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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Rob Manfred knows hell get pounded now that hes baseball commissioner — his name is printed in blue script on the sweet spot between the seams of every big league ball.Probably good if I get hit hard, he said, smiling and laughing, during an interview with The Associated Press. A little more offence. We dont have to deal with that issue.Manfreds desk on the 31st floor of baseballs Park Avenue offices was tidy on Monday morning, the first business day after he succeeded Bud Selig and started a five-year term as commissioner. Having worked for MLB since 1998 as an executive vice-president and then as chief operating officer, he didnt have to move into a new office.The issues are piled up, perhaps not physically, but the to-do list is lengthy: Oakland and Tampa Bay want new ballparks; negotiations are ongoing with players over pace of play and domestic violence; Baltimore and Washington are fighting in court over broadcast revenue; there is widespread agreement initiatives must be undertaken to develop young fans and players.A pitch clock must be considered and decreased offence scrutinized along with increased defensive shifts.Tighter balls? Shorter fences? A lower mound? Banning defensive shifts?Perhaps they can be talked about in the future.I do think its important for the game to continue to modernize, he said. That modernization has to proceed at a pace that allows us to be very respectful of the traditions of the game and keeps us from making a hasty error, as they say.He opened his regime Sunday by releasing an open letter to fans, promising development in urban areas and increased emphasis on partnering with high school, college and amateur ball.He left his home early on a snowy Monday and took the commuter train from Tarrytown to Grand Central Terminal, as he has most days since he was hired by MLB after 11 years as an outside counsel with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.Born Sept. 28, 1958, Manfred grew up in Rome, New York, and is thought to be the first commissioner to have played Little League Baseball. He started when he was seven and quit when he was 12 or 13 because it conflicted with tennis.It was a painful and not-particularly successful experience, he said. I played some shortstop, some second base.He attended his first big league game on Aug. 10, 1968, sitting in the lower deck between home plate and first base at Yankee Stadium for New Yorks 3-2 loss to Minnesota. Mickey Mantle went deep twice in his last multihomer game.It was a big trip for us as a family, Manfred said.He wears conservative suits and has a gap-toothed smile and a receding hairline, looking every bit the corporate lawyer he was. His Cornell undergraduate and Harvard Law School diplomas are on the wall behind his desk, to the side of his computer. A flat-screen television on another wall broadcasts sports news.The contrast between the 56-year-old Manfred and the 80-year-old Selig is clear. The longtime Brewers owner ruled baseball from Milwaukee with grandfatherly charm. Selig claims to have never sent an email during his 22-plus years in charge.Bud I and are actually very different, Manfred said. Buds not much of a technology guy. I am the original plugged-in technology guy. Bud is an expert at the politics of managing owners. He does it with an art of persuasion. I think I can effectively manage the owners as well, but my style will be more based on information, rational persuasion, argument, than just politics.Labor strife remains the biggest danger. Following five strikes and three lockouts from 1972-95, baseball negotiated three straight deals without a stoppage and is ensured labour peace through the 2016 season.A labour disruption would be a real setback for this game, Manfred said. I think that weve taught people to expect that we can solve our problems or issues with the players in a constructive way without disrupting the play of the game on the field, and I think a failure to be able to do that would be a step backwards for us, obviously.The ever-increasing speed of high-tech innovation is the No. 2 issue. Regional sports networks and national broadcasting contracts have helped pushed baseballs revenue to nearly $9 billion last year, a more than fivefold increase under Seligs reign.Obviously, the cable model has served us well, Manfred explained. We hope it lasts a very long time. But its something you have to be concerned about.One change could be a 20-second pitch clock. While Selig ruled it out for the big leagues this year, it will be experimented with at Double-A and Triple-A.Manfred said MLB executive Joe Torre and Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz both approved after watching an experiment in the Arizona Fall League.Im a fan of the pitch clock, he said. I think the best endorsement of it is that some of the people involved in the game that you would regard to be on the more traditional spectrum were converts.He also wants stricter interpretation of the rule-book strike zone, a process that began with computer evaluation of umpires ball-strike calls starting in 2001.A lack of strike zone uniformity is kind of like dandelions, Manfred said. If you dont pay attention, it comes back.The big league batting average dropped to .251 last year, its lowest level since 1972. Manfred told ESPN