If you were commissioner....

[Trots]

If I pulled a coup d'etat, forced Bud back into used car sales and let you be commissioner (like I wouldn't appoint myself), what would you do with MLB?

Feel free to be specific. If you know how to correct the labor issues, please offer those details. Short-term ideas to long term plans, I'm curious as to just how much we all differ on what we think the game needs.

Here are some of my immediate ideas:

A) Make sure that tickets price are cut in half, for the remainder of this season, for every seat, in places that are seemingly out of the pennant races. Detroit, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, heck, even Montreal could use the potential boost. With a possible strike looming, these clubs can use all the extra revenue and it's just a good PR move. Btw, MLB Audio should be free for the rest of this endangered season.

B) Make August 16 Babe Ruth Day. Ruth is probably the game's biggest star ever and as history is such an enormous part of the game, he should get honored annually. Each year, the home clubs will pass out a Ruth collectible of some sort and have a pre-game ceremony in Ruth's memory (even if it's limited to a video). As Ruth was known to love kids, children should get in at a discounted rate that day, too. FYI- August 16 is, according to the book on my desk, the anniversary of Ruth's death.

C) Finalize plans for a World Cup of baseball. International All-Star teams should meet either every two or four years to determine a champion. I know the potential down-side of injuries, but the upside is far too great to be ignored. The event should take place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Winter Meetings should be held at the same time. There should also be a tournament the week before for amatuers using the identical format. I could go on and on about this idea, but it's really a no-brainer. That's why it hasn't been done by MLB, yet.

D) Make sure that one of the cable networks broadcasts at least one minor league and college game of the week. The NFL and NBA have extra interest from the visibility of their future players while only diehards (i.e., Baseball America subscribers) know guys like Mark Teixeira or Sam Fuld. Many of those who do know the names haven't seen the guys play. It's time to change that.

E) Make every game available on the MLB Extra Innings package. If I am stupid enough to pay for it, I should get all the games. And yes, I am stupid enough.

F) Pay to get the metal bats out of the colleges. Yes, this will cost money. However, it will not only lessen the danger to potential future MLB players, but it will make judging their talents a bit more easy. It's time to mend some fences with college coaches anyway.

G) Raise the mound.

H) Increase the size of the strike zone. The traditional, rule book defined one would be fine.

I) Make a DH decision. I would eliminate it. Having two sets of rules is ridiculous. Besides the game was meant to be played with the pitcher's batting.

J) Move the Expos to Washington, DC. Assuming there is a group in position to make this transition. Honestly, I'm not convinced that another DC franchise would work, but I'm tired of hearing the complaining. They will be the Senators. I'm not offering them a choice in names.

K) Allow teams to trade draft choices.

L) Make the draft a world-wide venture. I actually think this will happen if they ever get a new CBA.

That's a start. I'll save my thoughts on the CBA for another post. What would you do?

[GiveHyzduashot]

Well gee Brian, how can you expect anyone else to comment on how to fix the game when you cover every main point? :biggrin:

Just kidding though, great post.

M) Fix the draft structure so it's like the NBA, where each pick is slotted with so much money. And if the player doesn't sign, the team holds his rights to next year's draft, college player or not. If a college player signs a contract during season, he obviously would forfeit the remainder of his scolarship.

I don't know if that would fall under the CBA or what else.

Great points on letters B and C. B is a great idea. I'd send that along to someone like Stark to see if he could get at least some of that publicity.

[Trots]

Josh, I know I'm missing a number of topics. For instance:

M) Balance the inter-league schedule. I know Mets/Yankees, Indians/Reds, Cubs/White Sox series are easy money, but really one division should play another each season. Ex: AL East vs. NL West. If the Yanks go to Arizona this year, AZ should visit NY the next. The divisions should rotate so that in six years, each team has played the entire other league in a home and home series.

I don't know how I missed that one. As for the Ruth Day, years before MLB retired Jackie Robinson's number, I read a story where an ex-Ruth teammate suggested that not only should Ruth's number be retired at the MLB level, but at every level. He thought everyone, including little leaguers, shouldn't wear it. Ruth was that big and that important in his mind. We really can't go back and retire Ruth's number, like Robinson's, but he merits some sort of recognition.

The World Cup idea is long overdue. I've got a very big vision of an international baseball festival over two-three weeks. Coaches conferences, HOF display, memorablia show, autograph sessions, the two tournaments, MLB Winter Meetings, MLB draft maybe?, etc... I just think the possibilities are endless.

Anyway, I sure some would disagree with my points and still others would have something to add. I haven't even gotten to the labor problems.

[GiveHyzduashot]

How about realignment? I just remembered that one.

I think at some point something will need to be done to realign the divisions, or move teams. I was attempting to draw up a scratch realignment plan, but it's pretty hard to do given the geography of the teams.

The NL East is easy geographically (Pittsburgh, Philly, Mets, Expos (assuming move to Washington), and Cincinatti), but after that, none of the other NL divisions would work out. The current divisions are a mess.

[Trots]

It might be time to consider moving teams into different leagues, if your plan can't work as the leagues are structured now.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Well Brian, I moved Milwaukee back to the AL and it still wasn't a perfect fit.

NL East
Pittsburgh
Philly
Cincinatti
Montreal/Washington
NYM

NL Central
St Louis
Houston
Chicago Cubs

NL West remains the same


AL East
Boston
NYY
Baltimore
Cleveland
???

AL Central
Milwaukee
Minnesota
White Sox
Kansas City
Detroit

AL West remains the same.

