MLB commissioner Rob Manfred attends Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen

ABERDEEN, Md. - Perhaps proving yet again how important Cal Ripken Jr. is to Major League Baseball, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was in Aberdeen today to spend time with the former Oriole and to attend the Cal Ripken World Series.

The event brings together 10 elite teams from the United States and eight others from around the world. They are competing in the Babe Ruth League's 12-and-under Cal Ripken Division.

The tournament began July 24 and will end with the championship game this Saturday night, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. All tournament games are free to the public. For more information on the event go to RipkenBaseball.com.

Manfred and Ripken spoke with reporters today at a press conference in Aberdeen.

"We're honored that the commissioner has come here to see our World Series," Ripken said. "I know one of the major initiatives in the commissioner's office is to grow the game and present the game to the kids. We're thrilled that he's decided to come here. I have that same passion, to promote the game to kids and to grow the game."

Manfred has said that growing the game through attracting more young fans is high on his agenda as baseball's new commissioner.

"Youth participation is a really competitive space," he said. "Every sport is trying to make them one-sport athletes. I think over the last 20 years baseball has probably under-invested in youth efforts, and we have work to do."

On another topic, Orioles fans were disappointed recently that Baltimore was not selected to host an upcoming All-Star Game. San Diego will host in 2016, Miami in 2017 and Washington in 2018.

Manfred was asked if Baltimore will be considered to host in 2019 or beyond and when that game's site will be announced.

"We don't have a timetable," he said. "We're out pretty good (in selecting future sites) and I don't really have a firm timetable for '19 yet.

"We want our All-Star Games to be awarded in a more competitive process, where the club and the community come together, present to Major League Baseball a package in terms of available facilities and support that will help make the game a great success.

"I know, because I was a season ticket holder in Baltimore for a long time, that Baltimore has the capactity to present that kind of a package to Major League Baseball. I'm sure there will be an effort when we get into the process for the games beyond 2018."

On another timely MLB topic, Manfred confirmed that, in the future, there will be consideration on moving the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline back.

"I think this is an example of how intricate baseball's rules are," Manfred said. "We went to a second Wild Card team in order to promote pennant races deeper into the season. But when you make a change like that it sets off other events, right? We now have more teams in the hunt longer. It's more difficult for those teams to make the decision whether to move players or not.

"Those dynamics naturally raise the question, should you move the date back and give them longer to decide? It will be a topic of conversation this offseason."

The 20th anniversary is fast approaching of Ripken's record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game. He broke Lou Gehrig's mark on Sept. 6, 1995. The Orioles will be on the road that day, but will have a celebration of that night on Sept. 1 at Camden Yards.

Manfred spoke about how important 2,131 was for MLB.

"That period of time was a very, very difficult time for baseball," Manfred said. "The strike did real damage with our fans. We rebuilt those relationships one player at a time, and nobody was more important to that effort than Cal was."

The Ripken World Series international championship game will be played Friday at 5:30 p.m., with the U.S. championship game to follow at 8 p.m., before those winners meet in the final game on Saturday night.