There are so many people who are intent on saying that Major League Baseball is more popular and successful than ever before. One of those people is Commissioner Bud Selig. He took over in 1992 after leading a group of greedy businessmen and owners to oust then Commish, Fay Vincent. That's when baseball started going downhill. I don't care about profit margins or how much the league has made. I mean, obviously I want the league to do well but I'm not concerned with profit as much as the higher-up's of the last 12 years have been. And that coupled with the fact that they're scared of the players' union (MLBPA) has created a ridiculously money-driven baseball society.
Along with that there are some absolutely stupid rules and traditions in the game that are hurting it. But no one wants to tamper with them. At least anyone associated with the game that could actually catalyze a discussion on the topic. Anyone that mentions the next list of changes is on the outside just like me - sports journalists, some players, coaches, and most importantly, the fans.
The following is a list of changes I feel would make baseball great again. You may want to ask me, "CPunch, what's a Dirty Sanchez?" and I'll say, "This isn't the time or the place for that answer but it doesn't necessarily involve a Latino but is dirty." But the more relevant question is, "What made you come up with this list out of the blue?" Clearly, people, I am random...and I was up late last night still pissed after watching The Man Jim Rome interview the commish. Yak. And without further adu, in random order, the list.
Designated Hitter
The DH is so stupid. Let's just make this clear. I honestly don't know anyone that believes this is good for baseball so this seems like the easiest thing for the league to change. Yea it distinguishes the American from National league. But so what? Excluding the introduction of interleague play a few years ago the leagues' teams never played each other. That's what's different about baseball from the NFL, NHL, and NBA.
Baseball is all about the chess game within the game. That's why National League baseball, to me, is much more interesting. You have to play for bunts and pinch runners/hitters. You need to take a gamble and leave your reliever in the game to bat because half your bullpen is hurt. Plus, not making the pitchers hit is stupid. Make them focus on both sides of the game just like the other league. There's usually more offense in the AL and they say that offense brings in the fans. Well pitching and defense wins championships. Just ask Pedro from last year's ALCS and the Yankees from last year's World Series - Josh Beckett owned them. Oh yea, remember the 2001 series? Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling four times in a 7 game series? Yea, you're not gonna win. If the Sox make the playoffs watch out AL.
Home Field advantage in the World Series
The last two series's home field advantage was decided by the winner of that year's All-Star game. Um, riiiiight. You're going to make 60 guys, only 12 or so of which have a shot at the series, in an exhibition game no less, play their asses off for home field advantage 3 months later? Yea, I don't think so. Another Bud Selig gem. Before this the HFA was alternated every year. That's OK but still lame. How about we do it like every other sport? The team with the better record gets HFA?! Gee, that doesn't make sense or anything does it?
Playoff Games Rotation
That last point brings me to this point. Right now there's the Divisional Series that goes 5 games, the League Championship Series and the World Series go 7 games. The LDS goes 2-2-1 as in games played in the better team's home the first two and last game. For the LCS it goes 2-2-1-1-1. The better team gets games 1,2,5, and 7. Now that makes sense right? For some reason they change it in the World Series to 2-3-2. Why? I hate that. I've always believed the lesser team should get a shot to close out a series in game 6 at home. If they've proved themselves through 5 games that they're up 3-2 they should get a shot at home to win it. The likelihood of a series ending in four or five games is highly unlikely. Why should the better teams get the two more likely deciding games at home?
Salary Cap/Floor
There isn't either and everyone says the MLBPA would never accept that kind of agreement. You know what? Let them strike. If I was commissioner I would make sure there was both a cap and a floor and if they don't want to play, fine. If they really want to play baseball they'll come back to work. And please, they'll still be getting disgusting contracts so no whining from Pay-Rod now that he'd only be getting 10 mill a year. I think we should set a cap at $100 million. That still leaves owners with plenty of money to shop for high-priced players but the floor would make it so that owners would have to spend at least $40 million a year. This ensures that everyone stays competitive. The floor idea was brought to my attention a few years back by Bob Costas. That man is smart. He goes into way more detail on this problem and many others in his book Fair Ball. I suggest you pick it up if you have beef with baseball like I do.
Competitive baseball is exactly what I want. Almost every team having a chance to make the playoffs every year. That equals fun to me. No more monopolies including my two favorite teams, Atlanta and Boston. Cut both their payrolls (they're both in the top ten in the league), I don't mind. As long as competitive baseball comes out of it. What salary restrictions creates is an emphasis on minor league farm systems and general managing. No longer will the checkbook get you to the playoffs. Developing talent will. This is how the game was played up until the 1970's when free agency came about. And how great were those years? Yea, exactly.
Revenue Sharing
F revenue sharing. What you make is for you. With the salary restrictions I just made there'll be no need for the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox to shell out a crapload of money to other teams because they're not making any money because their owners don't feel like putting any money into their team. It's a vicious cycle and it sucks. What your team makes is yours to use for the management's own use. However, there should be rules, maybe "unofficial" morals/ethics where that money is invested into, not only stadium and team upkeep, but the community. Let's see that $80 gazillion in revenue out of the pockets of greedy owners and into the streets of America. How about that? A game that not only brings joy to its fans, but a better community as well. Man, I'm a freakin' genius.
I know some of these things don't seem "feasible"to many insiders to the game because of complications between the owners and players union. But I don't care. Screw democracy. Someone needs to kick this league in the ass and take charge and tell them how it's gonna be. If you don't want another 1994, you got to change some of the rules. And that all starts with getting rid of Bud Selig. Too bad we have to wait til 2009 now.
No comments:
Post a Comment