After that it's pretty much a crapshoot. The two most logical teams to go in the NL "central" would be the Braves and Marlins, yet none of those teams are centrally located. None really fit in the east or west, either. If you put one of the two teams in the east, who moves out of the east?

In the AL, Toronto and Tampa Bay aren't in a division. Toronto probably fits best in the central, but that's not a good fit, either. Tampa Bay doesn't fit anywhere.

[Dirt Merchant]

having all of those things change is idealistic, but not realistic.


on your points:
a) see point #1 below

b) it would be nice but i don't think it would help the game itself since the Bambino can't make an appearance... besides Yankee stadium ghost

c) well we kinda have a world cup of baseball in the form of the olympics every 4 years ... perhaps a model of the little league world series where the us winner plays the world winner would work

d) AMEN! Halleluiah! Excellent point ....

e) the blackout rule is a good one IMO. how many people in milwaukee would get off their buts to go to a game if they knew every game would be on in their home or favorite corner bar ? Miller beer wouldn't go out of business - the brewers would.

f) i still feel college is an educational league - the sport is not the primary objective for most players in college, it is a paid path to a good education - most will never see single A.

g) yep ... it shouldn't go back as high as pre-1969 but a slight lift would help some of the horrible pitching stats we see - you would have a lower overall ERA and I guaranter complete games would not be as few and far between as they once were

you'd probably die of a heart attack by this stage :P

I would also:

1) institute a salary cap - then we can talk about cutting prices for tix but that is very unlikely. Possibly force teams to have three $1 bleacher seat home games per month

2) Scrap interleague play

3) move all-star game to 1 week after world series and remove 1 per team rule except for host team. also institute 4 per team max. and 3 per IF position.

4) Play world series in Cooperstown

[Trots]

Dirt, not surprisingly, I disagree with the thought that my ideas are unrealistic. I do agree that they are idealistic, but there is absolutely no reason why any or all of these ideas can't be made into reality.

A) MLB is going to lose more money than even they care to think about with a strike looming, especially in the towns where the teams are struggling, so why not cut tickets prices in half? Fans are going to stay away in droves as a potential strike date draws near. I'd rather have a few more paying customers before any shutdown occurs. The teams would still make normal revenue on concessions and parking. I'm in no way proposing a permanent ticket cut. Just the remainder of 2002.

B) Ruth Day doesn't necessarily help the game, other than filling ballparks with souvenir seekers trying to get a potential collectible to re-sell on e-bay, other than it keeps the game's history alive. It also honors one of the game's most important players and would do something that other sports don't. Right now, baseball is more history than present. Perhaps, it's time to latch on to some of that appeal.

C) Olympic baseball as it stands now is not a viable alternative. First, the summer games happen amidst the MLB regular season and there is no rational reason to interrupt the season to haul these players all over the world to play. I don't care what anyone else thinks, when you stop your league's game to play in the Olympics the implication is that the pursuit of their championship is more important than the pursuit of yours. Even Bud knows that. That's why MLB players aren't there now.

In addition, why should the Olympics cash in on something that MLB, the MLBPA and it's sponsors could? The Olympics are run by even more greedy swines than MLB. The IOC is also threatening to eliminate the sport if MLB players don't participate soon. I say let them keep ballroom dancing and the MLB control the game's international all-star contest.

Again, I'm looking at a two or three week baseball festival that will keep baseball in the news, probably even in a positive light, during the depths of winter every two to four years. It could also provide an additional revenue stream.

D) We agree!

E) My thought is that the game is stuck in the old days in regards to tv. People used to think radio broadcasts would limit attendance and those were available for free. Seriously, how many games are being seen in all fifty states? How easy is it for someone in North Carolina to "their" team? I have MLB Extra Innings and I'm amazed at the number of times the game I would like to see isn't on.

Right now, it costs about $150 dollars to see around 40 extra games a week. Of the forty, the games involving the local team are already blacked out. Make those of us stupid enough to pay for it, pay even more to see what we want. I admit this MAY cut attendance in cities that have lousy teams. I would offer this, though. I can already see as many as twelve games a night. Would being able to see every game, every night be that much different?

In addition, if the fans aren't willing to shell out the thirty to one hundred dollars it costs to attend a MLB game, they probably wouldn't pay the $200 plus to watch every game. I could be wrong, but it's worth a shot. MLB has to get more exposure. You don't even want to know what I think they should do with the internet if you don't like this idea.

F) What do you mean by educational league? If you are saying that the NCAA is really more of a minor league training-type of situation, then I concur to a point. If that's your perspective, that's even more reason to provide them with the bats. If you are thinking that NCAA baseball is still about academics, I have bad news about the Easter Bunny. College baseball players, particularly the good ones, have been leaving school early longer than any other sport. Turnover in college baseball is enormous. The next day the NCAA is about academics will be the first.

On to your thoughts.

1) Salary caps are really in their infancy. There no evidence, in my little mind, that they will work long term. One like the NFL has would be disasterous. The NBA's softer cap is better, but I'm not quite ready to buy into that either. I might take a salary cap, if the players are made partners in the sport or if there is a salary floor. Without a minimum of spending there will be just too many Buds running around crying. I live in a city that is a top ten media market, but you would think we are in the bottom one hundred judging by the owner. It costs big money to be a MLB owner, don't get in if you can't play. (Again, I should note I am only promoting a ticket cut for the rest of 2002 and only in the cities with little chance of making the playoffs.)

