I'd like to hear what you think of baseball's commissioner, Bud Selig. Is he doing a good job?

Question

What changes do you think MLB should go through to make it more popular?

Answer 1

Horrible Job !!!!!! I only hope the next Commisioner will be in the mold of Bartlett Giamatti.

Answer 2

Bud Selig has been an absolute train wreck as commissioner. He will do anything to make a buck, probably because he was an owner and baseball owners have typically been the greediest people in baseball. He was AN OWNER during the first eleven years of his term as Commissioner, so there is no doubt he had a conflict of interest in making so many of the bad decisions he did- expanding the playoffs, sellling part of the postseason to cable, deeming that all World Series games would be at night, and finally deciding that the All-Star game would decided World Series homefield.

First, baseball needs to play more day games. I know they want ESPN money, but get rid of the Sunday night game of the week and force Fox or whatever network wants to have a Saturday afternoon game of the week- EVERY WEEK. Baseball is the national pastime, not college football.

Second, play at least the Saturday World Series games at 1pm or 4pm. Night games in October in St. Louis, Detroit, New York, or any cold weather location alters the way the game is played. Plus, children on the East Coast haven't been awake for a World Series game in twenty years.

Third, institute a rule where you miss a season if caught with performance enhancing drugs and you are banned from baseball if caught twice. There needs to be almost zero tolerance.

Fourth, cut interleague play down to one series a year between a rival team from each league. Everyone loves Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, Giants-A's. No one likes Marlins- Twins.

Answer 3

He's done OK. He's made some bad decisions (first steroid offense was once only 10 games, calling 2002 All Star game a tie) and nearly let the league get into a lockout a few years ago, but he eventually corrected the steroid suspensions for the better and has made some good decisions. Here's some things I would change in baseball:
1. When a team wants to intentionally walk a batter, the pitcher should just have to throw one pitch well outside the zone to signify a walk. I think it's boring to watch all 4 balls be thrown and except for Miguel Cabrera last year no batter has actually swung at an intential walk pitch. It also slows down the game and just makes everyone boo.
2. Allow instant replay for strike/ball calls, fair or foul calls, or anything else that might cause debate. Either instant replay or a small group of umpires whose specific job it is to watch the game and make the correct call.

Answer 4

Selig should not even be commissioner. When baseball owners first decided they needed one, they were unanamous in there decision that whomever they hired must have NO interst in baseball. Thus they hired a judge, Kenesaw Mountain Landis during the infamous 1919 Cicago'Blacksox Scandal'. Selig was the owner of the Brewers. This is having an interest in baseballl. When he learned he was being considered for the job , he immediatly "sold "the team to his daughter. Talk about scoffing at the rules!! As far as changes to the game goes, there is only one answer,GET RID OF ALL PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS AND ALL THOSE THAT USE THEM INCLUDING BONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

In the long run, he'll probably be remembered as the best. Baseball is bigger again, not as good as it was right before the homerun chases got busted for 'roids, but he's internationalized the hell out of it and all that. He's going to get a ton of credit.

I do wish he would show some authority and kick out Bonds. I think he has that authority. I never wanted to be a Bonds hater, but he's about to break the games most hallowed record and he's a cheater. Selig should just stop him flat-out.

Answer 6

I think he's an adequate Commissioner, at best. His problem is that he's very reactionary - he doesn't deal with potential problems (such as steroids) until forced to, and has no visionary sense in expanding the popularity of the sport. Baseball's popularity has declined in comparison to other major sports under his tenure and he has done practically nothing to address the problems leading to that decline. He has consistently shown favoritism toward the interests of large market teams (in scheduling and in the huge economic disparity between teams) and, while that may bring in more money in the short term, in the long term it will have the effect of killing the sport's popularity in the smaller markets that provide much of the fan base.

Answer 7

Bud Selig needs to act with a little more strength. He's somewhat ineffectual thus far with the steroids issue, only acting on the spur of Congress.
MLB more popular? I'd suggest if they can remove the taint of drug scandal, that'd help.
But who knows? NFL gets a clean slate on that, despite the obvious. NFL *IS* the teflon sport!

Answer 8

He is doin' a good job, except for the steroid part. The punishment for it should be much higher than it already is. If your a young player taking steroids for a month, 6 months suspension. If you have been taking it for years, an auto expulsion from the MLB and deleted stats. Its not fair that Rafael Palmiero got suspened for just 15 days, but he had been taking it for years.

Answer 9

i think bud has been pretty bad overall...he made one good move by putting in the wildcard, but other than that he has made uninformed and poor decisions time and time again...turning off the entire fan base of the game by calling a tie in the all-star game, then overreacting to that mistake by allowing home field in the WS to be determined by that game...he showed up late to the game on the steroids issue and took way too long to go to the players association and demand more severe punishments(which are not severe enough anyways)...his stupid fights with donald fehr and the labor union seem never-ending, and all-around he has just not dealt with baseball well as a whole

in changing the game, i agree with the guy above me, you need to ELIMINATE cheaters, not slap them on the wrist

Answer 10

Bud Selig is a JOKE!!!!....He knew about all the steroids being used and he accepted it until the government stepped in.