Big League Stew - MLB

Big League Stew

Wed May 23, 2007 1:46 pm EDT

Five and Fly: Selig's choice

By Tim Brown

For years now, when a writer wished to challenge Bud Selig and required a little backup, muscle was just a phone call away.

"Hello, Fay?"

And Fay Vincent would deliver.

1-800-DECK-BUD.

Vincent was to Selig what Red Auerbach was to Phil Jackson. What Jimmy Carter is to George W. Bush. What WADA is to, come to think of it, Selig.

Now Vincent is advising Selig – you know, deposed commish to standing commish – to boycott Barry Bonds.

He's on a rampage, telling the Associated Press "in spring training" (AP telling us yesterday) and ESPN Radio that Selig should stay home or play golf with Hank Aaron when the time comes for Bonds to become baseball's all-time home-run leader.

OK.

I think Selig should be there or tell us why he isn't.

And he should do this pretty soon, unless he's waiting on a phone call from George Mitchell, though I'm not sure Mitchell will have a lot more information than what's already in the best-seller.

FIVE …

• Let's see if we remember how this goes, because we're starting the cycle again.

Step 1: Jason Giambi takes drugs (more drugs, allegedly, this time amphetamines).

Step 2: That usage is exposed in the newspapers (the New York Daily News, today).

Step 3: Attempting to rescue his personal wealth and image, he apologizes for, well, you know.

Step 4: Hits a few home runs, but not so many that it looks suspicious; New York forgives.

Step 5: Confesses to, you know, "stuff." Contends everyone in baseball should apologize for personal decisions he made.

Step 6: Hits home run; New York applauds.

So, let's see, looks like we're due a vague apology any day now.

• Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes has at least five children by four different women, according to the St. Petersburg Times. All four women have gone to court to wring child support out of Dukes, and at least two of the women have sought restraining orders against him, one as recently as last week, according to the report. The impressive part: Dukes has gotten all this done before his 23rd birthday.

• With the Los Angeles Dodgers holding a one-run lead last night against the Milwaukee Brewers, Jonathan Broxton finished the eighth inning by striking out Prince Fielder. The last four pitches of the at-bat were fastballs, clocked at 98, 99, 97 and 98 mph on a Dodger Stadium gun reputed to be slow. Takashi Saito pitched the ninth for his 24th consecutive successful save, dating to last season, and this is why the Dodgers – particularly if they can get Jason Schmidt up and running again – should outlast the rest of the NL West.

• When Julian Tavarez outpitches Mike Mussina at the Stadium, it might be time to consider your next move. Mussina's last two starts (at Chicago White Sox, vs. Boston Red Sox): 12 innings pitched, 18 hits, four home runs, 12 runs, all earned.

• The Dodgers promoted third-base prospect Tony Abreu yesterday, giving them three part-time third basemen – Wilson Betemit and Andy La Roche are the others – and leading to speculation Ned Colletti is positioning himself to make a trade for a bat. General managers and scouts expect the real activity to begin after the June 7 draft.

… AND FLY

From a scout who'd seen the Baltimore Orioles recently: "It looks like Miguel Tejada has played all 1,100 consecutive games this month."