2) I understand the objection to interleague play. However, why should players like Sosa and Bonds spend fifteen years or more in the majors, but people in places with AL teams can't watch them play in person at some point? Even in towns where attendance is poor, the arrival of a star from an opposing team might sell a few more tickets. Seems to me that everyone compares MLB with the NBA or NFL and both those sports have interconference play, why shouldn't baseball?

3) It's funny, I thought about this today, too. I also figured out some of downside. It would be November. A number of northern cities couldn't host the game. It would also make it seem more like the Pro Bowl, which is horrible. It would be nice for the players, though.

4) I love Cooperstown, but they just can't (and probably don't want to) handle the logistics of hosting the World Series. I think they would like to keep their community free of the wave of chain restaurants, hotels and other such things that would accompany a World Series.

It's time for MLB to think bigger. They need to lead the way for a change. I really think some progressive thinking would go a long way. I, obviously, think my plans are rather small and pretty simple. They may seem idealistic, okay they are, but that's only because we've grown accustom to seeing this league run amuck. The biggest problem with my concept is that all of it is predicated on a new CBA being reached which looks less likely day-by-day.

Thanks for adding your thoughts, Dirt. Josh and I can't run the world by ourselves, can we, Josh?

[Dirt Merchant]

my point was the ideas by themselves can be considered realistic ... all of them as a whole being completed is idealistic. at least imo - but I like the way you think about stuff :P

with baseball losing money, it makes it extremely difficult to cut prices. it's a band-aid fix to the bigger problems. yes, $1 bleacher nights bring out people - cheap people that sneak in a 6 pack - or the families on a budget with 4 or 5 kids that leave in 6th inning of the only game they see all year - they aren't the fans buying $6 beers, $4 hot dogs, a pennant and sweatbands. They buy their peanuts at the supermarket and bring little goldfish for the kiddies - hell, I do for my kids and maybe a small flask for daddy! :biggrin:

the other problem imo with cutting prices in half for such a long period is that the novelty wears off and the fans get used to it. if you come back next season and raise prices, fans will be angry and you will be back to square 1.
=====
The IOC is without a doubt the most corrup sports organization in the world ... well - except Columbia's soccer org - those guys are like the freakin Sopranos
======
a 2-3 week festival sounds good - but it would be a huge effort, basically like running the olympics - the draft definitely needs more publicity and that would make an excellent high visibility venue.
=======
i have the extra innings package as well - and the NFL ticket and I have 3 TV's going - I'm sick like that! my team is the Giants so I get to see almost every game ... i can imagine it is frustrating not being able to watch your local team. I like to watch a good game, and that's not always the giants or a's - and with the ticket prices at pac bell - i'm getting off cheap!

a salary cap would help level the playing field as it has in the NFL ... teams go from 4th or 5th to 2nd or sometimes 1st the next season. Who thought the 49ers would be 12-4 last year .... nobody - .500 was even a question mark. teams can rebuild quicker in the NFL than they can in MLB. As badly as Cleveland wants to go that route, they will have a tough time off-loading everyone they would like to. Even if they pulled off every deal they wanted they would still be 3 years away from possible contention.

as the playing field is leveled by the cap, teams become more competitive across the league, more tickets get sold in a balance, more games are on TV=more TV revenue which is what the owners want, more $$$$ from TV. It wouldn't matter how rich George Steinbrenner is. You would see longer term contracts for the higher eschelon of players. This builds stability in franchises which allows a loyal fan base to develop.
====
The main reason i want interleague play gone is because of the game schedule. As far as financials - it is definitely a big boost at the ticket office - i think there was about a 20% gain in sales across the league this year. It does bring some great moments ... like the shot Bonds hit in New York. That will be written about in books 10 years after his career is over.

good thread man .... sorry for the novel

[Fullabull]

:angry: Yeah! What he said! :angry:

And make them pee in a cup too.
We can't have those genetically altered circus freaks trashing our record books.
:eviltongu

[GiveHyzduashot]

No Brian, we can't run the world by ourselves. :biggrin:

I'm surprised the residential self proclaimed Guru hasn't had a word or two. Same for Shawn.

DM, I agree with Brian the olympics wouldn't cut it. The olympics right now are just people living in that country, unless it's for a sport like hockey, where that's next to impossible. A World Cup would be players born in the country, as we would be seeing players like Bonds and Johnson go up against Sosa and Pedro competing for the gold. Who wouldn't absolutely love to see that?

[Trots]

Dirt, we may turn this thread into a mini-series. Anyway, the only issue I'll re-address is the salary cap. I'm still not convinced. Are NFL teams "re-buliding" or can they just reach a level slightly above mediocrity quicker? Between the NFL's scheduling and salary cap, only a couple of moves can bring you up to playoff status. That may seem interesting, but quite frankly, I've found NFL football to be at an all-time boring low in recent years. I think some of that has to do with the salary cap.

The cap also forces veterans to get cut with regularity. I don't see much difference between the salary dumps in baseball and the annual salary cuts in football. Either way, quality veterans are forced out. I thought we were trying to find ways for teams to keep their players? I think one could argue that the cap has the same effect that expansion does. It spreads talent too thin. No one team is particularly good. Kids who shouldn't play, do. Veterans who should retire hold on longer, if in the right situation and getting paid appropriately. It all looks the same to me.

Besides, I wonder what the salary cap is going to look like in ten years. Something tells me, it won't be in the same form it is now.

[Dirt Merchant]

If the idea of the baseball festival FORCES players to play for their native country --- I like it - it removes a ton of politics from the team creation process.

I don't think a salary cap has the exact effect of expansion although I see where you are coming from -
I see it like this - the talent pool doesn't grow - it becomes spread out which makes more of the teams competitive... or as you put it - a certain level of mediocrity.

