TMC
06-27-2004, 04:23 AM
http://www.contractbud.com/?article=apc_budselig
By Adam Conn (http://www.contractbud.com/index.html?archive=apc), Founder
The Call for the Removal of Bud Selig as Commissioner of Baseball
The Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball should be independent of owners, umpires, and players. The office, like umpires, is responsible for the conduct of the game. Even with the Brewers in a "trust", Bud's financial interest in any team sullies any decision he makes
Current behavior of Bud Selig while in office is clearly collusive. He owns one team, and controls the salary of the Expos (with a de facto salary cap in violation of the collective bargaining agreement), and holds influence over suspending other teams players.
Bud Selig has restricted team from relocating to a large metropolitan area hungry for baseball — Washington DC/Northern Virginia — because of the proximity the the existing franchise of Baltimore (itself a relocated franchise). Yet, the Seattle Pilots were relocated to Milwaukee, 90 miles from two existing franchises in Chicago. While Northern Virginia is 45 miles from Baltimore, Chicago supports two franchises, New York two, why not Washington DC and Baltimore, two cities with entirely different personalities and cultures?
Bud Selig allowed the expansion of baseball to a city that could not support it, but several years later claims that too many teams are losing money. If these teams have been losing money all this time, why allow expansion instead of just relocating failing franchises?
Bud Selig has failed to negotiate with the players union during the off-season with any faith. After the World Series, he could have stated that MLB has franchises in trouble and we need to work with the union to preserve jobs. Instead, he tries to bully the union by pushing for a quick contraction.
Jobs — contraction doesn't just eliminate 50 jobs at the major league level. It eliminates hundreds of jobs — stadium vendors, suppliers, grounds crew, etc. The 50 baseball players may get the attention, but a larger economic impact is tied to the ancillary positions supporting the players on the field.
Pete Rose does deserve due process. If he's guilty, which I do suspect he is, allow him to have a hearing. If you have him dead-to-rights, then MLB has nothing to fear, and should press this hearing openly and with expedience. He's not that beloved — he's a step above John Henry Williams at this point. If you don't have him dead-to-rights, then MLB made a greivous error and needs to correct it.
Bud Selig has been keeping secrets. Open the books for major league franchises if you are confident that teams' finances are in peril. Otherwise, MLB has the credibility of Arthur Andersen.
Milwaukee's franchise allegedly posted a profit last year, but attendence is horribly off after a one season boost. Are Bud's Brewers in trouble and is his franchise playing with the numbers? And is Bud under the delusion that contracting the Twins will somehow increase the revenue base for the Brewers? (As if Twins fans would suddenly root for the guy who contracted their young exciting team for a team that can't swing the bat any better than Robert Deniro?)
Open the club. Charles Dolan and Donald Watkins, for example, want franchises and get excluded, but Jeff Loria and John Henry, two of the traditionally cheaper owners in history get to switch teams? Baseball needs to break the color line again — in ownership. Otherwise, players are still picking cotton.
My suggestion is for Selig to step down and create a panel to select a new commissioner. This committee should be comprised of a player union rep, an umpire union rep, an owner representative (which could be Bud if he so desired), a sportswriter rep, and one special representative to serve as the chair of the committee. All members will be bound by a non-disclosure agreement.
If, in a set period of time, the committee cannot find a suitable commissioner, the special representative becomes commissioner for a five-year term. I propose Sol Gittleman (http://www.drew.edu/alumni/outcomes/sgittleman.html), former minor league infielder, former provost of Tufts University, current SABR member, and perhaps the most balanced consensous builder out there. He would be a great commissioner, but chair of the committee would be a great start.
Article last modified July 22
By Adam Conn (http://www.contractbud.com/index.html?archive=apc), Founder
The Call for the Removal of Bud Selig as Commissioner of Baseball
The Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball should be independent of owners, umpires, and players. The office, like umpires, is responsible for the conduct of the game. Even with the Brewers in a "trust", Bud's financial interest in any team sullies any decision he makes
Current behavior of Bud Selig while in office is clearly collusive. He owns one team, and controls the salary of the Expos (with a de facto salary cap in violation of the collective bargaining agreement), and holds influence over suspending other teams players.
Bud Selig has restricted team from relocating to a large metropolitan area hungry for baseball — Washington DC/Northern Virginia — because of the proximity the the existing franchise of Baltimore (itself a relocated franchise). Yet, the Seattle Pilots were relocated to Milwaukee, 90 miles from two existing franchises in Chicago. While Northern Virginia is 45 miles from Baltimore, Chicago supports two franchises, New York two, why not Washington DC and Baltimore, two cities with entirely different personalities and cultures?
Bud Selig allowed the expansion of baseball to a city that could not support it, but several years later claims that too many teams are losing money. If these teams have been losing money all this time, why allow expansion instead of just relocating failing franchises?
Bud Selig has failed to negotiate with the players union during the off-season with any faith. After the World Series, he could have stated that MLB has franchises in trouble and we need to work with the union to preserve jobs. Instead, he tries to bully the union by pushing for a quick contraction.
Jobs — contraction doesn't just eliminate 50 jobs at the major league level. It eliminates hundreds of jobs — stadium vendors, suppliers, grounds crew, etc. The 50 baseball players may get the attention, but a larger economic impact is tied to the ancillary positions supporting the players on the field.
Pete Rose does deserve due process. If he's guilty, which I do suspect he is, allow him to have a hearing. If you have him dead-to-rights, then MLB has nothing to fear, and should press this hearing openly and with expedience. He's not that beloved — he's a step above John Henry Williams at this point. If you don't have him dead-to-rights, then MLB made a greivous error and needs to correct it.
Bud Selig has been keeping secrets. Open the books for major league franchises if you are confident that teams' finances are in peril. Otherwise, MLB has the credibility of Arthur Andersen.
Milwaukee's franchise allegedly posted a profit last year, but attendence is horribly off after a one season boost. Are Bud's Brewers in trouble and is his franchise playing with the numbers? And is Bud under the delusion that contracting the Twins will somehow increase the revenue base for the Brewers? (As if Twins fans would suddenly root for the guy who contracted their young exciting team for a team that can't swing the bat any better than Robert Deniro?)
Open the club. Charles Dolan and Donald Watkins, for example, want franchises and get excluded, but Jeff Loria and John Henry, two of the traditionally cheaper owners in history get to switch teams? Baseball needs to break the color line again — in ownership. Otherwise, players are still picking cotton.
My suggestion is for Selig to step down and create a panel to select a new commissioner. This committee should be comprised of a player union rep, an umpire union rep, an owner representative (which could be Bud if he so desired), a sportswriter rep, and one special representative to serve as the chair of the committee. All members will be bound by a non-disclosure agreement.
If, in a set period of time, the committee cannot find a suitable commissioner, the special representative becomes commissioner for a five-year term. I propose Sol Gittleman (http://www.drew.edu/alumni/outcomes/sgittleman.html), former minor league infielder, former provost of Tufts University, current SABR member, and perhaps the most balanced consensous builder out there. He would be a great commissioner, but chair of the committee would be a great start.
Article last modified July 22