Major League Baseball’s commissioner sees more Wild Card teams as “very attractive.”
Just like his hairdo, Major League Baseball commissioner-for-life or until he actually retires Bud Selig comes up with some really ugly visions from time to time. The most recent concept – one he has convinced himself that “everybody” wants – is more playoff teams.
Selig was interviewed on-air by ESPN’s Dan Schulman during Monday night’s home opener for the Minnesota Twins in their new Target Field home. Here is how the exchange went, courtesy of Larry Brown Sports:
Schulman: “Do you see any change in the playoff format? Do you ever see another Wild Card team?”
Selig: “Well, I remember all the abuse I took about the Wild Card to begin with and now everybody wants more. I would like to see more. You know we only have eight out of 30 — the least number of any sport — we have the most direct playoff system. It’s something we’re going to consider. In some ways I like it, in some ways I don’t. It’s very attractive.”
In summary, “everybody” wants it and Bud sees it as “very attractive.”
I can’t help but wonder…
- As he was prattling on, did Selig consider the weather conditions under which mid-to-late November night games might take place at Target Field?
- Is the commish thinking of this as another possible solution to his American League East death penalty problem for the Tampa Bay Rays short of realignment? In this scenario, could three (or more?) teams from one division play their way into October (and November)?
- Is this concept in scope for Tony La Russa, John Schuerholz and their “special committee for on-field matters?” And if so, are they bringing this idea forward, with Selig pre-testing it out on the public?
- Could a shortened regular season, back to 154 games, for example, be a part of an expanded playoff format? What would this do to records set since the schedule increased to 162 back in 1962? Would perennial also-rans be willing to give up four guaranteed regular-season home dates with only a slightly-increased hope of reaching the post-season?
- Is there any chance that the current system is changed substantially to give division winners more credit for finishing in first place over 162 games? Today, giving the best teams over six months of play a one-game first-round benefit is about as stupid as awarding home-field advantage in the World Series based on an exhibition game in which no one really wants to play.
- One element of an expanded playoff format could be the addition of first-round byes. In contrast with football, where a full week off expands to two with a bye, would the idea of taking off ten days or more really offer an advantage? Baseball players aren’t used to sitting that long.
Finally, here is the short list of issues I believe are more pressing for MLB to tackle and resolve. Of course, ideas like more post-season games have a pronounced cash-register appeal that tackling most of these problems lack: Fixing revenue sharing, instituting blood testing, cleaning up television blackout rules and solving the international problems, perhaps via a draft.
While I have no confidence any of the above will get done anytime soon, neither do I have any expectations about Selig’s new project. After all, this is the man that brought us the concept of contraction and so many other not-ready-for-prime time ideas.
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A nice “huff Brian”…………………………. Contraction………………worked. The means to an end.
Devaluing regular season hot dog gatherings by challenging the NBA for meaningless activities.
Making TV time slotting more important than reason…………………. Bud seem intent on finding way to enhance revenue. Watch out.
Will NY and Boston open every year?
Evan though I agree with you, not sure why you make it personal with Bud. You’re better than that.
Blogs are for personal expression. I have been very consistent over time in my criticism of the commissioner. A shot at his hair is pretty tame, IMHO, and hardly original. I resisted the temptation to bring up the statue…
The true aim of all these threats of change is simple. You must create enough conflict that its resolution is the inevitable………….. “Salary Cap”. It is the only way the Yankee’s can keep more of the revenue. BD for that matter. BD has set an example for propagandizing his profit position, that is the envy of all baseball owners. But then, there is only one St. Louis. One arch.
This is an interesting perspective………
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/contraction1.html
I like calling up Anderson, adds another bat on the bench, and a lefty. With Stavi on board, the backup catcher can be used as a pinch hitter.
On the radio today, Bernie’s show I think, it was suggested to switch Anderson to second like was done with Biggio.
It sounds like TLR is sold on the Luddy 2 /Colby 5 lineup.
If anyone does read that article., the Bush administration even post 9/11 was pressuring the Players Union. You now have hindsight to look at that situation….. Oakland was mention as
a contraction team. Pohlad was old money….he volunteered. Montreal is in Washington with a new stadium……….Twins have one…….. steroid scandal fueled by the Bush justice department. Selig deserves a lot more than criticism of his hair. Some of the readers here are very conservative. It kind of sneaks up on you when you see the greed involved doesn’t it. My solution.
Mandatory salary cap………..all players paid by the league from revenue sharing. 100 million dollars times 30 = 300…………….
Each team has a payroll ladder in the form of a pigs tits. Your either holding down a spot or not. Simple………..2yr limit on contracts. If your injured and can’t play. Union insurance covers half your salary voiding any future contract agreements. Somebody takes your place.
2 get 10
4 get 7
4 get 5
5 get 2
10 get 1mill
Solves all problems……….Free Agency……….the works…………..
