Kuzul

Commissioner Bud Selig has said that baseball is studying possibilities to expand the postseason field from the current eight team format, to a ten team field beginning as soon as next season, this according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. 

The current format, which has been in place since 1994, only allows the three division winners from the East, Central, and West to get in along with a wild card team. 

The expansion of teams in the postseason would remove the dreaded “one-game” playoff tiebreaker known as the 163rd game.

According to the report, from a source close with Major League Baseball, the proposals being developed to add two wild card teams to the playoffs include provisions to adopt the NFL-style tie-breaking system based on head-to-head play or division record to send teams into the playoffs when such tie occurs in a division or wild card slot. 

Essentially that would eliminate the tiebreaking game in favor of an addition series which could be dubbed the American League Wild Card Series (ALWCS) and National League Wild Card Series (NLWCS). 

The current proposal being thrown out by MLB include one of two formats, a one-game playoff, aka the 163rd game or a traditional three-game series like every team plays in the regular season. 

Personally, I think a three-game series would be the most beneficial because it would allow teams to put out their best starting rotations and it would give incentive to the teams that did win their divisions to have extra rest. 

A one-game playoff would really tick teams off because their entire season, which is run on intervals of a three-game series, comes down to one game and thats were the line is drawn between the NFL and MLB. A three-game series keeps the regular season format and allows MLB to have more revenue. 

If any such three-game “wild card series” is enacted, it should be played at a neutral site to avoid any off-days to travel between stadium sites. An entire series played at an opposing teams’ site would be unfair for the road team but because fans wouldn’t pay to see a team they don’t root for it might just go to the team with the best record. 

Critics would be fair to point out that any additional teams pushes the World Series back into November territory, but consider this year’s postseason.

The New York Yankees clinched this past Saturday, October 9 and won’t be playing until almost a week later. And yes, they did sweep, but baseball has been too generous to teams rather than rewarding the fans, and it takes the momentum away from the game when you have these off days for no reason.

While it may be trying to cover all bases if a rain delayed occurred, the pace as to be reminiscent of ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas where there is a Christmas movie every day and baseball has to have that flow until of course the World Series.

Work Left to Be Done 

All and all, I’m glad baseball is considering this change because a franchise like Pittsburgh or Kansas City would mostly benefit from this change. If baseball doesn’t enact salary caps like the three other leagues (NFL, NBA, and NHL) it might as well give an increased chance for these teams who are currently losing the war against the bigger markets like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. 

If revenue is the root of the all these postseason expansion talks, MLB should consider the other type of expansion to add two teams in the league. Having a solid four teams and four divisions format would increase everyone’s chances at a postseason and the AL West is a prime example of that since every team has won the division at least once in the last decade, no other division has done that with their five to six team parties. 

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I don’t claim to have watched every game this postseason, due to the unfortunate  condition of having things to do during the day. And yet, somehow, I’ve managed to see many, many blown calls. This is rather alarming, seeing as MLB lacks any process to review these mistakes. 

You may have heard of some of them. There was the ball that Yankee’s right  fielder Greg Golson trapped before it could even bounce (a feat that I bet few Hall of Famers could lay claim to). There was the three-run home run Ranger’s third basemen Michael Young hit after swinging and missing with two strikes (the only play here that I haven’t seen).

There was Giants catcher Buster Posey scoring the only run in Tim Lincecum’s gem, despite being tagged while stealing second earlier. I would even add Phillie’s second baseman Chase Utley‘s trip around the bases in Friday night’s game. 

I’m a little skeptical that Utley got hit by Aroldis Chapman in the seventh inning. I would have to say that my suspicions were aroused when Utley managed to show absolutely no reaction to apparently getting nicked in the fingers by a 102 mph fastball (I’m guessing fingers; if you forced me to guess what part of the body he was hit on based on his reaction, I’d have to guess “personal space bubble”).

Chase, here’s some advice: in a couple of weeks, you’re going to get some time off. Get some acting lessons in that time in case this situation arise again. That performance looked like Keanu Reeves next to Derek Jeter’s Shatner-esque show a few weeks ago. 

