Selig Needs To Go

Selig has to be the worst commissioner in sports. He has been the head of the MLB during the whole steroid thing and yet somehow got a bye. You really think he didn't know what was going on? But let's forget all that and just look at what he has been doing lately.

We can start with the All-Star Game. The least important game of the season decides who gets home field advantage in the most important series of the year. The game means so little that players don't even show up. In a 162 games season, who can blame them? That's not even adding spring training and the playoffs (if they are lucky). Just doesn't make any sense. Did anyone really give a shit about this game last night? I know I should because it "means something", but I just don't.

Selig has also been the leader during a time in the MLB when more then 10 teams are in serious debt. Sure the times are tough, but can anyone sit here and say that baseball has lost ground to a lot of other sports? I could make the argument that not only the NFL has passed it, but the NBA as well. Why is this happening? Some of it is uncontrollable. Sports go through their up and downs, but baseball has it's way of making the games more appealing and never want to change (pitch clock, 1 mound visit per inning, no leaving batters box, ect). People don't want to sit through a 4 1/2 hour game. I mean I don't mind, but the average fan will not stand for it anymore.

On top of that he never got control of player contracts. Why the hell is anyone making 25 million a year when a team is losing money. That's foolish. Why is there no salary cap? Why is their no spending minimum? Also... Foolish.

Bottom line is Selg should've been gone after the whole steroid mess, but even if we for whatever give him a pass for all that, what has he done that's been good for the game? The Wild Card teams, that's about it (and there should actually be another one).

Fuck Selig.

Dodgers File For Bankruptcy

"The Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in a Delaware court Monday, blaming Major League Baseball for refusing to approve a multibillion-dollar TV deal that owner Frank McCourt was counting on to keep the troubled team afloat.

The Chapter 11 financing permits the Dodgers to use $150 million for daily operations and buys time for the team to seek a media deal and ensure the team's long-term financial stability, the Dodgers said in a news release. A judge would need to approve use of the money and a hearing is set for Tuesday (Sportsline)."

This is the first step in McCourt trying to fight the MLB and keep his team. I don't think in the long run he will be able to hold on, especially if half the expenses that were rumored before are true. I wish they would just let a good owner come in, but with the way this is going it's going to take years to straighten it all out. What also makes it tough is that there are a ton of companies involved (one owns parking lot, ect). It's just a mess, and it's sucks for LA fans, because until this is all fixed they are going to be terrible.

Expanding The MLB Playoffs

There has been a lot of talk over the last couple of weeks about the MLB expanding it's MLB playoffs. Selig talked about this last night before Game 2 of the World Series. He wants to expand the playoffs from 8 teams to 10, and the Players Union seems to agree and wants to expand the division series to 7 games.

So what do I think?

At first I thought this is really stupid. The season is already too long, and I like that it is really tough to make the playoffs. If somehow they are able to push this through there is 1 thing that HAVE TO DO...

Make the MLB season shorter....by a lot.

If the MLB cut their season to 120 games instead of the 162 they have now then I would be far less against it. There are only 2 reason not to make the MLB season shorter. Teams not wanting to lose the ticket sales, and all stats would go out the window.

The MLB owners losing money is the best argument. Although if they expand the playoffs at least those teams would probably be OK, but overall this would be the biggest hurdle.

As for the "stats", I really don't think that matters anymore. After all the steroid stuff, and people wanting numbers in and out of the record books, I just think they should say fuck it and move on. There is no easy answer to all those "steroid era" stats, and maybe just moving on would be the best.

In the end, I hope nothing happens, but if they want to expand the playoffs I think they HAVE TO make the season considerably shorter.

Can't Believe It, Selig Did Something Right!

I have ripped Selig for a lot of things he has done (steroids, all-star game, ect), but he got this one right. MLB commissioner Bud Selig is ignoring calls to move next year's All-Star Game from Phoenix because of Arizona's new immigration law.

Thank you!

Listen no matter how you feel about that law the MLB should not be involved. It is a sport, and just because there happens to be Latinos in the league, doesn't mean the MLB needs to back it. You know what's great about the Latino's in the MLB? They have to be legal to play...There ya go, so yea I am glad Selig didn't feel the need to get involved with this.

MLB Getting Rid Of DH?

"Baseball commissioner Bud Selig proudly announced the formation of his "special committee for on-field matters" on Tuesday. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if Selig may have set up the mechanism that could at some point lead to the elimination of the designated hitter.

The committee, which meets for the first time next month in Phoenix, will examine issues such as scheduling, umpiring, the strike zone and pace of game. It will be baseball's answer to the NFL's competition committee and Rogers writes that "the DH rule could face its first real threat since the American League accepted it permanently for the 1976 season, after a three-year experiment that began as a way to create run scoring and increase attendance."

Rogers cautions that any such talk is premature, but noted that two of the committee members, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and longtime Braves executive John Schuerholz, listed the DH as the one thing they potentially would change if they could. Don't expect a change anytime soon. Ending the DH would need the approval of the Players' Association, which would oppose the elimination of the high-paying jobs (ESPN)."

