This weekend I have been trying to decide what to write to you about this week. With the great wild card races going on and with the AL East being the only division with the second place team more that 5 games out, I thought that I would like to thank somebody for allowing me to enjoy these races!
Bud Selig, many of us dislike him. Many of us think that he just some idiot that got thrown into the commissioners job after the Executive Council of Major League Baseball basically enforced the resignation of Fay Vincient because of the committee having no confidence in him. Selig has made some tough and crazy decisions during his tenure, but the one that I really commend him for and that he stuck too saying that it'll being great for the game and would keep the fans interested later in the season was instituting the Wild Card and Divisional play back in 1994(didn't start up until 1995 because of the strike shortened 1994 season). Now needless to say that he was ridiculed by the baseball purist that this would kill the importance of a pennant race while the others in favor thought that this gave an opportunity to the team(s) that would not win their division but would still have a shot at the post-season. With this Wild Card race that we now have, the importance of August through September is unreal. I get a chance of seeing more baseball being played at a higher level and the games meaning so much down the stretch than if there was still two divisions and one division being over and sitting waiting for the postseason to start. Hey, without divisional play the Red Sox would have never won the World Series. This is great for baseball, what Selig did, and I just want to take this opportunity and say thanks!
Notable changes to Major League Baseball Bud Selig helped introduce to Major League Baseball:
Interleague play
The wild card
Abolition of the National and American League offices and presidencies, and combining all umpiring crews into a common pool for both AL and NL games, instead of having separate pools per league
The Major League Baseball performance-enhancing drug testing policy
The World Baseball Classic
The league that wins the All Star Game will have homefield advantage in the World Series that year.
Bud Selig, many of us dislike him. Many of us think that he just some idiot that got thrown into the commissioners job after the Executive Council of Major League Baseball basically enforced the resignation of Fay Vincient because of the committee having no confidence in him. Selig has made some tough and crazy decisions during his tenure, but the one that I really commend him for and that he stuck too saying that it'll being great for the game and would keep the fans interested later in the season was instituting the Wild Card and Divisional play back in 1994(didn't start up until 1995 because of the strike shortened 1994 season). Now needless to say that he was ridiculed by the baseball purist that this would kill the importance of a pennant race while the others in favor thought that this gave an opportunity to the team(s) that would not win their division but would still have a shot at the post-season. With this Wild Card race that we now have, the importance of August through September is unreal. I get a chance of seeing more baseball being played at a higher level and the games meaning so much down the stretch than if there was still two divisions and one division being over and sitting waiting for the postseason to start. Hey, without divisional play the Red Sox would have never won the World Series. This is great for baseball, what Selig did, and I just want to take this opportunity and say thanks!
Notable changes to Major League Baseball Bud Selig helped introduce to Major League Baseball:
Interleague play
The wild card
Abolition of the National and American League offices and presidencies, and combining all umpiring crews into a common pool for both AL and NL games, instead of having separate pools per league
The Major League Baseball performance-enhancing drug testing policy
The World Baseball Classic
The league that wins the All Star Game will have homefield advantage in the World Series that year.
3 comments:
Although Bud has done some good things for baseball, I still think he hasn't helped promote the game like it could be. I like the Wild Card, making the All-star game mean something and new drug policy. I feel that he has handled the steroid thing wrong and done some other things that could be better. Exs.
1. Alienating Barry Bonds. No matter what is said it is not good to not protect your Best player and HR King. Don't get me wrong, Barry can be a dick but let me ask this question. What if Ken Griffey Jr. never got hurt, broke the HR record instead of Barry and after was found to have done steroids? How do you think this would have been handled? It would have been a tragedy and tears because everyone loves Griffey. But because Barry is who he is, he is scrutinized.
2. Expansion- Although Florida has won two championships, they shouldn't have a team. TB is another team that shouldn't be here. Let's face it, that state is made for retirees and tourists.(sorry Den) No one goes to see those teams play. You have players Carl Crawford, Delmon Young and BJ Upton from TB and D. Willis, Miguel Cabrera and a ton of other young talent for the Marlins. What about shutting down those two clubs and have a dispersal draft. Those guys would be able to play on teams that and be noticed sooner for their talent. It will also make the league stronger. Some of the talent on the teams is more like AAA players.
3. Promote small market teams more. I understand that we live on the East Coast and its all Yankees and Red Sox but how about putting some other teams on TV. We get the Braves cuz of TBS, Mets, and the teams that come to play them but how about making it easier to see some West Coast teams play without paying hundreds of dollars for packages. Also, make it more possible that all teams are able to have a even playing field for ballclubs to pay their players. You say that there is a cap and teams that go over pay luxury tax that helps other teams but it doesn't stop them from going over and it doesn't help the teams like the A's, Twins, Royals, Brewers and the FLA teams keep major players and pay them.
4. No player salary caps. Do you know that A-Rod is going to demand 30 mil a year with his new contract. HUH?! That's absurd! Where will it end?
Some suggestions:
1.Encourage salary caps, both player and team. This way all teams are allowed to have an opportunity to play more competitive baseball deeper into the season.
2. Incorporate a system that forces these tight owners to step up their game. Some of the front offices in the league suck and some of that is because the owners only care about making the almighty dollar. Some of it is they have inferior GMs and front office staff. Why does the Stros not have a team every year not contend for championships. They have Texas money, which is alot, and a great city to play in. The owner is a tight fuck and doesn't want to pay the money for talent (exception: Carlos Lee). They had Carlos Beltran. Why do you think Roger and Andy went back to NY?
3. Incorporate no more guaranteed contracts. NFL does it and players have to play for their money. Baseball is a different game but playing for something adds some of the passion back into the game. I'm so sick of players half assing it through the games. I understand that some of that problem is becasue the league and the players union can't agree on particulars but that would be cool.
4. Decrease the number of games. They play 20+ preseason games, 162 reg. season games and for playoffs they could play up to 15+ games. Thats almost 200 games for you math wizards. Eliminate AL/NL mid season series. Thats why you have the All-star game and the World Series. Drop the season series for teams in divisions to 14 games. More competitive and puts more of a urgency to play with less games.
Hey, I'm not a big fan of Bud so I'm critical. I thought the purpose of the league was to continue to make it it better. Someone who I think could do that, Frank Robinson.-Pitbull
Though I agree with mostly everything you said. and maybe you worded this wrong, but florida should have a baseball team but not in miami and tampa. tourists and retirees was good marc but check every major league roster and see how many of them at some point of their career played in the sunshine state. florida should have a team in the central part of the state this way it's not as hot, the t-storms are slimmer, and you have more people that have money in the central part that would go to a game that's closer than the southern most marlins and the south/west d-rays!
Agreed that Florida has some amazing athletes and believe that they should be represented, I am speaking from what I know. Everytime you see them or here about them its always the same thing. No money, no fans, too hot and humid. How about Jax? Is that a better area? The football team seems to have a good following.- Pitbull
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