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242 Comments

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  1. Adam
    1. Posted by Adam Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    As the grand poobah of baseball, Bud Selig absolutely needs to be on hand for this occasion. I don't care how unpleasant it may be, how much of a shot to the solar plexus it may be, or whether he would rather swallow glass, this is the Mount Everest of sports records that is about to be broken. Everyone can debate the merits of Barry Bonds' pursuit of the home run record 'til the cows come home, but as the head of major league baseball, Selig has the responsibility to put his own personal feelings aside and represent himself as commissioner of this sport by watching this record fall.
    Sure, Bud may be inconsolable over the idea that a blatant cheater - allegedly - may eclipse the record of a man he's admired for decades, but guess what? Steroids were rampant for any number of years during Selig's stewardship, and he, in all of his infinite wisdom, chose to simply turn his head, close his eyes, plug his ears, and carry on as if it wasn't a problematic area in the baseball landscape.
    Well, Bud, you get to face your worst nightmare very, very shortly. Enjoy your firsthand account, friend.
  2. me
    2. Posted by me Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    If Bud Selig doesn't go, it will only reflect poorly on himself and on MLB. He turned a blind eye when the steroid-laden home-run derby of the late 90's was going on, because it got so many more people interested in the game. Barry Bonds is a pain, and many may not like him, but baseball's hall of fame is full of guys like him. Bud Selig is his contemporary in that respect. Worst commissioner in the history of commissioners.
  3. me
    3. Posted by me Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    If Bud Selig doesn't go, it will only reflect poorly on himself and on MLB. He turned a blind eye when the steroid-laden home-run derby of the late 90's was going on, because it got so many more people interested in the game. Barry Bonds is a pain, and many may not like him, but baseball's hall of fame is full of guys like him. Bud Selig is his contemporary in that respect. Worst commissioner in the history of commissioners.
  4. L
    4. Posted by L Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    that's fine if he's not there. doesn't really matter because he's irrelevant to the game. and for those reporters who keep tryiing to BRING hank arron into the mix. if you simply read jackie robinsons autobiography I NEVER HAD IT MADE at the very begining of the book (written a long time ago and in 96 hank added a intro to it-96 now-over 10 years ago) he says exactly what he's been saying today. THAT HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BASEBALL that he DOESN'T ATTEND ANY GAMES..that HE'S DONE WITH PLAYING AND TRAVLING AND DOESN'T EVEN GO TO THINGS THAT ATLANTA ASKS HIM TO GO TO.
    i don't know what's worse barry or the writers who KEEP TRYING TO BRING HANK INTO THIS.
  5. Craig J
    5. Posted by Craig J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    ...let's see. First we'll lower the mound...then will introduce the DH... next we'll change the strike zone so that no pitch will ever be called a strike again... then we'll take away the brush back pitch as a pitcher's tool, and let batter's go up to bat in full body armor... then we'll expand the majors to really dilute the pitching, and build ball parks where a pop-up is a homer. And when all the records come crashing down in the next 20 years, we will deny that we did anything to change the offensive game, and promote a homer era they likes of which has never been seen before.
    Baseball has gotten exactly what it designed. I'll wager anyone out there that if you repeal all of the above and let everyone take steroids, home run production will drop as fast as attendance, because the fans want to see offense.
  6. L
    6. Posted by L Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    what's even funnier is when people try to stick up for the owner (fay vincent recently) trying to say the owners didn't know what was going on..YEAH AND I'M THE POPE.
  7. Curt
    7. Posted by Curt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    I suggest everyone especially the fans not support this event and maybe we can send a message to all of baseball that we have had enough of all this cheating stuff.
  8. sportswriter
    8. Posted by sportswriter Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Bud Selig should attend games where Mr. Bonds will break the all time Home Run record. He is the Comish after all. It sends a message that deeds that are worthy should be recognised. However: After Mr. Bonds hits the historic ball, Mr. Selig should state that it was nice to be there and that it will also be nice when A Rod breaks all the home run records (which is a given) barring a career ending injury. This is a way that Bud can honor Mr. Bond's record and still slap it in his face.
  9. foroldsc
    9. Posted by foroldsc Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    the reality of the situation is this: most fans, players, coaches and people dont really care about cheating or cheaters. We like homeruns, big stars and entertaining games. The drug stuff is for Congress to appear busy while actually doing nothing...Its time for all baseball fans, players, execs, and WRITERS to stop all this discussion. Basically, its not that big a deal.
  10. NoahT
    10. Posted by NoahT Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    He still hits the ball like nobody else. Cut Barry some slack.
  11. Max C
    11. Posted by Max C Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

