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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Baseball Commissioner Bud Seligs latest stop on his ballpark farewell tour turned testy over his unyielding support of the New York Mets ownership. With longtime friend and Mets chief executive officer Fred Wilpon sitting in the second row of the news conference room at Citi Field, Selig said he has no problem with the big-market team operating with an opening-day payroll that ranked 21st among the 30 teams and has drawn the ire of many of the clubs fans. "From my perspective, I think that the way the Mets are doing this thing is correct," Selig said Tuesday on his 20th stop of his goodbye trip before he is replaced by Rob Manfred on Jan. 25. New Yorks opening day payroll of $93 million is almost $60 million lower than it was in 2008, according to Major League Baseball figures. The high payrolls were before Bernard Madoffs Ponzi scheme was uncovered, throwing the Mets into financial distress. When asked why the Mets got a pass from the commissioners office while then-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Frank McCourt was forced to sell his team because of financial improprieties, Selig vigorously defended New Yorks actions. "As far as Im concerned, Ive said this in the past and Ill say it again: I dont have any problem with the Mets financing, with whats going on, as far as all of our economic rules, and we have a myriad of them," Selig said. "Theyre in compliance with them and doing fine." With the Mets headed for their sixth straight losing season and eighth without a playoff appearance, Selig defended New Yorks rebuilding process. The team has developed an impressive stable of young pitchers, including Matt Harvey and Jacob deGromm. Selig compared New Yorks approach to that of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, two organizations the former Milwaukee Brewers owner is impressed with. He said the Cardinals, who won World Series championships in 2006 and 2011, have had great success without "drunken-sailor" spending. Selig also side-stepped commenting on a lawsuit filed last week against the Mets and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, Freds son, who was accused of illegal retaliation and discrimination. "Thats employment litigation. There were a lot of charges there. Jeff denies them vigorously," Selig said. "I think in this particular case theyre going to court, and were just going to have to see how it plays out." Selig refused to discuss the situation of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, facing criticism for his handling of a domestic violence case against one of the leagues players. . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed. . Sizemore, who turned 29 on Jan. 4, has been limited to six games over the past two seasons because of an injured left knee that twice required surgery. He originally got hurt on Feb. 25, 2012, during a fielding drill in Oaklands first full-squad spring training workout and had surgery that March 21 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. http://www.mlbtwinsonline.com/authentic ... ns-jersey/. Smith, an eighth overall pick, had two goals in only 276 minutes of playing time over 16 appearances last season. The left side midfielder played only 43 minutes in three games this season. . a€“ All signs point to the Maple Leafs having their top offseason acquisition in the lineup on opening night. . Mission accomplished. Now the Royals will take the field on Saturday with a World Series lead for the first time in team history when they play Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the Giants at AT&T Park. Seven retired NFL players are objecting to a proposed settlement of concussion claims, calling it a "lousy deal" for ex-players whose symptoms dont qualify them for compensation. The players lawyers filed a motion in federal court in Philadelphia on Wednesday urging a judge to reject the settlement between the NFL and as many as 20,000 retired players. The settlement provides up to $5 million each for retired players who develop Lou Gehrigs disease, dementia or other neurological problems believed to be caused by concussions suffered during their pro careers. The deal excludes players with symptoms of a degenerative brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, those suffering from milder brain injuries and veterans of the defunct NFL Europe, the players objection said. The players also said that the proposed claims process is onorous and confusing and that attorneys for the plaintiffs failed to conduct any discovery in the ccase.dddddddddddd. "The revised settlement is a great deal -- for the NFL and class counsel," who would get $112.5 million in attorneys fees, the players motion said. "It is a lousy deal for the retired players, whose rights have been bargained away without adequate or independent representation." A spokesman for the plaintiffs attorneys declined to comment on Thursday, referring to an earlier statement touting the deal. An NFL spokesman also declined to comment. More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions. They include former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia. A revised settlement agreement filed last week removed a $675 million cap on damages after U.S. District Judge Anita Brody questioned whether there would be enough money to pay all claims. ' ' '