formation, were on top and Postecoglou gave substitutes Robbie Krus

CHICAGO -- Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball wants to study high-profile positions within the sport to see if certain qualifications predict success, a step that has everything to do with minority hiring.Baseball had no Latino managers before Rick Renteria took over the Chicago White Sox last month. Dusty Baker of the Washington Nationals and Dave Roberts from the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only black skippers among the leagues 30 teams.But there were 10 minority managers as recently as 2009, according to Richard Lapchick of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida.Certain perceptions develop as to what people are looking for in particular positions and then people write stories saying, Oh, thats a problem on the minority front because, you know, maybe minorities are less likely to share these characteristics, Manfred said Thursday at the conclusion of two days of owners meetings.I think a first step in addressing those concerns is identifying which ones really matter and then you start to identify candidates who have all those qualifications and say, hey this may be the perfect guy for you and I have some science behind it in order to demonstrate that he is the best candidate, or she.Major League Baseball hired Korn Ferry last year in part to help top minority candidates in their interviews for positions in baseball operations. But Manfred said the search firm is going to focus on openings for individual clubs when its retained because of the potential for conflicts when it works for the central office and teams at the same time.When the White Sox announced Renterias promotion, they highlighted his ability to communicate in English and Spanish. But Manfred said there are all sorts of factors that could be considered.You could name probably 20 things off the top of your head, he said. The question is, once youve named them, do any of them really predict success on the field?While MLB briefed the owners on baseballs highly successful postseason and the upcoming World Baseball Classic, the ongoing labor talks with the players occupied a significant portion of the meetings at a downtown Chicago hotel, already decked out in its best Christmas decorations.The collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Negotiators for owners and players have been meeting since spring training.I remain optimistic that were going to make a deal, Manfred said. This process is not predictable in terms of time. I said there were certain natural deadlines out there. The beginning of the market was one and the expiration of the agreements another, and Im hopeful that were going to get a deal done before that latter deadline.Manfred declined to address any details from the bargaining sessions, but he said an international amateur draft remains on the table.Manfred also touched on several other fronts with the sport and the owners quarterly meetings:-The owners approved changes with the leadership structures in Oakland and Philadelphia, with John Fisher becoming the control person of the Athletics and John Middleton taking over the same position with the Phillies. The As announced that Lew Wolff will be transitioning from managing partner to chairman emeritus, and that he had agreed to sell most of his interest to the remaining owners.Fisher and Middleton each controlled the biggest stake in their specific teams before taking over their new roles.I think the ownership committee has a strong preference that the individuals who are either the largest or one of the largest equity owners in clubs be the individual who is the baseball control person, Manfred said.-Manfred also reacted to supermodel Kate Uptons online support of fiance Justin Verlander after the Detroit Tigers ace finished second to Bostons Rick Porcello in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Verlander was left off the ballot by two voters, prompting a series of tweets by Upton that were widely circulated on social media.The particular content of the tweet Im not going to comment on, a chuckling Manfred said. I do think that engagement on social media by players and people close to players is important in todays world. I think that it brings attention to the sport at a point during the year when its our offseason and we have less going on.-The Cubs first World Series title since 1908 helped generate great ratings during the playoffs, and there is talk around the sport about how to build on the success from the postseason.Were not going to have the Cubs and 108 years every year, Manfred said. But I think there are lots of compelling baseball stories that can help us produce the kind of postseason popularity that we enjoyed this year.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Wholesale Lakers Jerseys . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. JaVale McGee Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. http://www.cheaplakersjerseyschina.com/lance-stephenson-jersey/ . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Moritz Wagner Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Youth Lakers Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Mile Jedinaks penalty has rescued Australia from a home World Cup qualifying defeat, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Japan and keeping the Socceroos on course for the 2018 tournament.Japan looked set for a smash-and-grab success after Genki Haraguchis fifth-minute opener.A first half played at a snails pace gave way to a helter-skelter second, allowing the Socceroos back into the contest.The Blue Samurai will rue their clumsy penalty that gifted Australia their equaliser, but will be thankful Ange Postecoglous side didnt find a second.The Socceroos surged in the final 20 minutes as they chased a winner, but their transformation from frog to prince came too late for a victory.The draw isnt a stellar one for Australias qualifying hopes - they are likely to lose top place in the group as a result.But eight points from four games is a fine tally and the result keeps Australia a point ahead of arch-rivals Japan and in control of their qualifying destiny with six qualifiers left.The Socceroos started without confidence in Melbourne and soon fell behind.Haraguchi made it three goals in as many matches when he converted a one-on-one chance.Trent Sainsbury was the guilty party, attempting an audacious pass that Haraguchi intercepted and eventually finished.With buoyant support among the 48,460 at Etihad Stadium, Japan was frustrating a lacklustre Australia.Playing with a 4-4-2 system, including surprise selection Apostolos Giannou alongside Tomi Juric up front, the Socceroos couldnt cut through.Australia subsisteed on set pieces in a lacklustre first stanza.ddddddddddddMatthew Spiranovic headed Aaron Mooys cross over and Jedinak brought a save out of Shusaku Nishikawa from a direct free kick.The break Australia desperately needed came on 51 minutes, when Juric was bundled over in the box by Japans goalscorer.Brad Smiths intelligent run and cross bore fruit, with captain Jedinak thundering the penalty home.The Socceroos, reverting to their usual 4-3-3 formation, were on top and Postecoglou gave substitutes Robbie Kruse and Tim Cahill half an hour to help find a winner.While Spiranovic climbed high again but headed a late corner over, it was Japan which came closest to a second goal.On 74 minutes, Mat Ryan produced the save of the match, diving low to his right to deny Yuto Kobayashi.Takuma Asano was unlucky not to connect with Haraguchis cross with Ryan beaten, leaving the teams to share the spoils.Postecoglou cursed his sides poor start.International goals are hard to come by and we dished up a really soft one tonight, he said.We wasted 45 minutes tonight.Im disappointed in the context of where I think were at as a team.Japanese boss Vahid Halilhodzic said he had no regrets but some frustration at not being able to snatch a win.We let the opponent have the ball because we knew we would have the chance to score ... we should have taken two more points, he said through a translator. ' ' '