Exapansion forces teams to let players go and bring up younger players that shouldn't be at the top level - this defintely thins out the talent pool - .

Would it be a fair statement that the Chargers have been rebuilding since they brought in Flutie? I think so

The Chargers, by bringing in Flutie at least had a shot in many games last year and won their first 5 - with the addition of LT in the backfield, they were a real threat - their D has been solid for years with Seau and Harrison ... now they have Brees and Fluite -perhaps they make run this year. They reached mediocrity in 1 year. LT will be huge this year ... I think they have a definite shot at the playoffs.

In baseball, when a team is in a rebuilding stage, it means 3-5 years before they come back into contention. Florida Marlins are an excellent example. They won the 1997 WS with Livan, Brown and sold off everybody. They are just now starting to get back to a level that is creating a buzz around the team with potential in the likes of Beckett, Burnett, D. Lee and Castillo.

But if Florida doesn't get back into the playoffs, as it looks now ... you hear the rumblings of off-ing Cliff Floyd. And more rumblings will be heard - their rebuilding plans didn't work as expected. They gave it 5 years and still no playoff appearances. Start over -but it will be another 5 years.

But how can Florida compete as a small market team when Steinbrenner can sign Mondesi and Weaver within a week of each other?

Unless a cap is instituted, small market teams will remain small market teams and New York, Arizona and Atlanta will dominate. There will always be the exceptions like the A's a couple years back or the Twins this year that have a good amount of talent that went through the farms together and know how to play as a team and do well. Eventually, they will want big $$$ and if you don't give it to them, pack their bags and buy them a ticket to NY.... like Giambi. Torii in pinstripes? Yankees would be more than happy to accommodate I'm sure.

Personally, I am sick of watching the Yankees swipe up every bit of talent available. And every player wants to wear pinstripes when they know that's where the biggest bucks in the game are.

How do you control that without a cap?

[imgreat95]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot
No Brian, we can't run the world by ourselves. :biggrin:

I'm surprised the residential self proclaimed Guru hasn't had a word or two. Same for Shawn.



I would have responded, but i have been too busy to hasrdly even come on the boards, let alone read through this whole thread.


Let me sum up quickly what I have read.

A salary cap will never work in baseball. I have explained why I believe this to be true many times, but I don't really feel like going into it, unless someone would really like me to.


As for the international tournament, I love the idea, but i don't see it ever happening. As it is now, the season doesn't end until the end of october. You then do a tournament like that, it runs at least into mid-november area probably. That then gives the players only two months off per year. I seriously doubt they will go for it. (that being every 4 years of course.)


As for Josh's realignment... to it geographically correct, you actually have to put cincy in the central, and the marlins in the East. That part sucks because we lose the rivalry with the Reds again, but I think that what we re-gain outweighs what we would lose.

I'm noit sure that I like the idea of Ruth day, simply because where then, do you stop? Do you also have Christy Mathewson day?? Willie Mays day?? etc.

Anyhow.. I keep getting distracted by the game...

[Trots]

I guess I'm not as concerned about leveling the playing field as you are. Baseball, with the exception of the last 20-30 years, as been anything other than level. Again, the Yankees won just as much, if not more, then than they do now. So did the Dodgers and Cardinals. Yet we refer to that the time prior as the Golden Age of the sport.

During the same last 30 or so years, we've been lamenting free agency. But teams like Minnesota, Atlanta, Cleveland and Arizona have come from decades of poor play or mediocrity, or in AZ's case, non extistence, to the competiting for the title.

I understand your frustration, but had you been a fan of baseball in the 40's or 50's those bad old Yankees won then, too. It's my assertion that people have become brainwashed by "little market" owners and the media about the salary cap. I also think that having everyone being equally close to the basement as the cellar isn't good for the long term health of the sport. I believe the NFL has been far more helped by the dynasties of the Packers, Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, Niners, etc... than they have been helped by the cap.

Again, if they institute a minimum spending level as well as a high, then I'd favor it slightly more. I'm living in the tenth largest media market in the nation and we have a "small" market baseball team because the ownership can't or won't compete. There is a cost to ownership in the sport and I expect, no demand, a minimum financial commitment. I can't afford a Lexus, so I don't buy one. If you can't afford to put a decent team on the field, don't buy one.

As for the re-building process, yes it takes longer to wait for prospects to develop. Baseball doesn't have the financially seperate training ground that the football does, the NCAA. Again, I think the re-building currently in the NFL isn't re-building, but raising themselves to mediocrity. Which is fine, if that's the quality of play you care to watch.

As for naming any sort of international all-star team, there would be tons of politics no matter how it was done.

[imgreat95]

Originally posted by Dirt Merchant


Personally, I am sick of watching the Yankees swipe up every bit of talent available. And every player wants to wear pinstripes when they know that's where the biggest bucks in the game are.

How do you control that without a cap?

I don't think that is a cap problem at all. Look at the Yankees roster.The fact is, that they really do not have the best player in the game at any single position. So, how do you say that? The Yankees win, because they are the Yankees. Not because they spend the most. They are good at plugging holes. Look at the Dodgers. They are spending just as much as the Yankees are almost, yet they don;t even make the playoffs. Explain that?!

[Trots]

Shawn, I stop with Ruth day. As great as the others have been Ruth's legend is bigger than anyone elses. I guess I would accept a rotating day to honor a baseball legend, though. (Awfully big of me, I know.) If this year it's Ruth, next it's Walter Johnson, or Christy, I could see that working, too. It's time to embrace the sport's history.