I would also love to see the following play at second again, but apparently, TBS has taken the Division Series-wide stance of “Maybe if we ignore the close plays, they’ll go away.” We got two camera views following the original play, one of them apparently taken from the cell phone of a drunk fan standing on an building adjacent to the stadium (just my two cents).

TBS, some more advice: don’t be afraid to show close plays repeatedly. People love to have something to be angry about. Especially anything involving the Yankees or Red Sox in any way. 

In any case, Bud Selig has apparently decided that the adage “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it” is actually an Ancient Phoenician curse never meant to be heard by the ears of man.

After ignoring calls for more instant replay after last year’s playoffs (and last year’s regular season, and the Armando Galarraga game, and the Phillies-Marlins game, and…), Selig has continued to ignore calls for more replay (shocker, I know), claiming he hasn’t heard anyone close to the game request more replay.

For his sake, we’re not going to go too in depth with that claim; he doesn’t need anymore help to look dumb (although, in Bud’s defense, maybe those close to him have assumed that the need for replay was obvious and that Bud didn’t need THAT much help to make such a leap). 

Look, whatever your reasoning is, Bud, it’s not funny anymore. We can put a fifth umpire in the booth to review any close plays, and it won’t slow down the game (especially compared to the time a manager takes to come out and argue). It doesn’t even have to be strikes and balls, it can just be close plays on the field.

 I don’t really know what’s holding this up. Do you think umpires don’t deserve the right to correct their mistakes? Is it some crippling case of technophobia? I mean, you’re looking worse than my grandfather, and he didn’t know you had to delete e-mails to save space UNTIL THIS YEAR. He even STILL uses his VCR because he can’t figure out how to work a DVD player. This is pitiful. Or maybe this is the cause of some wild bet with Murray Chass to see just how fast you can turn people against you? 

Whatever, the case, you can’t just continue to ignore the problem. Maybe you can say “the bad calls even out over the whole season”. That’s because the regular season consists of somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 bajillion plays.

The playoffs aren’t that forgiving. Any one play can alter who wins the game, or even the series, and guess what? There aren’t enough games to say it’ll even out later. What is it going to take, a blown call that affects which team wins the World Series? 

Oh, wait…

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In a perfect world, according to my most favorable teams they divisions would annually end something like this:

American League East: Baltimore Tampa Toronto Boston and New York

American League Central Minnesota Kansas City Detroit Chicago White Sox, Cleveland

American League West: Texas Oakland Los Angeles, Seattle

National League East: Florida, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta

National League Central: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, St. Louis

National League West: San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, San Francisco, LA Dodgers

As you can easily tell, I am a fan of small market clubs.

I as happy as I am to see Cincinnati make the playoffs after a 15 year drought (1995) and Texas after an 11 year span (1999) it was just as equally disappointing to see San Diego miss, especially at the expense of the boring, overrated Atlanta Braves who have wasted a playoff spot in every one of their last 15 appearances save for the 1995 miracle vs. almost as equally pathetic Cleveland in what I like to call the World Series from Hell.

Besides, its not like they are going to do anything anyway, so why not give San Diego a chance, we all know they could have used the extra cash from the playoff revenue.

Growing up Cincinnatti was good (1990) along with the Oakland A’s (I’d like to see a replay of that World Series with the Reds playing their role and my Minnesota Twins playing that of the A’s even if their 2010 payroll-top ten is significantly higher. Can you imagine Commissioner Selig’s face having to go to those small, cold markets? Can you imagine the complaining corporate America would be doing if their precious Yankee$ do not make it, in addition to the Phillie$ getting bounced early? This is what I am hoping for.

ALDS ESPN Yankee$ at lowly Minnesota Twins

My heart wants to say Minnesota in who cares-3, 4, 5, but the fact remains the Yankee$ are the Yankee$ and something about October just brings out the best in some people: Luis Polonia, Scott Brosius, Shane Spencer, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, not to mention Mo Rivera, Jeter, Pettite etc.

