Dodgers fail to persuade bankruptcy judge to expand case

Lawyers for owner Frank McCourt wanted to obtain financial documents from other struggling franchises to prove that the Dodgers were being singled out by Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. But Judge Kevin Gross said such a fishing expedition "would be more burdensome than is appropriate." He'll issue a formal ruling later in the week, but he didn't expect to reverse an earlier order denying the Dodgers access to other teams. From the LAT:

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has said for months that he has been held to a double standard by Commissioner Bud Selig, most notably by the rejection of a proposed television contract. Dodgers attorney Sid Levinson said the team should be entitled to see what factors Selig used in approving or rejecting the contracts of other teams in order for the court to determine whether the commissioner treated McCourt in good faith. "What was the commissioner's agenda?" Levinson said.

The real fun starts on Oct. 31 for what's expected to be a weeklong hearing that will include the testimony of both McCourt and Selig. That should provide some indication of who will own the team next year.