I can't see why the Players Association wouldn't accept an opportunity to highlight their players and generate more revenue, which is what the World Cup idea does.

[imgreat95]

I don't see why they wouldn't accept it either. But, at the same time, I don't see why they would go on striek, yet they still do every few years. Nothing that the Players Union or the owners do makes any sense. For that reason, I don't see it happening. But, I am like you. I would love to see it happening.

Every other international sport does it, so why not baseball?


I much better like the idea of the rotating days.

[Baseball Guru]

Well since I have been called out;)
Actually like Shawn, I havent spent enough quality time on the boards the last few days so I hadnt had time to respond to the long posts.....
All points have been pretty good....

Let me go thru the points one by one since I have some time on my hands before the Met game:biggrin:

A. I love this idea...ANy idea tolower prices works for me:thumbsup:

B. I also like this idea.....Shawn, you stop with Ruth because Ruth is the one athlete that personifies baseball..... No other athlete has meant more to the game than Ruth....At least IMO:biggrin:

C. DEFINITELY I support World Cup baseball and this could work....Baseball is so popular and played everywhere in the world and this would be an exciting tourney.....I would love to see a Dominican team with Pedro starting vs an American team with Randy on the mound......This would generate so much interest and could be played in doomed stadiums....Do it every 2 years and alternate locations....

D. I like this idea as well but you would definitely have to address the college bat issue or I could care less about having the college game on TV as it is now....Not sure how it is in other markets but I get alot of college games down here.. A few time a wekk as a matter of fact but get NO minor league games here...I would love to tune in to a Norfolk Tides game once in awhile...

E. Amen my brother!!!!! You know I feel about that....:biggrin:
IMO, the blackout rule is stupid.....For instance, the other night, Mets are playing the Marlins and since the game was not on my Fox Florida that night it was blacked out on my MLB package...i am quite far from Miami...
Also, yeah it is cheap and nice to watch games on TV but it is not the same as watching it at the ballpark and IMO a blackout does not affect whether or not fans go to the ballpark or not...At least not significantly....

F. Addressed that already...

Actually I pretty much agree with all of the rest of your ideas Brian....As for the DH, DEFINITELY ELIMINATE IT!!!!

As for other subjects I want to address: I would not eliminate interleague I would just tweak a few things with it like the natural rivalry...I like it but dont think there is a need to play a home and home every year.....Why not just alternate every year...Does one think that the Marlins or D-Ray fans would be bummed;)

I do not like the WS idea being played in Cooperstown at all...The fans of the 2 teams represented should benefit from their teams being in the series...Cooperstwon is kinda in the middle of nowhere....

I also do not like the idea of moving the AS game until after the WS......Interest is down after a long season a baseball and no one cares about much after the WS.....
This is like football, which holds their Pro Bowl after the SuperBowl and most fans have no interest at all about the game...The baseball, basketball and hockey AS games are done right...IMO:biggrin:

I cant think of anything else to ad right now:hmm:

[Baseball Guru]

I could go with a rotating a different legend every year....
Obviously Walter would be the 1st pitcher recognized:biggrin:
I definitely agree that we need to focus more on the great past of baseball as it is not recognized nearly enough:thumbsup:

How about the MLB package also showing old games when live games are not on??
Kinda like an espn classic channel showing all the old baseball games....
The YES network shows old Yankee games...

[imgreat95]

See, I think that having a Ruth day every year would get really old. My problem is that, yes, Ruth did a lot to change the game in the 20s.. but what about the guys who did a lot ot change it in the 50s?? The 60s?? etc... Babe changed the game offensively. He did nothing to revolutionize it from the pitching side. Too often, when people think of the greatest players of the past, they tend to ignore the pitchers. I think that they need some recognition first.

(Christy would absolutely have to come first, contrary to what James says)

As for the AS game, I would almost be in favor of returning to the format of the early days where they had one at mid season)this one would be chosen by the fans. The whole roster, from top to bottom. THEN, you have one at the end of the season voted on by the players and coaches. Who knows better as to who is the best than those who see them every day?

The NFL really can't do an AS game in mid-season. Too many proiblems would come with it. Mainly being that the guys who have not been selected, will not play for 2 weeks. We saw last season what kind of an effect that could have on teams.

[RockieBill]

If I were Commish? Jeesh, I'll need lots of TNT...watch your eyes...

How do you put the brakes on greed? Greed is the overwhelming motivational force in all aspects of the game. Without getting on my "What are these @ssholes doing to the game I love!!??" soapbox, I will try to stay constructive. Since Trots started this (and a fine topic it is!), I'll just go down his list -

A) While this would be a good gesture toward the fans, I don't think ticket prices are a big deal - but then, I don't live in Boston. After parking, food and drink, and maybe a pennent or cap, the price to get in is negligable. What I would like to see is a much greater percentage of seats inside all ballparks for under $10. I did check out a few (not all) of the ballparks, and was surprised to see how few seats were available at $10 or less - especially the newer parks. Detroit, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh...it's gotta take some pretty big cajones to charge those prices.

Free MLB Audio - From the guys calling the games to whoever is at the control panel to the guy that empties the trash cans at the end of the night - they're not going to do it for free, so the money will come from somewhere. If I'm Commish, I'm looking for a sponsor to belly-up to the bar with a big fat wallet (hey, we can always use a few more commercials, right?)

B) This should be a NATIONAL holiday, damnit!