Reasons the Yankee$ will win: They have the history, they have the experience, they are the defending champions and as much as I hate them, they are who we thought they were. October is their time to shine. Last year they won the World Series their first year in their new building, somethng I am hoping the Twins can copy-if they took good notes.

Swept the Twins last year (7-0) and 3-0 in playoffs. Karma is on their side. Until they get beat, even if Twins somehow take first game or two that’s gone good enough until these spoiled elitists are gone.

Reasons they’ll lose: Wonder how long it will be before we find out A-ROID juiced in 2009? Someone’s gonna talk a decade or two from now, is my guess. He was too good to be true last year. Look how they treated (as I predicted) 2009 hero’s Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui who were both given their walking papers despite Matsui (MVP) and Damon .381 BA. Granderson is all or nothing. Pettite’s coming back from long injury, Burnett’s already out. Jeter’s having his worst year. They gotta slow down some time right? Buster Olney (Yankee homer) calls this the “most wide open American League I’ve ever seen” (yesterday’s SportsCenter). Keep telling yourself that, Yankee lover.

Reasons the Twins will win: Went 2-4 against New York this year. While that’s not much its light years ahead of last year. Also, the last time they played, the Twins won (in NY) so they have some momentum and that in the back of their minds. Also, Jason Kubel emerged as a legit Yankee$ killer having hit a Grand Slam off Rivera in the game. Also, the last time the Twins played them at home, they too won so this first game is huge.

The bad luck, jinxes, (14-46) in their past 60 head to head have to end sometime right? Why not take a page from the NBA’s Suns who had similar woes against the cow-town Spurs before finally beating them. A good friend of mine, Yankee fan, admits “this isn’t our year” and “the Yankees aren’t going to do anything, they’re hurt”. I’d like to believe him but until the Twins prove me wrong, they get what they deserve.

Yankee-cowards Morneau, Perkins, and Nathan who I bashed last year relentlessly won’t play this year giving me hope. The same hope that newcomers Hudson, Thome, Capps, and Fuentes don’t carry that putrid Yankee$ stink with them like the latter three did. Good riddance. Thank god they moved on from crybaby Morneau. Get over it already and come back next year.

Reasons they’ll lose (see reasons Yankees will win) also, I dont like the Twins hosting. Granted the last time they hosted a series they won (2002) but nothing since. These aint the A’s. Also, when you are a road team you are hoping for a 1:1 split. Yankee$ should at least do that, we all know Twins won’t win 1st two or ESPN will hype-rventilate. I really wish the Twins were going to the Bronx 1st. Less pressure since you aren’t defending home field trying to take at least one.

In the end I expect a SOBathia gem 2-0 shutout of the Twins at home in game 1, followed by the usual 3-1 heart-breaker that we saw last year setting the stage for a Yankee$ $weep in New York as always. Petitte is automatic in game 2. Yankee fans want us to think they are the underdogs (0-3 all time as a Wild Card) but there is a reason SOBathia is their ace and Phil Hughes went 18-8. I ain’t buying it until I see it. Too many years of expections so why have any?

Yankee$ in three.

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Reasons Texas will win: At first I gave them no chance due to their lack of playoff experience. Still Lee’s good for at least a win right? Bobby Valentine already picked them in 4 and Chris Singleton thinks they can come out of the AL although he’s the only one that crazy so far although I could live with it if and when my Twins lose. They’ve got the hitting we know that.

Reasons they’ll lose: Read a stat that Texas is 0-12 against the rest of the AL competition. Also, only one of the American League teams (Atlanta in the NL) to have a losing road record. You get the feeling like the Reds of the NL, they are simply happy to finally be here after years being out, never mind the fact they’ve never won a playoff series in their history. The only active team to say that. Lots  of reasons to not like them, still its good to see them back, can’t say that enough. Rusty Greer, Roger Pavlik, Mickey Tettleton, Johnny Oates, Dean Palmer, guys I grew up watching the last time they made the playoffs would all be proud.