Let me start by saying I don't see this happening at all. The Player's Association would never let this happen, because highly paid players would be out of a job (Thome, Ortiz, ect). Saying that, I still think it is silly that the NL doesn't have it, and the AL does. I think it really gives an advantage to the AL, and they can take a chance on a guy with a longer contract since at worst they can throw him into the DH spot. I would be fine if they changed that rule, but they won't so it kind of doesn't matter.

Selig: Less Time Off During Playoffs

"There is too much standing around in the postseason. There were extra off days in the middle of series and too many days after the end of the regular season. The Yankees should not have been able to get away with using only three starters. No team should. The game should be the same one played during the season. Angels manager Mike Scioscia complained about it and it seems Bud Selig was listening.

“We’re going to change it,” Selig told reporters in Chicago today. “I don’t disagree with Mike Scioscia. I think he was right, so we’re going to try and tighten that up. When you plan the playoff schedule, you don’t know how many games the first round would go. So it’s difficult. There were clubs that sat around. Some were necessary, but some were not (Boston.com).”

I 100% agree. There is way too much time off. No team should be able to go with just 3 pitchers. In no way am I taking anything away from the Yankees, because if you can take advantage you should, but this is something that has to change. Good to see Selig at least seems to be on top of it.

Its, been a while but heres some shit Ive been thinking bout....

-First off, I can't help but just come out and say it...the steroid era has turned my favorite sport into nothing more than another WWE. The integrity of the game has been compensated to the point were I find myself having little interest in it, which is heart breaking when you look back and realize that your hole baseball watching life has been a sham because of greedy fucks trying to make an extra buck playing a childs game. Have of the players on this list I was not surprised about...come on Nomar gained fucking 30 pounds of muscle in one off season and in turn ruined his career because of it. But, at this point looking back I and not very surprised that Ortiz is named, the guy sucked ball sack before he came to Boston. Nixon was very surprising despite the fact he only really produced a few seasons 20+ home run seasons, Derek Lowe...man something had to give considering how shockingly durable he has been throughout his career. All I can really come to a conclusion on is the Selig must go much like the head of the players association has.

-Next point, looking back on past success of championship teams and seasons one thing has become evident, no team will win on what they start out with at the beginning of the season. Much like the pitching and batting approaches of players on a regular basis, teams must make changes to enhance their clubs throughout the course of the season. With this being said, the Red Sox need to make some moves to better themselves for the playoff run. Rumors of Garrett Atkins and Yunel Escobar being available have drawn my interest more than the names of Johnson, Holliday, and the other names being dangled out there. Atkins has been less than spectacular this year but that comes as good news for teams looking for a bat with pop for far less value than he had last year, plus this guy reminds me of Jason Bay a shut up and get to work player who is great in the club house...Lowell isn't A-Rod so the its very unlikely his hip will sustain itself the rest of the way. Now Escobar, regardless of what Nick Green has done he is not a starting short stop, and Jed Lowrie is just an over glorified utility man. Escobar is a great defensive shortstop that has a quality offensive game to go with it, to be quite honest other than Buchholtz I dont think anyone else on the farm is or should be untouchable. The Red Sox have strength in that they can develop great quality pitching, but they lack the ability to produce productive everyday players(despite Dusty, Youk, Elsburry). I don't know what the deal is but at some point these first round picks they make have got to produce corner stones players at the shortstop or third base position.

-Finally, while baseball has sucked every faith I have in it out of me the NBA has reemerged as the most enjoyable sporting events to watch other than the Pats making the NFL their bitches for the past decade. The C's have started to realize that you can't be successful for the same group year in and year out which draws my interest on what they will do to remold and hopefully improve their team for the up coming season. One thing is for sure is that Eddie Fucking House will be back for another year where he takes more shots than minuets he plays in a season. Sure, last year he proved to be some what valuable with all the injuries that took place on the roster but how is he in any way what they need in a back up point guard. Call me crazy, but isnt a point guard supposed to make those around him better like Rondo does? Isnt he supposed to be able to run an offense and keep the other teams guard in check? Danny Ainge has done some great things in Boston, but has also done some very questionable things as well(Gerald Green droping from top ten to 19 draft raises questions just by how it happened, Eddie House getting a player option). Did anyone for one second believe that House wasnt going to pick up this option? Come on can any of you actually say to yourselves that he was going to get more money than what he has already been offered. All I know is that if this in any way hinders the teams possibilities to resign Marbury we will all be looking back and shacking our heads when Starbury fully regains his swagger and averages 10+ points, 5+ assists a game for a championship caliber team.

MLB Prospects Getting Deported?

"Commissioner Bud Selig has given Major League Baseball's security division an open checkbook in an attempt to clean up off-field scandals in the Dominican Republic and other foreign countries. Major League Baseball has officers in the Dominican Republic who are cooperating with the FBI in at least two major scandals implicating the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals involving falsified birth records, kickback scandals and smuggling of performance-enhancing drugs that evaded security -- and former Sen. George Mitchell's investigation into the use of PEDs in MLB -- until recently (ESPN)."