C) I like this a lot. I don't know if all aspects could be handled by the Commish, but the organizational support could be provided for those countries that wish to participate. Keep the IOC out of baseball at all costs! As Commish, I would appoint Trots as Special Director of World Cup of Baseball, and I hope you get to see that vision turn to reality soon. I will want to know the ages of the players on the Dominican team, though.

D) This is a tough one. From the seat of the Commish's chair, can it be done? I suppose a contract could be worked out with some cable outfit, but in the case of college baseball, the competition is stiff...the NHL and NBA playoffs, March Madness...so many sports, so little time. I'm just glad they're getting most of the College World Series on the tube now. As Commish, I would definitely look into getting more TV coverage for Minor League Baseball. Again, sponsorship comes into play - but it could and should be done.

E) Again, I don't know what the Commish could do about this, but if DirectTV finds an audience willing to pay for it, they'll find a way to provide it. Most satallite dish owners know there are ways around regional blackouts.

F) I absolutely cringe when I hear the sound of aluminum bats! I don't know if I, as Commish, would pay for it, but I would most strongly recommend it. Did anyone catch the latest Gumble/Real Sports on HBO? You would hope that the schools do away with metal bats on their own, just from a safety standpoint.

G) Agreed.

H) Agreed.

I) Eliminate the DH.

J) I'd be willing to try this. Why has baseball failed to thrive in the DC area? According to Neilsen (http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html), they are the #8 market. I can understand the Florida teams' poor support, as most of those TVs are in nursing homes (Florida - God's Waiting Room (http://www.u-neak.com/signs/Sign%20Images/florida.gif)), but not DC. Portland or Sacramento (or both) could be on the receiving end of a relocated team, depending on a strong ownership/stadium situation...back to that money thing.

K & L) The entire amateur draft needs a hefty helping of dynamite. Like Josh, I feel this is one part of the game that needs a complete overhaul. With the JD Drews, the Matt Harringtons, the bidding for Japanese players...this is one place where a hard-headed Commish could make a huge difference. As it is now, the team with the #1 pick has very little chance of signing the #1 prospect.

M) I'm not big fan of interleague play, but I can see the benefit of it, especially here, where it's a 600 mile ride to an AL park. It didn't work well for the Rox, as they ended up playing every divisional champ from last season, with no other NL West team (or any team in MLB) doing the same. As long as the schedule can be balanced within each division, I don't have a problem with it.

On realignment - From what I understand, the time zone differentials seems to be the biggest concern. I would be hesitant to break up some of the natural rivalries, especially the NL Central.

On a Cooperstown WS - No way. The Series belongs in the cities the teams are from.

On peeing in the cup - Agreed!

As Commish, I would propose more day games - a hell of a lot more. That way, when East coast teams are playing on the West coast, their fans aren't up at 1 a.m. to see how the games turn out. All playoff and World Series games would be played during the day - how are kids supposed to become interested in a game they can't stay up to watch?

Trying to touch all bases - Most of my complaints with the state of baseball would best be posted in a CBA discussion - contraction, expansion, salary caps and floors, free agency, the amateur draft, salary arbitration, revenue sharing or payroll taxes - these are just some of things that Bud-Lite has shown he has little comprehension of. Unfortunately, we'll probably be discussing these and many more things way too soon.


"I would change policy, bring back natural grass and nickel beer. Baseball is the belly-button of our society. Straighten out baseball, and you straighten out the rest of the world." - Bill 'Spaceman' Lee

[Trots]

I'm going to ramble between subjects, as I'm tired of putting letters before each paragraph.

I've come up with a "solution" to my blackout rules/minor league and college game of the week issue, while incorporating James' old time game theory. It's tentatively called The Baseball Network.

Yep, that's right. I am nuts enough to start a premium cable channel devoted to baseball. Not just MLB, but all of baseball. I know your question "What the heck are you going to show all day long?" Well, friends they laughed at Arnold Palmer when he said "How about a Golf Channel?", so I remain undaunted.

As part of the MLB Extra Innings package, we'll show old games, college games and minor league games. The Arizona Fall League and, perhaps, the Cape Cod League games will get broadcast. We'll provide weekly "This Week in..." shows for the colleges and minors. We'll have the necessary fantasy league show, the call-in show and mandatory nightly complete wrap-up show around the entire game.

We'll have newly made documentaries. We'll run baseball movies. We'll televise the draft. We'll have a travel show where a couple of people make the rounds telling us about major and minor league parks. Well, by now you get the idea. Of course, we'll have to add some extra channels for all the MLB games were now going to show, but such is life.

Bill, I can get $5 seats at Comerica Park, however I can see the game better from my home. Of course, those seats are in my zip code, so I could get my mail delivered there. I just don't see what is so difficult about having a ten week, one-time sale? (Assuming we get ten more weeks of baseball.) It only applies to the KCs, Detroits and Floridas, the Yanks, Sox and Dodgers are free to continue their current ticket structure.

The NCAA just isn't going to budge on the bats. At least until someone is seriously injured and sues. The cost is too prohibitive especially for a "non revenue" sport. What is cheaper: Giving the colleges bats or running the entire minor league system?
It helps in the development of the players, should make it a little easier to scout them and would be safer. MLB can foot the bill, trust me.

As for broadcasting college games and the minors, for that matter, it really is a necessity. It will give teams' future investments (aka, players) more "free" publicity. The NFL and NBA live off the fact their players are household names years before they get to their leagues. Even once a week would be an improvement over nothing.

Addressing the draft is going to be tricky. My primary concern is that eventually all pro sports drafts may get blown up in court. Until then, though, let's make it world-wide, get in on tv, allow teams to trade picks and see what happens.