Reasons Tampa will win: Forget their bandwagon home crowd full of converted Red Sox fans who just plain hate New York, or the transplants, or the fake fans who only started following the team in 2008. The team makes Tropi-crapa field their home and use it to their advantage. Honestly the atmosphere is great there. I’ve been there as a pseudo Rays “fan” (until Baltimore gets back). They have the experience. Many see this as a final run with Rafael Soriano, Carl Crawford, and Carlos Pena although I think only Crawford will depart. The Rays if they lose are still going to be a threat in 2011.

Reasons they’ll lose: Overconfidence. Underestimating their competition. James Shields and his crap 5.18 ERA, Jeff Neimann fading down the stretch (largely due to injury)Matt Garza can’t possibly duplicate 2008 can he? They won’t be able to sneak up on anyone this time. 27th in hitting (BA) has to come into play at some point, right? Pressure to keep Crawford around a bit longer.

Rays in 4 (although nothing would surprise me and if the Twins actually win (hell freezes over) I want to play Texas, so Go Rangers, conditional o the Twins winning, otherwise, go Rays! Easily the x-factor series of the 1st round (best one). Could see several games going into extra innings.

NLDS Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants

You know the saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say….” That’s how I feel about the Braves who I still don’t forgive them for wasting all those oppotunities in the ’90s and denying other teams Pittsburgh chances to do something which may have created parity.

Forget the fact Atlanta is either one big ghetto (depending on where you are) or a cosmopolitan city full of snobbish transplants and “old money” and there are a lot of reasons to hate Atlanta as I do. Overrated Bobby Cox, the damn annoying “chop” that still rings in my ears having to suffer many an October with that droning. Won’t matter though, they won’t be staying long.

Reasons Atlanta will win: Annoying rallying around Bobby Cox and his impending retirement, same for Chipper Jones.  They can’t choke every time they are in. New faces immune to 1990s failures.

Reasons Atlanta will lose: Typical loser franchise come October. Seriously, 14 division titles should have got the Yankee$ of the NL at least 3-4 rings. They went 1/5 in the Fall Classic with my Twins starting them out in the right foot. In 2006 28,000 fans showed up for game 1 of the NLDS. It was explained that “In Atlanta you expect to make it past the first round”.

Tickets were going for $6 on StubHub for this team of fickle followers. I know-I checked. If there is an excuse in the book for failure, this team, this city, and their blind-loyal announce teams will find it. 0/4 in NLDS since 2001. I can’t wait until they go away. Remember the Padres should be the Giants rally cry!

Reasons the Giants will win: (see reasons Atlanta will lose, above!) Seriously, just by playing this annual disappointment, they got the luck of the draw. Can throw Tiny Tim (Lincecum) twice if they actually have to). Have momentum now.

Reasons they’ll lose: Tim can’t do it all. New generation of Braves fans, yet to be disillusioned could bring a new 1991-like excitement. Braves have to snap jinx sometime right? Honestly, this is the least intriguing series by far of the first round and I really don’t care for either team so I’m done.

Giants in 5 (Braves always make ’em interesting)

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philidelphia Phillies

In 2008 when the Phillies made the playoffs it was cool. When they won the World Series that year, while I wanted the Rays, I felt good for the city. Now its just getting old. Like Boston fans of 2004 and 2007 they act like its their birthright. Phily fans are lame in general but it was fun when they were just happy to be in the playoffs (2007) or 1993 which I have fond memories of.

Reasons the Phillies will win: ESPN wants them to. Seriously, get ready to hear the Halladay-Oswalt-Hamels love fest ESPN Bias. Playoff experience. Embarrassing whiffle ball park that benefits the home team. Just remember Phillies fans, I know when you sucked. Do you?

Reasons they’ll lose: Maybe the Reds have a 2008 small-market mentality like the Rays did. Maybe the Reds will sneak up on them and steal an early game or two swinging the series. Too many stars and too much expectations? Seriously, that’s all I got until the Reds show me something.

Reasons the Reds will win: At the risk of repeating, maybe they can sneak up on someone seeing how they should have no pressure having no experience. Chapman could be this year’s David Price x-factor, rookie phenom. Still seems like a team just happy to be there, despite the fact I picked them as a pre-season Wild Card.

