Manfred, Clark on MLB length of games committee

NEW YORK (AP) Incoming baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and players' association head Tony Clark have been selected to participate in a new Major League Baseball committee tasked with decreasing the times of games.

The committee announced Monday by outgoing Commissioner Bud Selig will be chaired by Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. The group includes Boston Red Sox Chairman Tim Werner and partner Michael Gordon, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and Major League Baseball Executive Vice President Joe Torre.

The average time of a nine-inning game has increased from 2 hours, 33 minutes in 1981 to a record 3:03 this year.

Selig says the group plans to make recommendations for the 2015 season.