If I was an owner I would be all for this. We have seen time and again players lying about their age, which helps them get better contracts. It seems that the Nationals, and White Sox are in the middle of this scandal. What remains to be seen is if they will actually go as far as to deport these players. Steroids are also playing a major part in this, as more and more players from DR are getting caught with steroids (or at least thought to be involved). It will be interesting to see if this will affect the number of foreign born players that will be signed by MLB teams.

Also, DP better hope his boy Dayan isn't involved....

Just a few things...

-First off, I can't be happier that the Yankees are now going from the greatest franchise history to the greatest franchise in history to harbor steroid users. The best part is they still don't win. Special thanks to Giambi and A-Rod for solidifying their place in history as useless steroid users that can't win when it counts. I used to have respect for them, though I hate them, but its too bad that the sporting dilemma has gone from bad to worse.

-The news of A-Rod is not really surprising in our generation of roider's and cheats. Personally I don't believe that roids give that much of an advantage in baseball because either u can hit or throw or you can't. The distance and velocity doesn't mean shit if the player doesn't have the talent initially to make in to the show. However i was baffled that only A-Rod was called out on this list, either give up everyone or no one at all.

-I hate Bud Selig, this guy has fucked up big time. He did the right thing to take the necessary steps to deter steroid users from continuing their faulty decision making. But come on, why was this list that came out show up on the Mitchell report? I think its a conspiracy because he is no fool to letting his most marketable name be link with the use of performance enhancers. Like our country as a whole its time for baseball to go in a different direction and be lead by someone with youth and knowledge of the changing times to make the necessary changes that the sport needs to take to remain, and in some regards regain its role as the most followed sport in our culture. Plus, how do you fuck up an all star game? Seriously what kind of ass clown do you have to be to accomplish this?

-Well, well, well TO got cut. This is no surprise cause this guy is a selfish little cock sucking bitch that cries when his team can succeed without him being the cause. While Terrell has compiled hall of fame numbers he will never win a Super Bowl, and will continue his league wide merry-go-round of fucking each organization side ways until he retires. I can't say adding this threat won't provide results for the Bills, but they will never win with him and hopefully for the sake of Edwards and Lee he doesn't fuck up their continuity and deter them from progressing and improving year in and year out. Fuck you TO you fucking franchise ruiner.

-I have been enjoying the WBC this time around. Did the Netherlands really knock out the DR what the fuck is that about? I guess its true what they say that anyone can win on any given day. Who the fuck would have thought it would have been two loses to the fucking Netherlands. I don't know what to think about this, I am just baffled a team full of MLB stars can loose to a team that has two players in the show. Otherwise, this tournament has been entertaining with the USA make Venezuela their bitches, Japan showing that no one can compete with them in the general Asian area, and the entertaining play from guys who are auditioning for possible future MLB contracts a la Dice-K in the 2006 WBC.

-As for the Pats moving Cassell and Vrabel, I like the move because it allows them to sure up cap space to bring in more and younger players to fill the holes that fucked them in the ass last year. I would have loved to see a better draft choice but I trust in the brilliance of the hoody. I just love the out come of Cutler showing the world the bitch that he really is. My thoughts of the rumors surrounding him is that he shouldn't be surprised that he was shopped, hell who in their right mind wouldn't want a QB molded into the likes of Tom Brady, one of the greatest signal callers of all time? Oh and Culter get the sand out of your cunt and play, your making millions to play a sport that you just may be overrated in.

-Finally, Clay Buchholtz is showing the dominance that the Sox have been coveting for the last three years. I love this, I love seeing everyone jumping back on his nuts and proclaiming that he is nasty. My fellow blogger's kicked the kid when he was down saying he wasn't shit because he lost himself last year, but as usual people are quick to come to conclusions and down play the potential that our athletes posses. These signs of maturity and growth only adds to the prospects of the up coming season for the Sox. Be ready fans for a vastly improved pitcher that will make an unexpected, to you doubters, productivity. I believe that his reemergance will allow Tito and Epstien to keep Masterson in the bullpen to get those most out of their your pitchers.

Selig To Suspend A-Rod?

"Baseball was still trying to decide Wednesday if it will discipline Alex Rodriguez for his admitted use of banned substances while playing for the Texas Rangers. Commissioner Bud Selig is considering his options (ESPN)."

There is no way he can suspend A-Rod for testing positive, because it was before the MLB had a drug testing policy. The only way I could see him going after A-Rod is if the MLB is going to start stepping in for "off the field issues" like the NFL does. Surprisingly, I think they should leave A-Rod alone, he is going to go through hell because of his admission, and most likely will not make it into the Hall of Fame. To me that is punishment enough for a guy who could have been known as the best player to ever pick up a bat.

MLB Finally Getting Replay

ESPN is reporting "Major league ballparks are being wired for instant replay, and commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday his "confidence is growing" that the technology to assist umpires will be ready soon. Selig said he has visited the so-called "war room" in New York where officials would review video feeds of disputed home runs. The NHL has a similar setup in Toronto".

It is about that it's about damn time. There is no reason not to have a replay for HRs, because having all the umpires come together to mess up a call takes just as long as picking up a phone and finding out for sure wheather it was a HR or not.

-BMack