Reasons they’ll lose: Just repeating the same things, so I’ll refain, Prove me wrong, Reds, I want to play you in the Series!

Phillies in THREE (see 2008 Brewers) Just happy to be there.

Stay tuned for next round picks when it gets closer.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Commissioner Bud Selig said in an interview today that he would be open to revisiting discussions about expanding the postseason.

“It’s a fair question. We have less teams than any other sport. Eight teams make the playoffs. One wild card in each league. We certainly haven’t abused anything.”

Major League Baseball explored the idea several years ago, but never came to a decision.

Now, with the NFL threatening to expand its regular season schedule to 18 games, Selig may feel pressured to do something to increase baseball’s revenue.

Having the All-Star game determine home field advantage in the World Series was and still remains a terrible idea. This idea may be even worse. Here are five reasons why.

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A statue of Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig was unveiled outside of Miller Park on Tuesday, honoring the former Brewers owner for his contributions to professional baseball in Milwaukee.  

Selig brought the Brewers to Milwaukee in 1970 after the Braves left, and was the man primarily responsible for securing the construction of Miller Park in 2001. The state of the art stadium, along with the league’s revenue sharing program (which Selig also pioneered), are two of the primary reasons baseball thrives in one of Major League Baseball’s smallest markets.

Selig’s statue stands tall alongside similar monuments of baseball legend (and former Milwaukee Brave) Henry “Hank” Aaron, and Milwaukee Brewers icon Robin Yount.  

So who’s missing from this impressive statuary?  

After the Selig ceremony, many sportswriters and fans were calling for a Bob Uecker statue. Mr. Baseball is certainly a deserving candidate, but I’m wondering where’s the love for Paul Molitor?

Molitor was drafted by Milwaukee in 1977. During his 15-year tenure with the Brewers, Molitor was a five-time All-Star (1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992), a two-time Silver Slugger (1987, 1988), and won the Hutch Award in 1987.  

As a member of the Brewers, Molitor compiled the fifth-longest hitting streak in Major League History (39 games), and was a key contributor on the famous 1982 Brewers team that made it to the World Series, falling in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

For his career, Molitor is one of four players in baseball history with at least 3,000 hits, a .300 lifetime batting average, and 500 stolen bases.  

The Brewers retired his No. 4 jersey in 1999 and in 2004, despite his later stints with the Blue Jays and Twins, Molitor kept his word and joined Robin Yount as the second Milwaukee Brewer in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

As a long-time fan, when I think of Milwaukee Brewers greats, I think of Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. I think a lot of fans do.

So where’s the love, Milwaukee?  Please clear a spot for Paul Molitor next to Hammerin’ Hank, The Kid, and the Commish. I think Molly deserves one.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Former pitching great Roger Clemens has been indicted by a grand jury for lying under oath and not admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

But Clemens, if guilty, would certainly not be the only baseball player to present false truths to the public. The fact that it was done while under oath during grand jury testimony is what makes it so reprehensible and a potential crime, but still, that doesn’t make the other nine of these lies any less damaging.

Some of these are funny, some are ridiculous, and others just damning, but all are worth taking a look at. Which are your personal favorites? Do you have more to add that I may have missed?

So, strap it down, relax, and prepare to enter the land where truth is nowhere to be found. Really, that’s the truth, I am not lying.

Oh, but these guys are!

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(Michelle Mitchell also contributed to this article)

With the much publicized divorce proceedings between Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, set to begin in less than two weeks, fans across Dodgertown are primarily concerned about one thing—who will control the franchise heading into the 2011 season?

Basically, there’s three possible outcomes in terms of what may happen with the Dodgers organization.

First, in some shape or form, Jamie McCourt could be awarded ownership of the team. This seems the most unlikely of the three, despite the nearly $10 million dollars Jamie is expected to pay out to her defense brigade. Frank’s name alone is all over the franchise, and the marital assets are in a complete state of disarray. Although Jamie may come out on top in overall wealth, chances of her being awarded sole possession of the club are next to none.