in an interview released Sunday that he was open to banning defensive shifts.I said somewhere down the road its something Id be prepared to have a conversation about. Nothing more, he said Monday,Still, MLB forwarded the players union a list of radical ideas, Fox reported Monday, such as tinkering with the ball, mound, fences and strike zone, and extending the DH to the NL. Manfred also says he doesnt see a DH change happening, but the height of the mound could be open to debate. It was cut from 15 inches to 10 after the 1968 season.I dont see that as a revolutionary idea, he said.He does want to push ahead with international play, saying Id like to play on a more sustained basis outside the United States if thats possible. But games in Asia and Europe are difficult because of travel.The Western Hemisphere is probably more realistic in that regard, he said.And baseball is monitoring the U.S. governments opening to Cuba.Its a great source of talent, and whenever you have a talent source, our people are very interested, he said. Obviously the president has announced an important policy change. What that means at the nuts-and-bolts level that we operate, were just not sure yet.On his first day at the office, New York prepared for a blizzard. Not exactly baseball weather.Manfred beamed when discussing his plans. And when talking about the new baseballs with his name on them.He sent the first one that arrived to his father.It really is a very interesting and exciting, tangible evidence that you are in fact the commissioner of baseball, Manfred said.Howard Smith, MLBs senior vice-president of licensing, made him sign Robert D. Manfred Jr. over and over and over with different pencils and pens. More than a million balls will be manufactured this year.I actually can write if I take the time to do it, Manfred said proudly. It turned out OK. Orlando Cepeda Jersey . 4 jersey of former defenseman Rob Blake this coming season. The ceremony will take place prior to the Kings January 17 game against Anaheim. Hank Aaron Jersey . Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. http://www.thebravesteamshop.com/Braves-...-Kids-Jersey/.Y. -- Mike Zigomaniss goal at 5:53 of the third period stood up as the winner as the Rochester Americans hung on to defeat the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. Atlanta Braves Jerseys . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted on Monday that Hemsky will be going to market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Jose Ramirez Jersey . Granato was an assistant for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last five seasons, and he was also part of Team USAs staff at the 2014 Olympics.NICE, France -- Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann staked his claim for a World Cup starting spot with his first international goal for France, only for midfielder Victor Caceres to do likewise and earn Paraguay a 1-1 draw with an 89th-minute header Sunday in Les Bleus penultimate warm-up game before heading to Brazil. Griezmann has impressed since recently breaking into the team and the substitute put the hosts ahead in the 82nd minute with an assured finish, curling the ball into the right corner after collecting it on the left side of the penalty area. France had the majority of possession but Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud missed several chances and failed to add to his international tally after scoring twice against Norway in a 4-0 win on Tuesday night. "Were not going to win all of our games 4-0," Deschamps said. "We made the breakthrough after creating a lot of chances against a team defending deep in numbers. We dropped too deep and they equalized." Deschamps rested striker Karim Benzema and winger Franck Ribery, who has a back injury. French media have reported that he could be doubtful for the World Cup. "We will do everything we can for him to be ready for the Jamaica game next Sunday," Deschamps said, referring to Frances last friendly before going to Brazil. Deschamps made three changes from the NNorway game, with Loic Remy replacing Griezmann on the left wing, Bacary Sagna taking Mathieu Debuchys slot at right back and Hugo Lloris returning in goal.dddddddddddd Remy had Frances first chance, side-footing wide after Mathieu Valbuena had played him in down the left side of the penalty area. Giroud had the next chance, using his body well to shield the ball, before spinning and hitting a low shot that was blocked. Lloris was called into action midway through the first half when he gathered a low shot from veteran striker Roque Santa Cruz. France hit back moments later and midfielder Paul Pogba drilled a shot just wide, and then Giroud held the ball up down the right before floating a cross over to Remy, whose scissor-kick volley flew wide. Remy and Giroud combined well throughout the match, and Giroud headed wide from Remys cross at the start of the second half. Giroud then crossed from the right only for Valbuena to nod the ball wide. Valbuena had set up Giroud for a headed goal against Norway, and almost did so again only for goalkeeper Anthony Silva to tip the forwards looping header over the crossbar. From Valbuenas corner, Silva saved yet another Giroud header. After Caceres scored with his first goal in 55 appearances for Paraguay, Giroud almost netted the winner right at the end as his astute chip went just over. ' ' '