Is Bud Selig doing a good job as the 9th commissioner of MLB?

Question

Keep in mind that he represents the team owners and serves at their pleasure. I am not asking you if you like him as a person or if you didn't like a decision he might have made in support of team owners, I am just asking you if he is doing a good job supporting ownership positions and improving MLB.

For those of you that have a problem with Selig, MLB has set attendance records each of the past four years and reached 77 million last year, do you view this as a good accomplishment on the Selig watch?

Answer 1

I'm not a fan of the wildcard, but it has definitely generated more excitement, which means more regular-season revenues, as well as extra money from an additional round of playoff games. And while I believe interleague play has run its course, there's no arguing with the excitement of a Subway Series or other rivalries that have thrived since its inception.

I think the point you make about serving the owners is one that people tend to forget. Selig often comes across as not paying attention to the wishes of the fans, but the fans are note his employers. He needs to take into account our feelings only so far as they impact baseball itself.

Although there wasn't much fanfare about it, Selig should also get some credit for helping put into place with the players' union and owners a new CBA that allowed play to continue without interruption or the threat of a strike for the first time in years. I'm sure many fans would have liked a salary cap, but the owners obviously didn't feel it was a big enough need to really fight for it, and the game doesn't seem to be suffering for its exclusion.

Record attendance, expanded TV deals, strong merchandise sales, a smooth CBA negotiation, and popular ideas like the wildcard and interleague play - it's tough to argue against Bud at this point. He may not be the favorite of all fans, but he's certainly doing what he was hired to do.

Answer 2

No he's not doing a good job. He's gutless & lets the Players Union run all over him. look how gutless he was declaring the all star game in 2002 b/c the managers moaned that they had nobody else in the lineup. That's pure gutless. You think the Commissioners of the Nfl Nba or Nhl would stop an all star game b/c it's tied? Heck no. If I'm paying lots of money to watch the all star game i better get a winner. That being said he also knew there was a steroid problem & looked the other ways until congress forced him to do somethng about it. He's a gutless leader & him along with Donald Fehr are a big reason why Baseball is the way it is right now.

Answer 3

From a purely business standpoint, Selig has done a fantastic job. Not only is baseball's attendance up since he became commissioner, but the interest in the game is up as well all of which translates to higher revenues.

Now, the problem with Selig is that, unlike some of his predecessors and peers in other sports, he lacks a dynamic individual presence. When compared to guys like Pete Rozelle and Roger Goodell (NFL), David Stern (NBA), and Bowie Kuhn (MLB), Selig is a wallflower who doesn't readily accept the limelight.

Answer 4

No.
The problem with Selig is that he always reacts to problems rather than be proactive. He way too "PC", always looking to see where the political winds are blowing. When he does act, he does so in a wishy-washy manner.
The best example is the whole issue of whether he attend or not attend the game Barry Bonds breaks the HR record. Just make your decision one way or the other and be on with it.

Answer 5

I believe he has done a lot of good things. Making the All-Star game count was not one of them...well, let me change that...if the managers & players got to pick the starters, and they got rid of the every team needs to be represented rule, then it would be a great idea. But he has done so many good things. He has handled the Bonds' stuff poorly though.

Attendance is up...there are more quality teams now because of Revenue Sharing...Considering the egos he has to deal with, he has done very well.

Now, if he does not attend Barry's 756th, then he takes a giant leap down in my book. He has always represented the game well...he doesn't need to fail on it's biggest moment.

Answer 6

I think he is doing the best job he can. However, I would NOT attribute increase in attendance at ball games as an accomplishment of Selig. Rather it is because of exciting pennant races and some great baseball.

Chow!!

Answer 7

Horrible job. He has allowed teams to build stadiums that do not meet MLB minimum standards, the steroid scandal (which he knew about and did nothing until Bonds started getting close), having the winning division get home field advantage in the world series - utter BS, a tie in the all star game, no rotation for the all star game...

Answer 8

The owners certainly think so; the job is his to keep for the asking. Seligula has been very successful at selling the game and making it piles of money. Since that's what the owners want most, they are rather happy with his performance.

When he leaves, though, I won't miss him (except possibly in comparison to his successor).

Answer 9

In terms of making it 'Americas Past-time' again after the strike, yes he has. In terms of players like Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, etc... NO.

Overall, If I had to assign him a grade I'd give him a C- (mainly because there has been good things, but the good things -- like the home run chase between Sosa and McGuire -- was because he was lackluster on steroid patrol).

Answer 10

ok kid, here it comes.... NO! the very notion that he serves at the owners' pleasure is jackass. Mr. Selig couldn't decide his way out of a wet paper sack. he's a used car salesman from middle WI, USA and very little more.