Next, Frank could maintain his position as primary owner and chairman, and continue to oversee daily operations of the Dodgers for years into the future. There’s a reasonable chance of this being the outcome, yet it’s the last thing the Dodger faithful desires to occur. Based on the immoral and unethical business practices that have already been revealed before the divorce proceedings have even begun, Frank McCourt has no real passion for the Dodger legacy or devotion to the state of baseball in general. It’s obvious that his interests lie primarily in generating as much revenue from the organization as possible.

Last, as a result of several different scenarios, the franchise could be placed on the market to be sold. The problem with this, however, is if the initial rulings are appealed, Frank could conceivably maintain ownership for a number of years as things get sorted out in appellate court. If Frank sees the writing on the wall that he must sell, but maintains control of the franchise for any extended period of time, chances are that he will milk every possible dime from the Dodgers before he ultimately relinquishes control.

As it stands right now, there are more than enough reasons for Commissioner Bud Selig to intervene even before some type of ruling is imposed in court. Quite possibly, Selig may have already made contact with Frank to convince him to sell before things become dire and Frank is stripped of ownership.

Frank McCourt can argue until he’s Dodger Blue in the face, but it’s too late now to convince anyone otherwise that he can change his practices and conduct business based on the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a whole.

During his tenure as owner it was obvious that many needed improvements needed to be made to better the organization, yet Frank decided to spend sums of money surpassing six figures to hire a Russian wizard to send energy waves from over 2,000 miles away to help the team win.

Also, according to court documents, the club is paying the annual salaries of the couple’s sons, Drew and Travis. The combined salaries of the two total $600,000, while neither is said to have any responsibility with the Dodgers. At the time the documents were submitted, Drew was attending business school at Stanford and Travis worked at Goldman Sachs in New York.

Consequently, it is alleged by Jamie’s lawyers that the Los Angeles Dodgers have paid nearly $4 million over the past 18 months to the John McCourt Company, an entity which does virtually nothing for the team. Jamie’s attorneys are describing this entity as a “slush fund,” implying it is nothing more than a piggy bank of cash to be used at Frank’s leisure.

Additional documents also state that both Frank and Jamie jointly pocketed income totaling $108 million from 2004 through 2009. On that sum, they paid zero federal and state income tax. Because other companies or assets controlled by the McCourts were losing money, loopholes and careful maneuvering allowed the pocketed sum to become tax-free.

In another unorthodox scheme to generate revenue, it was revealed in past weeks that the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has been charging itself rent for Dodger Stadium and the surrounding properties. Although many teams in MLB pay rent for their stadiums, the annual sum of $14 million being paid by the Dodgers has been described as “ludicrous” by financial experts affiliated with the League.

In July, it was disclosed that the Dodgers’ charity, the Dodgers Dream Foundation, had paid Howard Sunkin in excess of $400,000 in 2007, which was more than a quarter of the charity’s budget. Sunkin, one of the club’s highest ranking executives, was also compensated by the Dodgers for other work outside the charity as well. Authorities on charities, especially involved in Major League Baseball, have described the sum of money as preposterous.

As there’s more than enough evidence for Bud Selig to intercede and force Frank McCourt out as owner, he’s more than likely to weigh the initial ruling from the courts before he takes any type of action.

Most fans in Dodgertown are hoping for the fastest possible resolution, and Bud Selig could certainly make that happen.

The divorce proceedings begin on Monday, August 30. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Being a commissioner of a high-profile major professional sports league is not easy. So, why shouldn’t the leader of a league whose players make an obscene amount of money be compensated appropriately?

Well, it all depends on how well they are doing their jobs, and the first step is in determining just what the measuring stick should be.

Specifically, in Major League Baseball, Bud Selig has led his sport through a period of relative labor peace, with one notable exception, and the teams’ revenue and attendance has increased exponentially while under his watch.

For that, Selig is the highest paid leader among the professional sports, according to Yahoo! Sports, bringing in just under $19 million a year.

That is believed to be almost double the salary of NFL’s leader Roger Goodell and the NBA’s David Stern (though the NBA does not publicly disclose the commissioner’s salary).

