TORONTO -- Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred supports changing the rule that expands active rosters from 25 to 40 each Sept. 1.Managers have expressed concern that the rule changes late in the season, allowing multiple pitching changes for right-lefty matchups. The issue is part of negotiations for a labor contract to replace the deal that expires Dec. 2.Controversy has arisen because of changes that have taken place in the game and the way the game is played, particularly the use of so many relievers, Manfred said Tuesday before the AL wild-card game. I do believe in a reform of those rules, again protecting the benefits that are available to players, Im not looking to take away service time or anything like that, but I do think it would make sense to get to a situation where we played out September games closer to the rules that we play with the rest of the year.I dont think 18 pitchers in a game is a good thing, Manfred added.Manfred hopes a new labor contract is in place before the start of the offseason business cycle. Teams have until the fifth day after the World Series to make qualifying offers to their former players who became free agents, and free agents can negotiate terms with all teams starting the following day.On other topics:ExpansionWhile again saying stadium issues in Oakland and Tampa Bay have to be solved before expansion beyond 30 teams would be considered, Manfred acknowledged in terms of scheduling, 32 teams is a nice number for us, Manfred said.FernandezAsked about the idea of naming an award in honor of late Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, Manfred said the shock of the situation has occupied baseball so far.I understand theres some strong feelings on this topic, he said. Its not the right time of year to be thinking about additional awards. But its an issue well talk about during the offseason. Obviously, we recognize the significance of Jose in terms of his importance to the Marlins franchise, and the fact that he was symbolic of the next generation of players.Home RunsManfred said testing has not revealed any difference in the ball that contributed to an increase in home runs.We are absolutely convinced this issue is not driven by a difference in the baseball, he said. My own view is the spike is related to the way the game is being played now, the way we are training hitters from a very young age. We have not been able to find any external cause that explains the spike in home runs.CubaBecause of the World Baseball Classic, no major league team is likely to play at exhibition game in Cuba during spring training.Wild cardManfred supports the one-and-done wild-card playoffs, now in their fifth year.We just had a final day of the season where you had all sorts of meaningful baseball games, and most of those meaningful games were related to the fact that we had a second wild card, he said. In terms of the games themselves, I understand that baseball doesnt usually have one-game knockouts, but I do believe these two games get our playoff season off to a really exciting start. Ive gone to the wild card games, each of them, the last two seasons. The atmospheres in the ballparks are phenomenal, and I think it gives a great jump start to our playoff season. <a href="http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/eddie-giacomin-hockey-jersey/">Eddie Giacomin Rangers Jersey</a>. -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. <a href="http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/marc-staal-hockey-jersey/">Marc Staal Jersey</a>. The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. <a href="http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/tie-domi-hockey-jersey/">http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/tie-domi-hockey-jersey/</a>. The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. <a href="http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/mark-messier-hockey-jersey/">Mark Messier Jersey</a>. Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. <a href="http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/filip-chytil-hockey-jersey/">Filip Chytil Rangers Jersey</a>. Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. WUHAN, China -- Angelique Kerber lost for the first time since becoming the No. 1-ranked player, losing to Petra Kvitova in the third round of the Wuhan Open on Wednesday.Kvitova saved 17 of 22 break points on her way to the 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-4 win over Kerber, who committed eight double faults.Its always tough to play against Petra, said Kerber, who was facing Kvitova for the 10th time in her career. I think we both played on a really high level over three hours. At the end, I think theres no loser. I did everything today. I was fighting until the end.Kerber replaced Serena Williams atop the rankings with her run to the U.S. Open title, and took time off before coming to China to start her Asian swing in Wuhan, where she had a bye in the first round.Kvitova last beat Kerber in the 2014 Fed Cup final, and had since lost to the German three times, including in the U.S. Open fourth round.In the quarterfinals, Kvitova will face Johanna Konta of Britain, who beat seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-5, 7-6 (6). Konta saved three set points in a marathon ninth game, and recovered from 6-3 down in the tiebreak.ddddddddddddSvetlana Kuznetsova ousted defending champion Venus Williams 6-2, 6-2.Kuznetsova dominated Williams from the outset, breaking the American five times. She improved to 5-4 against Williams.Williams struggled with her serve in the gusty conditions and had seven double faults.I dont think Venus played her best game. But Ive been confident and Ive been playing well, Kuznetsova said. I didnt use a couple of my chances in the second set but I still could finish it 6-2.Kuznetsova next plays third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2.Simona Halep of Romania also advanced, beating Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-3.Halep, showing no sign of the hamstring injury that ruled her out of Tokyo last week, will face Madison Keys of the United States in the quarters. Keys beat Russian qualifier Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. <a href="http://www.chinawholesalejerseysnfl.com/">Wholesale Jerseys</a> ' ' '