Three more year for this jerk

[SPTO]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

True. That was pretty evident from the moment he reinstated Steinbrenner.

Actually you can't lay all that on the feet of Selig. He wasn't officially commish then but the wheels of motion were in spinning well before '93. It was more or less a rubber stamp thing as it was predicated on Steinbrenner's behavior while he was out of the game which took place during Fay Vincent's reign.


BTW the incongruity of the whole thing is striking, hardcore baseball fans despise Selig yet the fairweather fans keep coming in droves to watch the product which drives up the revenues. It's VERY weird.

[NYJets]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Not all the owners have enjoyed the wealth of Selig's reign. You can ask the Twins and Expos/Nationals owners about that.

I don't think the Twins owner is struggling to pay the rent though.

[Dice]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I don't think the Twins owner is struggling to pay the rent though.

BUT they (along with the Expos) were alomst a victim of contraction a couple of years ago.

[NYJets]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Really? I thought it was more the Marlins?

I could be wrong though, I don't really remember it in detail.

[SPTO]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Really? I thought it was more the Marlins?

I could be wrong though, I don't really remember it in detail.

The Expos were life and death at least 3 times prior to their move to DC. In fact, there were some snafus in getting the team to DC in the first place and there were rumors that the lame duck season would either be extended another year or they'd just close up shop and be done with it all.

[NYJets]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I know the expos were close, but were the Twins ever really close to being contracted?

[SPTO]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I know the expos were close, but were the Twins ever really close to being contracted?

IMO, not really.

Yeah, they were making lots of noises and threats but Selig and Pohlad are close buddies. Selig was doing everything he can to get his pal a free stadium whether it be in Minny or in another city. The people of Minnesota saw right through that as Pohlad is swimming in cash but he cried poor.

[LetsGoBucs]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I know the expos were close, but were the Twins ever really close to being contracted?

Yes, the Twins were involved in contraction talks. From what I remember, it was pretty close and Pohlad would have taken MLB's money for contraction and ran. The shame of it all is that Pohlad is one of the richest owners in MLB...

[SPTO]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Yes, the Twins were involved in contraction talks. From what I remember, it was pretty close and Pohlad would have taken MLB's money for contraction and ran. The shame of it all is that Pohlad is one of the richest owners in MLB...

I hate to be so contrarian but c'mon, do you honestly believe that Selig would've gone through that whole contraction stuff? If he'd had done that you bet your arse there'd be hearings AND I have a feeling that the public outcry would be to the point that the owners would have to fire Selig.

Losing the World Series in '94 is one thing but killing 3 teams is quite another.

[LetsGoBucs]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I hate to be so contrarian but c'mon, do you honestly believe that Selig would've gone through that whole contraction stuff? If he'd had done that you bet your arse there'd be hearings AND I have a feeling that the public outcry would be to the point that the owners would have to fire Selig.

Losing the World Series in '94 is one thing but killing 3 teams is quite another.

I hadn't actually thought about it for awhile, but I know when it was happening I did think he would have gone through with it. I agree with everything you said about hearings and outcry and such. Again, I'm just going by what I thought at the time. Perhaps it was the point in time where I became really disappointed in the fact that sports is not a game but a business.

I think (and thought) it was a bad idea, but I also think that Pohlad was on board with the idea which could have made Selig's decision easier (for him).

[JBH3]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

And then of course you have....

1994: MLB labor strike, World Series cancelled for the first time since 1904.

2001: Contraction hearings on the Twins, Athletics, Devil Rays and Expos, eventually led to him being charged with racketeering and defrauding the Expos minority leaders.

2002: Ends the All-Star game in a tie, responds to criticism by instigating ******** World Series home field advantage rule.

2005: Made a fool in front of Congress for his lax drug testing rules and remained complicit while several of the players he used to repopularize the game following the 94 strike are thrown under the bus.

Selig's a pinhead. The wild card is nice, but the cons far outweigh the pros when it comes to his legacy.

This is a great post...Not to mention the guy should let Pete Rose in the Hall.

[Gary Armida]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

This is a great post...Not to mention the guy should let Pete Rose in the Hall.

I agree he should, but I don't think he will because he has too much respect for the late Bart Giammati (SP?). I think it will take a commish who really has no connection to Bart for the Rose ban to lift.

[Aggies7]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

I havent been a Selig fan since he called the 2002 All-Star game in a 7-7 tie.

[CMH]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Blah, I'm sure if you went back and looked over you could find a significant amount of bad news surrounding baseball while other Commish's were running the show.

The only reason why we hear so much about Selig is because it's happening now and we have bigger media coverage of everything.

[roadman]

Re: Three more year for this jerk

Let's not forget revenue sharing as well.

This has helped teams like the Twins, Brewers and A's stay competitive. Also, the last two player/owner negotiations have gone without an interruption in baseball. I think that's significant under his watch.

There have been a good amount of new stadiums built while he's been commish as well. Baseball is booming at this stage.