Gary Bettman, National Hockey League Commissioner, earned $7.2 million in salary last year, but that is another goofy compensation given the leagues’ relative lack of revenue and his own performance.

Meanwhile, should finances serve as the main arbiter in determining the success or failure of MLB‘s Grand Poobah?

I say “no” and here is why: There is the future of the sport to consider, and under Selig’s watch, that future is somewhat murky given the embarrassment that the steroid era has caused.

The cheating that occurred while Bud conveniently looked the other way, despite his ridiculous protests to the contrary, has led to a serious credibility issue.

This lack of credibility has made a mockery of the most sacred records in a sport in which stats are absolutely beloved and vital. 

The home run record, perhaps the most sacred in all of professional sports, is now a joke thanks to Barry Bonds, who ingested enough PEDs to kill many horses, in a jealous rage caused by the infamous Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa saga in 1998.

Conveniently, Mr. Selig benefited from the public relations boost that the home run chase provided, something that was sorely needed after the cancellation of the World Series.

Which brings us to another embarrassing low point in the MLB’s Commissioner’s career: the strike in 1994 that led to the cancellation of the World Series—the first time that had happened since 1904.

While the wild card has been wildly successful, the introduction of interleague play has been somewhat controversial, as has been the World Baseball Classic.

The Mitchell Report, commissioned by Selig, concluded that the MLB commissioners, club officials, the Players Association, and the players all share “to some extent in the responsibility for the steroid era.”

Well, I would be willing to say that Selig specifically bears the brunt of the accountability.

In addition to artificially inflated ballplayers, inconsistent decisions have also plagued Selig’s legacy.

In 1993, New York Yankees owner George_Steinbrenner was reinstated from a lifelong suspension that was instituted by Selig’s predecessor Fay Vincent. Yet Pete Rose has applied for reinstatement over the years and received no such consideration.

Another embarrassing moment for Selig occurred during the 2002 All-Star Game in Selig’s hometown of Milwaukee.

Selig declared the game a tie, much to the chagrin of the fans, and this led to his stupid decision to have the All-Star game determine which league has home field advantage in the World Series.

Why the hell should something as important as that be determined by an exhibition game, especially after such a long season?

Despite those transgressions, it was the steroid explosion that occurred under Selig’s watch that has been the most damning evidence that the man has simply failed in his job.

Selig knew for a long time about the use, or at least the suspected use, of performance-enhancing drugs in his sport, yet did nothing until Congress forced his hand.

Congressman Cliff Stearns said in December 2007 that Selig should resign because of use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball during his tenure.

Despite this, there are only 10 players in the MLB that currently make more money than Selig, and he is signed through 2012.

Recognizing all this, it is easy to see why Selig is the very definition of ‘doing less with more.’ He should count his blessings that he even has a job, much less the highest paid job in sports.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Will David Ortiz earn a stay in Boston? Will the New York Yankees have enough to hang on to the American League East? Can Ted Lilly save the Dodgers’ fanbase from the McCourt divorce?

The 2010 trade deadline came and went Saturday afternoon with a flurry of both major and minor activity. Now, for players, general managers, owners and coaches alike, the proof is in the pudding.

The decisions made over the past few weeks, and the performances delivered over the next few months, will decide the fate of many a baseball personality.

Whether it’s a contract extension, a pink slip, a postseason berth, or a playoff collapse, much is at stake.

Rosters largely set, teams are now hunkering down for the stretch run. Here are the top 10 big leaguers on the brink as their teams scramble toward October.

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Bud Selig must wonder what the future has in store for him and MLB, after all there are many things that come up and will continue to come up in discussions such as Instant Replay, Inter-league Play, Performance Enhanching drugs issues, Realignment was something in pondered back in March, All-Star Game, and so on. I certainly don’t expect any major changes to happen for the rest of Bud Selig’s tenure unless he wants to go out with a bang and make some last minute changes sort of like how a lame-duck President does pardons right as he hands to keys off to the next guy.

Here you’ll see what needs to happen and some suggestions of what should happen to make the game better for the future and beyond…

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