I love day games, so I completely agree with Bill on that idea. I don't know if ALL World Series games should be in the daytime, but some certainly should. I loved running home from school to watch those post-season games in the Seventies.

More thoughts on Ruth. I concur with Shawn about pitchers getting lost in the shuffle, but Ruth is more than a hitter. I'm not telling anyone here anything they don't already know, but Ruth "saved" the game from the Black Sox scandal, elevated it to national and international prominence and was an American icon.

When you hear Axis power soliders in WWII used to cry out "To @ell with Babe Ruth!" and US soliders invoked his name to uncover spies, you get an idea of his stature. I love Christy, Big Train and even Koufax, but no one has ever been close to Ruth's legend. Again, I'll buy into the rotating heroes day, but Ruth has
a place in history that is uniquely his. Why not cherish it one day a year?

I thought about the two all-star game a year concept, but I just don't think it would muster enough interest. Sure the geeks here would watch it, but in the middle of football, basketball and hockey season, a second game would be a tough sell imo.

Bill, thanks for the appointment as World Cup overseer. It will be easier to run the entire event than to get correct birth certificates, though. Btw, feel free to get on your soapbox and start that CBA thread. I don't have the energy to begin to tackle that one right now.

[Dirt Merchant]

Trots - I think you were right - we have a mini-series :P

On Dodgers Spending vs. Yankees: 2 words - Murdock and Malone

This has been a great thread and I don't expect everybody to agree with me - what I like is nobody has gone down to name calling and BS ... everybody has presented a good case for their ideas.

One thing I am glad came up with salary cap is a floor rather than a ceiling. I was talking with a guy at a party saturday about the same thing - "If this is instituted first, we help eliminate "small markets" - if they don't want to pony up a min of say 40 mil ...


One thing I overlooked and would do immediately - re-instate Pete Rose back into the game ... he's paid his dues.

i think I'm at about 90 words so i'll wrap it up here

[imgreat95]

Originally posted by Dirt Merchant
On Dodgers Spending vs. Yankees: 2 words - Murdock and Malone





That is exactly my point. The Yankees have smart guys spending their money, whereas the Dodgers have morons. The Yankees aren't the only team with a payroll where it is at. That is why I get frustrated when people dog on the Yankees for their payroll, yet ignore teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Braves, Mets, etc... The difference has been that the Yankees have been able to make good baseball decisions with what they have spent.

[Dirt Merchant]

... the Dodgers are morons - that's why Malone was fired - since Malone's departure they have made some good moves and the absence of Jeff Shaw freed up a bit of cash - and they are now in first - but also due to Jim Tracy's managing

in fact every team you mentioned except the Mets are in first or have spent a considerable amount of time at the top.... they control the talent pool because they have the most money. it is that simple.

the mets haven't lived up to expectations so what do you think will happen at the end of the year? free agents will be gone ... and where will they go? the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves and Arizona.

I never said the Yankees weren't smart.... I'm just sick of them being on top .... why are they on top each year? they have the most money, bar none, of any team in the league. they can have any player they want, when they want, and they know it. without the $$$$ it doesn't matter how smart your front office is if you can't swing the deal financially.

Even the owners are beginning to whine a bit about George and crew :crying2:

should we bring A-rod's $252M contract into it? who in the league could ever swing a deal and take on A-rod's contract.... hmmm seems to be a short list imo - Yanks and Braves I'd say are the only two. And when the rangers still suck in 5 years and fans care less about A-Rod and care more about winning ... the Yanks or Braves will have A-rod on their team.

[Baseball Guru]

I love the idea of a Baseball Network!!!
Great ideas to incorporate minor and college games as well....Not only live games but great games of the past...Show the College World Series etc.....And why stop at that?? Why not even show some games from Japan??? I would watch it....
Arizona Fall league and Cape Cod league-1 word- Brilliant!!
I have always searched for things on the net to listen to these games and would love to see them on TV....
Again, to reiterate on the documentaries, the YES network does it with Yankee players why not do it with baseball as a whole???
There are so many players that could be done.....
Heck if they can have a golf channel:hmm: they certainly can have a baseball channel:biggrin:

The day games during playoffs and WS are a great idea....They dont have to be 1pm or even 4pm games, you can start them at 7pm on the East coast which is 4 pm West coast time....Whats the big difference between 4 or 5 out west?? But it is a big difference in the east....
The weekend games should definitely be early!!! At least 4 pm games at the latest.....There is no reason to have late games on the weekends.....Geez, I remember a few years back when the Mets played the D-Backs in Arizona in the playoffs and those games started like a 10pm.....I was DEAD the next day at work!!!

How about also bringing back the natural double header games as well?? Maybe have a scheduled doubleheader like twice a year....A 2 for 1 special....

Bill, I have a few theories on the lack of support on the 2 Florida teams...
I'll start with Miami....
Miami fans are very finicky fans per se....I think one thing that would help them is to get a retractable stadium...Being a purist i hate astro turf and domes but I like the idea of how they do it in Arizona...Natural grass and a retractable stadium.... It rains or looks like rain so much in the summer in Florida this may hurt attendance somewhat....
The Devil Rays-They have this very un-intimate domed piece of crap stadium which is not even located in Tampa but rather over an overcrowded bridge which takes you into St. Petersburg in the middle of nowhere...It is a horrible location.....
I think the best scenario is to somehow put the 2 teams together and relocate them to Central Florida (Orlando) area....You can use the power of one of the best tourism areas in the World to help generate ticket sales.....This area is jam packed with people in the summer.....How about a nice day at the parks followed by a nice evening at the ballpark???
With all the vacation packages that go on around here they can incorporate baseball games as part of the package with like a hotel stay or even in my industry-timeshare.....The possibilities are endless.....But again, you have to have a retractable roof.....
Ok, I've bored everyone enough with my babbling for now:biggrin:

[imgreat95]

I don't know that I like the idea of moving the florida teams to Orlando and using tourism as your main draw. (that is if i am understanding what you are saying.)Who wants to play on a team whose "fans" are not local and are a different group of people every day?