Do you think BD would leap at that? Not in a million yrs…….as would most of the other owners turn their noses…………………Why? There books would be opened. Period. They would be subjected to public scrutiny for their ticket pricing and concession gouging. This is, and always has been class warfare………… in St Louis, its the other guy that’s the pigeon.
St Louis Symphony was actually very good last time I heard them.
Not enough zero up there………..that’s 3 billion.
Colby wants nothing to do with that two spot BB. He is in the “sweet spot” right now. I’m just wondering how long Ludwick stays a “solid singles man”. Baseball pays for HR’s and RBi’s,………. average just means your a nice guy………ask Lopez.
Not in this case Westy. Luddy knows all about the payroll pinch coming up. If he positions as the guy who gets on base ahead of AP and MH, he makes it possible for the Cards to get their money’s worth out of the fat wallet boys. That makes it hard for deWallet to send him packing.
Totally with you Brian on your critique of “Bud” Selig , what a haircut and I believe his barber travels with him or maybe the barber is the reason he moved the commissioners office to Milwaukee.
An extra wild card team per league would be a travesty, making it more likely that a wild card team wins the World Series, particularly if the best two teams get a bye. Those teams would have a hard time shaking off the rust from sitting out the first playoff round.
More teams in the playoffs mean World Series in November with nasty cold weather most places except for California, Florida, Texas and Atlanta.
Maybe “Bud” will try and move the World Series to a neutral warm weather site and let 16 teams into the playoffs!
The only way it would work is for each team to play a dozen or more doubleheaders during the regular season and the players union would have to agree with that–.
The World Series is much better during the first or second week of October, hard to get excited about it with all the off days leading up to the WSand typically bad weather come November.
Off topic, did I read somewhere that when Jaime Garcia and Yovani Gallardo faced each other
last week, it was the first time 2 Mexican born starting pitchers started the same game? Or was it a long time ago (if so who were the others)
thanks
Talk radio solution to any positional backlog = Move the player to second base!
chief, Mexican starting pitchers are not that uncommon. Prior to last week, the last 1-1 matchup was in September 2008 – Oliver Perez vs. Jorge Campillo.
Well Brian, you must admit the Cards took them up on the idea with the left field backlog last spring. And speaking of that, it seems we have that same backlog again. Any suggestions?
Let them fight it out in hopes one can emerge enough to deserve to start when Ludwick moves on. I think this is more of a quantity than starting quality discussion. Can you see a clear-cut MLB starter among them?
I’m just turning in on the 3rd inning. First pitch, Ludwick on a round house swing on a ball in the dirt. Gotta thing of the family…………Colby grounds out 3/0????????? Penny pitching a winner with a bunch of “family men” again backing him.
I think Luddy is making his play to expand the dynamic duo to a threesome, by proving himself to be the #2 hitter that gets full value out of Albert and Matt. Failing that, I don’t see an MLB right fielder among them, unless there is an arm that hasn’t been shown off yet. My guess is Stavinoah has an arm, but speed would be a problem. Let’s make Motte a right fielder, a la the Babe. (Can he hit?, no?, well that’s what we’re paying Big Mac for.)
Penny is throwing a nice game………he deserves some support. This is a game we should have 5 runs by now and he should be thinking about 7. The guy breaks down if he is overused.
HaHa BB,
Luddy is sure in a hitting groove for now and I like him batting second and Rasmus fifth.
Brian, I must have made that up in my head about the Mexican born SP’s.
Luddy is my buddy…………first pitch, trying to get some extra base action. Myers isn’t going to give into these guys. He is just keeping it around the plate………….. this guy loses when people peck him to death………… then the hr’s happen. Gotta get him into the stretch. Where the bunt?
Did Stavi every think about just getting a run? Skip sure has a big follow through to that swing.
Feed the family. Skip seems incapable of scaling down his swing.
That was a heckofa play by Ryan on the slow bouncer top of the 8th, runner cutting in front of him, speedy runner heading toward first. Saved a run and headed off a possible big inning.
Too bad the money guys couldn’t follow up Luddy’s hit, its all on lights-out Frankie.
Pounding us low and away. Ludwick does the right thing. Pujols does the only thing. Holiday thinks he can hit anything. So they pitch him anything. Tony misses the chance to pinch hit against their lefty specialist…………. seems careless to me. Frankie………….trimmed his beard. That did it.
My last post disappeared………………….. I had predicted that the Germans would surrender. Oh well.
Caught in the spam filter, WC. Maybe too many dots…
Back to the subject of Brian’s article, the worst thing that could possibly happen would be adding a bunch of best of 5 serieses. That would sound good to a guy with hair like that.
Quad Cities is streaking out of the blocks, 6-1. They are balanced by the dismal Palm Beach team, 0-5, only winless squad in the FSL.
