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Major League Baseball may one day return to Montreal, but that day will not be coming any time soon, according to Bud Selig. Cheap Manchester United Jersey . Speaking with TSNs Michael Farber, the commissioner said that while franchise relocation and expansion is not currently being considered, the sour ending of baseball in Montreal would not keep the city from being awarded a franchise in the future. "With the 30 teams, you know we just went from 15 to 15 in scheduling, that was a very complicated process so there are really no expansion plans at all," he explained. "Fortunately, we dont really have any club that wants to move right now and havent for a long time. Its my last year and I cant, in the foreseeable future, see any expansion." Selig didnt rule out the possibility of Montreal landing a franchise again in the future, but added that one of the key steps would be getting a new stadium. "The first thing you need, and this has been true everywhere, even in existing places, is to build a stadium that can produce the kind of revenue you need today to compete," he said. "This is a sport now that is at an all-time high in popularity and revenue and everything else, but teams do generate a lot of revenue to compete and without a new ballpark, its not possible. So the first condition everywhere is to have a new ballpark." Selig also noted that having a local owner is crucial in establishing a franchise in a city. "You really need a group with local roots, who understands their market, but is also committed to keeping it in that market," he added. "Local ownership is vital." Speaking on the Expos and the series of events that led to their relocation in 2004, Selig said that he did not necessarily believe the sale of the franchise in 1991 was the "death knell" for the Expos, but called it "a sad day for baseball and a sad day for Montreal." He added that as the team was failing in the early 2000s, he tried to find another owner in Montreal to keep the team in the city, but couldnt find support. "I) spent quite a bit of time, worked a lot with (team president) Claude Brochu, who was very good," said Selig. "Claude did everything in the world he could, and he was a wonderful citizen when it came to baseball.  I know how he felt about Montreal, it just didnt work, but it wasnt for lack of effort. I came up there and we tried and we just didnt get anywhere." The commissioner also disagreed with the sentiment of some fans that Major League Baseball quit on the city of Montreal long before moving the Expos. "Thats regrettable," he said. "I dont believe that, in understanding of the historical facts and what happened, justifies that. I dont think MLB ever quit on Montreal. I think what happened, if you asked before and after Charles Bronfman sold the team, you bet I worked a lot with people to try to get permanent ownership and stable ownership but they obviously had a stadium problem. The Montreal people themselves talked about it a lot. So, I really dont think it was a matter of us quitting on Montreal. Montreal was a great part of baseball for all the years Charles Bronfman owned them, we had no reason to go against that in any way. I think we (MLB), every place we have been, we have made a very sincere attempt to really change the situation, and build stability into it, and weve succeeded everywhere else. And we tried in Montreal." With a decade gone by and the Expos firmly entrenched in Washington, D.C. as the Nationals, Selig added that the sour ending of baseball in Montreal would not keep the city from being awarded a franchise in the future. "The Montreal situation was one that we didnt want to happen, but with no ownership group and the very things that we have discussed here today, we had no choice," he said. "But as far as Im concerned, if and when that time comes, and there is a team, why wouldnt Montreal be considered?" Juan Mata Jersey .Two San Francisco radio stations say they wont play the song during the duration of the World Series. A Kansas City, Missouri, station responded with plans to play the Grammy-winning track every hour from 7 a. Luke Shaw Jersey . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar eRozan.The importance of Saturdays home match against the Portland Timbers cannot be overstated. It may fall short of must-win, but not by much. Six games to go and a three-point gap stand in the way of Toronto FC and a playoff spot. They are on the outside looking in. The good news is they are within arms reach with plenty of promise in their hunt for points. The outlook is beginning to look much brighter for Toronto. The team is as healthy and fit as it has been all season. Continuity is building. Star striker Jermain Defoe is on the verge of returning. And difficult matches lay ahead for Torontos competitors for playoff spots. On top of it all, Toronto FC has a game in hand on the competition. Giving head Coach Greg Vanney his first managerial victory, a convincing 3-0 win over Chivas USA last Sunday was the first step. Using the performance as a springboard to bigger and better things is next on the agenda. Here are my Five Thoughts ahead of the massive Toronto FC-Portland Timbers match-up on Saturday (1pm ET). 1) Jackson leaves a hole a€“ It was arguably the Brazilians best match of the season before getting sent off against Chivas. He had scored a goal, was taking on opponents on the dribble at will, and using his physical presence to cause all kinds of problems in the back-line. It was a Man of the Match type performance until he lost composure after not getting a call late in the proceedings. Jackson recklessly dove at the legs of Nigel Reo-Coker: a leg-breaking type challenge Reo-Coker rightfully took exception to. Both players were sent off, Jackson suspended and now Vanney is left to fill the right midfield hole with another option. Its the kind of selfishness from a player that will drive a coach crazy. Moving forward without Jackson is no easy task. There is no ready-made replacement for the versatile Brazilian. Dominic Oduro seems the logical stand-in, but with so much firepower in Portlands team, Vanney may be better off turning to a more defensive minded option. If that is the case, Warren Creavalle is a fit. Defensive shape and structure is priority, especially considering the good run of form Gilberto and Luke Moore are having upfront. The move putting Jonathan Osorio in central-midfield (finally) makes for more fluidity in attack. So Id turn to Creavalle on the right side, leaving Oduro on the bench, having the option to bring on the speedster late in the match to change the tempo. 