Selig Can't Go Soon Enough

[roadrunner]

It appears the vote for his replacement will be on Thursday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/sports/baseball/tom-werner-can-block-rob-manfreds-bid-to-replace-bud-selig.html?_r=0

[cheo25]

If this story is correct in its reporting, we may have Selig for a while. If none of the three candidates gets the necessary votes, Selig would probably stay in place. Deep down, I'm sure he would be thrilled to hang around.

[Reuben]

I'm no Yankophile, but what about Joe Torre? Obviously the owners would never vote in someone so un-business-minded, but it sure would be nice to have a Commish who respects and understands the game, and he's got universal respect.

[Lefty]

I'm no Yankophile, but what about Joe Torre?

I like that idea.  Or Bob Uecker.  Or Tony La.....

[Fredia]

like bad fish will and welcomed guest   be hard to get rid of the odor

[Ron Brand]

I'm no Yankophile, but what about Joe Torre? Obviously the owners would never vote in someone so un-business-minded, but it sure would be nice to have a Commish who respects and understands the game, and he's got universal respect.

He doesn't tick every box in the 'Owner's Stooge?' and 'Can He Form A Consensus Among Enemies?' parts of the questionnaire.

[Mr. Happy]

Manfred named tenth commish.

[Reuben]

Manfred named tenth commish.

What's the story with him, is he just going to be Selig Pt.II (perhaps without the extreme social awkwardness)?

[Mike S.]

Wouldn't be surprised.  He was Selig's handpicked successor, and thus I doubt his first order of business will be restore the natural order of the universe by moving the Astros back to the NL.

[Mr. Happy]

What's the story with him, is he just going to be Selig Pt.II (perhaps without the extreme social awkwardness)?

He's been doing all of the work as COO. The move makes sense.

[roadrunner]

As long as Manfred scales back the steroid witch hunt and focuses on real issues affecting the game such as pace of play, media deals, and international growth, then I'm fine with it.  Hopefully Crane is in his corner, although that seemed to do jack shit for Drayton.

[jbm]

What is the "steroid witch hunt"?

[geezerdonk]

The search for the one that got away from Hansel and Gretl.

[roadrunner]

What is the "steroid witch hunt"?

Just referring to how aggressively Selig went after the Biogenesis guys.

I'm not sure if you're looking to turn this into a back-and-forth message board thing, but if you are I don't really have the energy so I'll concede early.

[NeilT]

Just referring to how aggressively Selig went after the Biogenesis guys.

I'm not sure if you're looking to turn this into a back-and-forth message board thing, but if you are I don't really have the energy so I'll concede early.

Bummer.  I was getting all geared up for some Friday message pounding, maybe even with exclamation points.

[jbm]

I'm not sure if you're looking to turn this into a back-and-forth message board thing, but if you are I don't really have the energy so I'll concede early.

No, I was just curious what you meant!!!!!!!

[chuck]

Bummer.  I was getting all geared up for some Friday message pounding, maybe even with exclamation points.

Well, I'm a don't rock the boat sort of guy but I have to say I don't understand why there's so much clamor to speed up the game. I have visions of the baseball's turning into a version of an early motion picture, sepia figures running around at double speed.

Maybe they should just allow greenies again and let the supposed problem sort itself out.

[roadrunner]

Well, I'm a don't rock the boat sort of guy but I have to say I don't understand why there's so much clamor to speed up the game. I have visions of the baseball's turning into a version of an early motion picture, sepia figures running around at double speed.

Maybe they should just allow greenies again and let the supposed problem sort itself out.

I think it's a problem.  The length of the game is longer, the lack of action is increasing due to the walk/strikeout strategies teams seem to favor, and there's just too much competition in the entertainment world.  Hell, I love baseball and I could barely sit through the entire 3.5 hour Astros/Rangers game in the Diamond Club last week.

[HudsonHawk]

I think it's a problem.  The length of the game is longer, the lack of action is increasing due to the walk/strikeout strategies teams seem to favor, and there's just too much competition in the entertainment world.  Hell, I love baseball and I could barely sit through the entire 3.5 hour Astros/Rangers game in the Diamond Club last week.

That sounds like a personal problem.

[Fredia]

if we have a gripe session going. i dont like instant replay

[roadrunner]

That sounds like a personal problem.

Beer isn't free down there.  That is actually the problem.

[HudsonHawk]

Don't dance the jig if you can't pay the fiddler.

[austro]

I think it's a problem.  The length of the game is longer, the lack of action is increasing due to the walk/strikeout strategies teams seem to favor, and there's just too much competition in the entertainment world.  Hell, I love baseball and I could barely sit through the entire 3.5 hour Astros/Rangers game in the Diamond Club last week.

When your games are longer than NFL games, that's a problem. In my opinion.

[chuck]

One of the things I particularly like about baseball is its leisurely pace and essential to that for me is that there is no official clock of any kind. If someone decided to engage a pitch clock or limit the number of times a catcher can talk with the pitcher or any of the other things that are being discussed the game will lose appeal.

[austro]

One of the things I particularly like about baseball is its leisurely pace and essential to that for me is that there is no official clock of any kind. If someone decided to engage a pitch clock or limit the number of times a catcher can talk with the pitcher or any of the other things that are being discussed the game will lose appeal.

Oh, I agree. The (rare) possibility of an 18-inning game has great allure, as long as 9-inning games don't take as long as 18-inning games used to. But there's still a lot of room to cut out time-wasting in the current game without resorting to anything as draconian as, for example, pitch clocks.

And 10-minute replays are absurd. If there's anywhere that a clock should be employed, it's on replays: if the wizards in NY can't reach a decision in 60 seconds, the original call stands.

[roadrunner]

One of the things I particularly like about baseball is its leisurely pace and essential to that for me is that there is no official clock of any kind. If someone decided to engage a pitch clock or limit the number of times a catcher can talk with the pitcher or any of the other things that are being discussed the game will lose appeal.

I am against a pitch clock but I can't stand multiple mound visits followed by pitching changes.   I like the idea of capping non-pitching change mound visits.  I'm also for keeping batters in the box.