” Scioscia said.

No A’s for All-Cal bats

The undistinguished first half for California’s major league teams is reflected on our All-Cal squad. The pitching is in great shape, but we had to look long and hard to fill out the lineup.

The San Francisco Giants did not install touted rookie Buster Posey at catcher until July 1, but the veterans were so pedestrian that Posey gets our call.

The third basemen all posted mediocre numbers, but Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres can run a little bit, so we’ll go with him. Whatever happened to Pablo Sandoval?

Aubrey Huff, who carried the Giants’ offense in the first half while rotating among first base, left field and right field, earns a spot in left ahead of All-DL slugger Manny Ramirez.

Our annual All-Cal squad:

C: Posey, Giants; 1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Padres; 2B: Howie Kendrick, Angels; SS: Rafael Furcal, Dodgers; 3B: Headley, Padres; LF: Huff, Giants; CF: Torii Hunter, Angels; RF: Andre Ethier, Dodgers.

Starting pitchers: Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics; Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; Mat Latos, Padres; Tim Lincecum, Giants; Jered Weaver, Angels.

Relief pitchers: Heath Bell, Padres; Andrew Bailey, A’s; Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers; Luke Gregerson, Padres; Hong-Chih Kuo, Dodgers; Brian Wilson, Giants.