2) Gilberto warning a€“ Player interviews the day before matches typically dont reveal true talking points. That theory held true Friday until a somewhat awkward exchange with Gilberto when asked about the return of Defoe. Toronto FCs top scorer is targeting a return to game action next week in Los Angeles, likely sending one of Moore or Gilberto back to the bench. After giving a quizzical look to the question that was asked, Gilberto came to the defence of the current attack partnership. Our strikers have been playing well, Luke (Moore) has been playing well since Defoes been gone, for about four to six weeks, he said through an interpreter. So its kind of like Defoe has to win his spot back on the team because our strikers are playing really well now. Weve got other guys that are training really hard and fighting and Defoes got to start training hard now and working to get back into game shape. There is always worry some of what is said is lost in translation. But it was clear the Brazilian didnt take well to the question. Gilbertos words shouldnt be taken as being controversial, rather from a place of pride in a player who is intent on continuing his progress in MLS. Gilberto also spoke Friday of his growing confidence and comfort in the league. Five goals in his last nine games (should be six) speak to his growth. It is admirable Gilberto believes players must fight for their place in the team, no matter who they are. Look for both Toronto FC strikers to be further motivated Saturdayy to prove their worth, making Vanneys decision that much more difficult when Defoe is deemed fit. Matteo Darmian Jersey. Unfortunately for Gilberto and Moore, one will surely sit in favour of the big money, big-time goal-scorer who has the ability to change a game like few in MLS. 3) Captain Caldwell a€“ Its no coincidence Toronto kept their first clean sheet in eight games with Steven Caldwell leading the line last weekend. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik acknowledged as much, speaking of superior communication and organization. Caldwell (quad) has played two games in Toronto FCs last 13. Toronto only won two games with Caldwell out. Its a cautionary tale for MLS teams: have requisite veteran experience across the back-line or pay the consequences. Toronto FC rolled with a 21-year old Doneil Henry and 22-year old rookie Nick Hagglund in his absence. Both players did what they could, but with all the changes at the back, including Justin Morrow out through injury, the task proved to be too much, too soon for the young defenders. The experienced presence of Caldwell was desperately missed. Tim Bezbatchenko tried to acquire a veteran defender to no avail before the MLS roster freeze. It can be argued Toronto FC would be in a preferable position in the table had Caldwell remained in the team or Toronto FC had requisite veteran depth at the all-important position. 4) Terrific Timbers a€“ Its been a busy and fruitful week for Portland. A 6-0 win in the CONCACAF Champions League Tuesday on the surface seems a distraction heading into the all-important trip to Toronto. In fairness, the match shouldnt be a decisive factor, with head coach Caleb Porter resting his regulars for the game. Still, the teams midweek commitment and cross-continent travel is never easy, especially for a 1pm ET kick-off for a west-coast team. That being said, the Timbers are a strong side, coming off a thorough 3-0 dismantling of the Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend, leapfrogging their Cascadia rival in the standings. Portland now has a two-point cushion over Vancouver for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Sitting nine points back of FC Dallas for fourth place and eight points up on seventh place Colorado, its basically a battle between Portland and Vancouver for the final playoff spot. Needless to say, Saturday is huge for the visitors. The player to watch is Diego Valeri, the leading candidate for MLS MVP. He has been that good. The 2013 MLS Newcomer of the Year won MLS Goal of the Week for his picture perfect volley against Vancouver, adding to his impressive nine goals and 14 assists (2nd in MLS) on the season. The 28-year old Argentine may be the best of the bunch on the team, but Portland has a squad full of top MLS talent. Nigerian newcomer Fanendo Adi and former Toronto FC striker Maximillano Urruti have combined for 17 goals. Canadian International Will Johnson is team captain, providing added quality and work-rate in the middle of the park. Portlands true weakness is at the back, conceding 48 goals on the season, the worst rate among teams in playoff spots. 5) Getting to BMO Field a€“ WARNING: Leave early if youre heading down for the match. The Gardiner Expressway is closed all weekend from the 427 to Carlaw. It will be gridlock at its worst and a traffic nightmare. Go Train or other transit is preferable. Head to Liberty Village early and grab a bite and a beverage. Its worth avoiding the headache and the team needs support with bodies in the crowd from the opening whistle. Parking will be a nightmare as well, with Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer to benefit Princess Margaret Hospital is going on all day at Ontario Place. Toronto FC is acting accordingly, staying in a downtown hotel tonight rather than their own beds. You can listen to Toronto FC v. Portland Timbers on TSN 1050 Radio (pre-match at 1230pm) and watch on TSN1, TSN4 and TSN5. @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Mets Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Twins Jerseys Cheap Brewers Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Nationals Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys ' ' '