Selig hopes to see World Series-Japan Series champs meet someday

Imagine if, after the Yankees defeated the Phillies for the World Series title last November, baseball still wasn't done. What if the Yankees stuck together to play the Yomiuri Giants, who won last year's Japan Series?

Bud Selig has that dream. And although baseball's commissioner doesn't know if such a vision can become a reality, he said Thursday that he has discussed the notion with his Japan counterpart, Ryozo Kato.

"I believe that someday, and I don't know when that is, we can have a true World Series," Selig told a gathering of the Associated Press Sports Editors at Major League Baseball's Manhattan headquarters. "It would be a manifestation of all the things we've done internationally . . . I believe that somehow, someday, we'll find a way to do it."

Such an endeavor wouldn't necessarily pit the World Series champion against the Japan Series winner each year, Selig indicated. It could be mixed up, with a team of All-Star major-leaguers taking on a team of All-Star Japanese players.

On other matters:

Selig said that pace of game remains an important issue for him and that he hopes to institute tighter restrictions for such misdemeanors as hitters stepping out of the batter's box too often and pitchers stepping off the mound too often. Asked about Joe West's recent criticisms of the Yankees and Red Sox for lengthening games, Selig, speaking generally, said, "I prefer that if somebody has those things, they do that internally."

Selig said he doesn't see how the playoffs could be expanded - either by adding a team to each league or even by extending the Division Series to best-of-seven - without pushing the World Series deeper into November.

"I've said to owners, 'If you want to cut the schedule to 154 games, then we can start talking about it,' " Selig said. "So far, I haven't found one club interested in doing that."

He reiterated his desire for a viable test for human growth hormone, although he acknowledged that many experts believe that HGH by itself doesn't really help players anyway.

Selig again said he intends to retire after the 2012 season, at which point he'll be 78. But he added that even his wife doesn't believe him. Selig has spoken before of stepping down, only to agree to keep going at the job he has held since 1992.