NEW YORK – Baseball commissioner Bud Selig confirmed Thursday that he is actively considering Pete Rose’s application for reinstatement.

Selig wouldn’t put a timetable on a decision and didn’t hint which way he was leaning, but his remarks following a speech to sports business executives were his most detailed public statements on Rose since he met with the career hits leader on Nov. 25.

Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball in August 1989 following an investigation of his gambling and applied for reinstatement in September 1997.

Until last fall, Selig repeatedly said he saw no reason to alter the punishment that Rose accepted from commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

In recent months, Selig has refused comment when asked about Rose.

“Bart gave Pete the right to apply for reinstatement,” Selig said. “I kept it on my desk for 51/2 years. I think it was time to at least consider that.”

Rodriguez goes to Texas for tests on shoulder

PHOENIX – Alex Rodriguez returned to Texas on Thursday for tests on his stiff left shoulder.

Rodriguez complained of stiffness and fatigue in the shoulder after playing the past two days.

He was scheduled for a day off Thursday and went back to Dallas for additional tests after an examination by team physician Dr. Drew Dosett.

Rodriguez was expected to return to spring training in Arizona on Thursday night or Friday.

He in the third year of a $252 million, 10-year contract.

The five-time All-Star led the majors last season with 57 home runs, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases.

He became the fifth player in major league history to have back-to-back 50-home run seasons, hitting 52 in 2001.

Despite his personal success, the Rangers came in last place his first two years in Texas.

They went 72-90 last season, finishing 31 games behind the Oakland Athletics.

Uecker moves to front row in baseball Hall

Bob Uecker finally made it to the front row – in Cooperstown.

The longtime Milwaukee Brewers’ announcer was picked Thursday for induction into the broadcasters’ wing at the Hall of Fame.

He parlayed humor about his career as a backup catcher into popularity far beyond baseball.

“When I got the call this morning, the first thing I thought was, ‘Am I going to be in the regular ceremony or are they going to do something in December?”‘ Uecker said.

Selig: Olympics doesn’t work for major leaguers

NEW YORK – Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa shouldn’t count on a chance to hit homers at the Athens Olympics.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig all but ruled out participation of major leaguers in the 2004 Games, saying the sport cannot interrupt its season.

“The Olympic situation is quite difficult,” Selig said Thursday at the World Congress of Sports. “The ebb and flow of the game is critical, and we can’t disturb that.”

Expos’ future could be decided by All-Star break

NEW YORK – Major league baseball still hopes to decide the 2004 home of the Montreal Expos by the All-Star break.

The committee on the Expos’ future will hear presentations next week with government groups from Washington, Northern Virginia and Portland, Ore. Bob DuPuy, baseball’s No. 2 official, said Thursday a timetable should emerge following those meetings.

“Our goal is to have a resolution by the All-Star game or as soon thereafter as possible,” said DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer.

Baseball would like to have financing for a new ballpark in place before deciding where the Expos will move to. Legislation is necessary in all three areas, and it’s unclear how long it would take for laws to be enacted.

“I think it’s probably the most complicated piece of the puzzle,” DuPuy said. “We’d like to see legislation by yesterday.”

Commissioner Bud Selig, speaking after a speech to a sports business group, declined to put a timetable on a decision, saying he wanted to let the committee proceed with as little public discussion as possible.

The other 29 teams bought the Expos from Jeffrey Loria for $120 million before the 2002 season. Because the team has drawn poorly in recent years at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, the commissioner’s office moved 22 of the Expos’ 81 home games this year to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

After a locale is selected, baseball will negotiate with potential ownership groups.

DuPuy thinks there is enough time for everything to fall into place but said it was possible a decision on the team’s long-term future won’t be made in time for the 2004 season.

“Our goal is not to have that happen,” he said. “But our goal wasn’t to own them in ’03, either.”

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