Dirt-- Until this season, the Dodgers basically were awful.. the Mets have been up and down. The Braves and Yankees have been pretty consistent winners. (although the yankees only for about the past 6 years... before that, they sucked for many years too.) Maybe a better example would have been the Orioles. All of these teams, have the ability to spend the same amount of money (or at least close to it) as the Yankees do. They DO spend close to the same amount, yet they do not win the WS. Do the Yankees have the best players in the game?? Not even close to it. Looking around at their roster, the only guy who I would conisder to MAYBE be the best at his position would be Giambi and possibly Soriano. But, Soriano doesn't really count because he was brought up through the Yankees system. Another would be possibly Clemens, who the Yankees gave up a lot to get.

For whatever reason, the Yankees continue to win. But I don't think it is fair to blame it on the amount of money that they spend, or on the fact that they can "go out and get the best players in the game" because they have not done that.

[Baseball Guru]

No Shawn, tourism would not be the main draw (there are a lot of people that live here) but it could be used as helping support...Not the main support though.....IMO, the Orlando market could at the very least draw as many as Tampa and Miami do combined on an average night which would at least be around 25,000...

[imgreat95]

Ok.. that is where I misunderstood what you were saying. I believe that the orlando market is large enough to support a team allon it's own. The tourism would be enough to supplement that market. I thought you were sort of suggesting that the new Orlando team just be sort of a "freak show" draw.

I should have explained myself better, but I was in the process of dismantling Josh's all-time team...:biggrin:

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by imgreat95


I should have explained myself better, but I was in the process of dismantling Josh's all-time team...:biggrin:


LoL...Been there and done that as a non-Pirate fan threw out some right off the bat;) :biggrin:

I dont think Josh did his homework on that one:biggrin:

[imgreat95]

The only problem I had with his team is that it didn't go much beyond the 60s....:biggrin:

[Trots]

The only thing I can say about the Yankees money is that it does afford them patience. As they are able to plug holes, either in the long or short term, with free agents or trading for salary dumps, they do not have to rush their prospects. They also can afford to trade prospects away as they can buy established talent, if necessary.

They can also select high-risk, high-reward picks, like a Drew Henson. If the Pirates or Tigers took Henson he would be needed in the majors within a couple of seasons maximum. Once with the big league club, he would need to produce instantly. Playing for the Yanks, he can take his time learning in the minors. If he takes an extra year or three, so what? NY can find ways to acquire players until he is ready. If he's never ready or just doesn't play well at the MLB level, they can cover their mistake with the luxury the additonal money provides. Teams like Tampa, Detroit and KC can't afford to gamble on picks like that.

Having said all that, they still have to pick the right players, trade the right prospects and acquire the correct established talent to continue on. The Yankees have done that.

James, I'm glad you liked my Baseball Network concept. I must admit I can't recall the last time I had an idea that inspired anyone to use the word brilliant.

[RockieBill]

Just a couple of things:

I love the idea of a Baseball Channel! All baseball, all the time! I'm one of those freaks that can watch those old baseball movies all day, no matter how bad they are. The worst baseball movie is better than anything else usually on the tube. And along with all of the historical footage on the game, new shows, maybe even a series along the lines of Baseball, Minnesota could be produced.

As far as ticket prices, I'm not agaist cutting prices for the rest of the season. This would be a great gesture to the fans in the cities where interest in their team is waning. My point was that such a small percentage of existing seating in most parks is affordable to most families. You can get in for $5, but there's only a couple hundred seats at that price. If the Tigers were to field a kick-@ss team, those seats would become hard to come by.

I don't have any numbers to back me up, but come-backers to the mound off of metal bats are taking out a lot of pitchers. At the high school level, many schools are just discontinuing the sport. Again, as Commish, I don't know if I could dictate NCAA policy. I suppose MLB could foot the bill, but again, the money comes from somewhere. I'd rather see it handled like every other college program, and let their football programs foot the bill. (this is slightly tongue-in-cheek)

You're very welcome for the appointment, Trots. Anyone with that kind of passion for such an undertaking could not help but do a great job! I am putting something together to address the CBA...this is a much bigger can of worms. I'm hoping, probably against hope, that a work stoppage will be avoided.

I agree with James on the start times of games. My idea of a day game would be about an hour after school lets out. It's asanine to have a game begin at 10 p.m. for half (or more) of the people interested in the game.

That was kind of a cheap shot I took at the Florida teams. I like James' idea of consolidating the teams and building a decent ballpark. The main point I guess I was trying to make is there really isn't a reason for baseball not to be successful in the DC area. Whether it's been poor ownership or a crappy venue or something else, I don't know, but someone should be able to make it work.

Done babbling.

[pmeares17]

i wonder how many places in the world play cricket and such sports? maybe they could carry over mlbs standards or something more universal and make even fledgling american style baseball teams. they have done that in japan but im talking about places that havent really been exposed to baseball much. they could standarize all that into some sort of league that they all followed like a worldwide mlb. you can all scoff at me if you want i was just thinking out loud.