You mean micro dots………….. I can get War and peace on that many. I’m working with the resistance.
I wish we had a spark plug right now. To many people showing that nice follow through……..not enough of them making useful contact. Tony is starving Craig. I look for a few of the kids to play tomorrow. I think they will do well.
Lets go to a 16 team triple elimination format. NL bracket and an AL bracket. That could take two weeks. Winners play the 7 games. I was kidding, but the more I think about it, that would have great drama.
‘resistance’ ? ! Carefull Westy, remember what you have pointed out about we’d be surprised who is reading. The black choppers will come on a moonless night and you will disappear . . . . . Unless. . . . .they have. . . . . and you have . . . .and the’ve taken over your on-line identity. I wonder if Brian checks for that.
bb, RCW asked me to turn off identity checking. At least, I think it was him…
Understood, ‘Brian’.
Who are candidates for first promotion from Quad Cities?
2Bman Stidham has the highest OPS, played at QC last summer, Stidham could play in PB.
Among pitchers, candidates include Fornataro has had two solid games, after pitching at QC last August. Schneider too is a holdover able to pitch at a higher rung.
While much of this interview consists of details about fantasy baseball and SABR that are likely to be uninteresting to many here, I do mention another of my many concerns about the Selig administration – when MLB attempted to try to charge licensing fees for use of game statistics that had been in the public domain since Abner Doubleday. If they had won in the courts, think about how that could have changed the game for the worse.
MLB seems to like to explore all opportunities to increase revenues, so I am not surprised if they tried to sell access to statistics.
They have been making in-roads. While Gameday may be free for now, they sell other products. MLB web sites provide pretty good minor league statistics. This may be free for now, but it helps put teams in control of providing content.
As long-time readers know, my problem with Bud Selig is even more basic than his hair or his hair-brained ideas.
It’s this: he’s an owner. And an owner shouldn’t be Commissioner; the Commissioner is supposed to be an independent and unbiased arbiter of the game.
It’s funny; Bowie Kuhn was perceived by many as an “owner’s man” but it was he who lifted the lockout in 1975 (or was it 1976?), and it was he who fined a number of owners for shady practices, including Gussie, and it was he who tried to prevent the raping of the Oakland A’s franchise by Finley in the late 70′s.
By contrast, it took a federal judge to lift the lockout in 1995, I can’t remember Selig ever fining one of his owner-buddies, and he stood by and smiled as winning teams were then summarily dismantled (1998 Marlins, 1999 Padres, 2004 Marlins, etc. etc. etc.).
Bud Selig is the Antichrist.
Charlie Finley lost Catfish Hunter to free agency. He realized free agency revolutionized the game for a small market team like Oakland, so he tried to trade some other stars before they left.
Last summer, this is what the A’s did with Matt Holliday. But now that free agency is common, so is trading players for financial reasons. This was new back when Bowie Kuhn tried to make time stand still and prevent Finley from doing what made sense for his team.
The Commissioner is an employee of the teams who tries to get them to make collective decisions. It used to be a nice story that the Commmissioner represented the Game itself, rather than the owners. This was a nice tale invented by the owners. It is much clearer when a former owner serves as Commmissioner.
The Commissioner represents an industry. The industry includes not only teams, but a well organized Union and well paid players and agents. The teams and union sometimes fight over the riches, but they have a shared economic interest as well. The more money grossed by teams, the more money the Union can extract from teams.
Jmo, I didn’t know your long-standing view, but I agree conceptually regarding sourcing of the commissioner. If I was running the railroad, I would make it very simple. If MLB wants to continue to enjoy the fruits of an anti-trust exemption, then they would have an impartial head. Not going to happen, though.
NASCAR, IRL, CBA (when it existed), Team Tennis, and others are all leagues owned by one person or a few individuals. The commissioner there is often the owner of the league. NBA, NFL, MLB are also private entities with the main difference being they are partnerships and not individually owned. Just the same, the partnership picking someone to run the partnership (corporation) is obviously going to have the interest of the partnership as its first concern. Why should baseball be different than NASCAR just because it is a group of owners and not a single owner?
CC, MLB used to tout that the Commisioner represented the integrity of the game and the fans, not just the owners of teams. Many fans liked hearing this. They could hate some owner, but at least there was this other guy, the Commissioner, who cared for the game and for them. A fan friendly guy who could discipline the naughty owners. What’s not to like?
In reality, the Commish was an employee working on behalf of the US baseball cartel and if he did something annoying to a majority of teams, he got canned. At least with Selig, MLB has retreated from the nice yarn it used to spin about an independent commissioner, and the situation is now clearer. There is a cartel or partnership. The head spokesperson and its coordinator is called the Commmissioner.
I read this interesting article about antitrust in sports, which notes MLB’s exemption is unique. My suggested solution is overly simplistic.