There is a much better chance that the commissioner of Major League Baseball might actually share some valuable information if asked a few tough questions.
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Friday. The 76-year-old appeared on several radio and television broadcasts, fielding the normal softball questions about his legacy. That allowed Selig to brag about his accomplishments such as the wild card, as well as future wishes including international play.
What no one posed were the questions that would have actually told us something. Here are six examples of what I would have liked to ask:
1) You take credit for instituting the wild card and now say you would like to expand the playoffs. Do you plan to do anything to give a greater advantage to division winners in the future? If so, what and when?
2) We’ve seen instant replay used for disputed home run calls. Isn’t it time to consider expansion of the capability to a greater level of use as in many other sports?
3) With the recent leaking of financial statements of the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates, were you aware they have not been deploying their revenue sharing funds to improve their on-field product as was supposedly required? What are you going to do about it? What is your message to those teams’ fans?
4) It has been rumored that Bob DuPuy, MLB president, is being forced out of his job. Does it have anything to do with the above? Does eliminating your most obvious successor mean you may be planning to stay longer than the two more years you have remaining on your term, which will have run 20 years?
5) Will you ever standardize the use of the designated hitter or abolish it entirely? Don’t you see that it causes a built-in inequity in interleague play, the All-Star Game and the World Series?
6) You said the wild card was instituted for the fans, increasing their interest in more teams deeper into the season. If you want more fans to follow games, why can’t you get the archaic and confusing television blackout rules fixed as you said you would at least four years ago?
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I’m with you in everything but #5, but I doubt that he would have given straight answers. If he isn’t addressing 1, 2, 3, and 6 then what is he doing as commish? The wild card and WBC happened a long time ago.
#5–I vote for abolishing it entirely.
My point on #5 is either to do it or not to do it. Nutlaw, how can you be in support of the status quo, originally announced as a two-year trial 35 years ago? Decide one way or the other!
Either both leagues do it or get rid of the DH.
I am fine with one league having the DH and one not. Its been this way for 35 years and the world has not come to an end. Its a diverse world. Be happy. Everything does not have to be just one way or the other, all neat and tidy.
It doesn’t matter to me what it was originally announced as. I like the variety. It spices things up. Baseball is a looong season with one heck of a lot of sloooow paced games. Less conformity and more points of interest, please. I like interleague play.
The AL should go back to the bulky hand held chest protector.
Those who like variety rather than consistency in sport will love this.
I had a secret message today from Bud. He doesn’t want anyone to know that his next job will be NFL commissioner. His first act will be to implement a new position called “DR” in the American Conference only.
Like the DH, which was designed to create more offense and allow older hitters to hang on longer, the DR, or designated receiver, would have a similar effect. Prior to the game, each team can designate one receiver who is eligible to make catches with only one foot in bounds. This might allow a great like Jerry Rice to play more years as his team’s DR. Again, this would be tried only during American Conference home games.
Good one Brian. Like the DH much?
No, I don’t, but even worse in my view is such a basic difference in rules between leagues.
Eh. I root for a National League team, so I’m content. The DH is merely a rare side diversion. Given some of the real problems mentioned earlier, I don’t see how it rates attention or concern.
I’ve never liked the DH. To me it just isn’t true baseball. I call the American League the “Sissy League” because of it.
Brian, are you against the DH in minor leagues? College ball? What about aluminum bats? Just curious.
Again, my point here is standardization. I would prefer the DH everywhere in MLB to the current situation.
To answer the questions, yes, I think pitchers should bat at every level of the game, but my opinion carries no weight with anyone. The primary benefit of aluminum bats is cost savings. At some levels that may make sense, but surely not in professional baseball and especially the major leagues.
Thanks for the response Brian. I would prefer death to the DH everywhere, so I’m ok with the present situation. I pray that the AL repent and seek forgiveness.
I also believe that if batters have aluminum bats, pitchers should have aluminum balls.