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    MLB soap and hypocrisy at its best. On the one hand, why wouldn't Mr. Selig attend? Because he believes Bonds' accomplishment is tarnished by steroids and cheating. If that is the case, why is Bonds still playing? Why hasn't MLB done more to fully investigate Bonds? Can't have it both ways? Mr. Selig and MLB can't burry their heads in the sand and ignore the Bonds issue all the while letting him play, but then snub his apparently inevitable accomplishment. Will the real MLB and Mr. Selig please step up..
  12. domenick2x
    12. Posted by domenick2x Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Ridiculous. I agree with the author, Selig needs to man up and either be there or say why he won't be there.
    It's only fair - it would be one thing if Selig actually took a stand on the Bonds-Juice issue, but he needs to grow a pair first.
    I wonder what Jeff Gilooly is doing these days, and if he's maybe been in contact with Bud about helping the record stand.....
    www.sports-boards.net
  13. Brian
    13. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    #13 WOW!! Are you Barry Bonds himself? You are very defensive..........
  14. chris
    14. Posted by chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Bonds will break the record whether Selig is there or not, and we should all stop fooling ourselves, for 100 years baseball has been played and yet they have never been problems like this before, why? we all know things were happening, but drug testing, and the internet and all the information being readily available has only been for the last few years, it was easy to keep things covered up that you didn't want anyone to know. Now you can't. Even at the start of this witch hunt, with all the players in the MLB, do you mean to tell me that only the handful of guys that are always named are the only ones who did them? Maguire, Giambi, Sosa, Bonds and so forth and so on? we all know there are alot more so if the steriods make such a huge difference, why weren't there 50 different guys hitting 50 HRs or more? Do I believe the steriod theory, yes, i believe they were taken, what I don't believe is that if you give steriods to an ordinary man, all of the sudden he is able to stand in that box against a major league pitcherand because of that shot or rub will allow him to hit a major league pitch 400 feet over the fence, I am sorry, they don't work that way. Mr Selig should attend, the record will be broken and Mr Bonds will be the HR leader
  15. Scott
    15. Posted by Scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    Does it make a difference that the Commissioner was not present when Hank Aaron broke the Babe's record (the commissioner was present when it was tied). Why should the present Commissioner show up when Mr. Steroids hits more than Hank?
  16. Saiesh S
    16. Posted by Saiesh S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    selig blames bonds for what he messed up on. End of story. You can't deny someone of pure facts. Hate him or love him he is gonna break it. /salute barry bonds
  17. joseph_cefalu
    17. Posted by joseph_cefalu Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Bonds is a cheater and can go pound sand.
  18. Brian
    18. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    #16 Not every body builder becomes mr. olympia either. Cheating is cheating. In baseball it just so happens the guys with the most talent were also taking steroids. It does take the talent as well as the drugs, but without the juice, Bonds would not have over 700 HR's. 30-35 homers a year is one thing, look at Manny Ramirez, he hits 30-35 each year. He never had that big 45-50 season, 50-60 season. What if he did the juice for a few years? The talent along with the power would have increased his numbers dramatically.
  19. Brian
    19. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    Take away the juice and it's 645 not 745.......period
  20. Michael L
    20. Posted by Michael L Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    I give little respect and value to Bonds' breaking of the record. It's not just the steroids, but everything that has happened in the game to increase the number of HRs, because as we all know: fans dig the long ball.
    As exhibit "A", I give you Pac Bell... or SBC... or AT&T park... or whatever the heck they call it these days. Just take a look at the dimensions of this park, and the first thing that comes to mind is,
    "OMG! Is that a huge cut they made out of right field?"
    The instant rebuttal is, "Well, yeah... that's because of the S.F. Bay sitting there. They ran out of room, so they had to shorten it to 309 feet."
    "Well, maybe they ran out of room, but it sure is a convenient to orient the park that way, don't you think?"
  21. Viaumaster
    21. Posted by Viaumaster Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    I say Bud will be there for it in San Fran or Milwaukee, but he will not be there for if it is anyplace else, and believe me baseball, the Giants and Barry are praying he does it at home. In fact is he is close (say 1-3 homers away) and the Giants are on a road trip, don't be surprised if he sits out until they get back home.
    I think the issues is more that it is Barry Bonds breaking it than whether or not he used steroids. The guy has done everything to alienate himself from the fans (except the lemmings by the bay). Outside of SF there is not a more disliked person in baseball with the closest being AJ. When A-rod breaks the record in 5-10 years, it will be celebrated and there will be genuine excitment across the country. Why? Because he is liked by fans and media for the most part.
    Barry Bonds breaking Hank's records will be like Randy Moss breaking Jerry Rice's receiving records.
  22. Brian
    22. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    A question for all?
    Assuming Bonds has used these drugs for as long as he is accused of.
    Would he have 700 HR's?
  23. semberland
    23. Posted by semberland Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    Selig is an idiot. All of this is ultimately his own fault. Anyone following baseball in '98 knew Mac and Sosa were juiced - how could you not? I remember Mac when he was a rookie (pretty skinny, lanky kid). And 10 or so years later he looked like a giant. The '98 home run chase brought back the excitement to the game (after the strike), generated huge fan interest, and more importantly (for Selig) put money in the pockets of the owners (he was an owner at the time as well). Selig and the owners were too greedy to try and stop what became a speeding freight train. Now the greedy SOB is stuck having to honor Bonds as he breaks the all time HR record. He deserves to be in this predicament! I bet he wishes all of this ends up like the 2002 All Star Game - in a tie. Although he then would be given yet another opportunity to make a stupid decision...
  24. John Peterson
    24. Posted by John Peterson Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    I like the comment that Selig is the administrative side of baseball's version of Barry Bonds. I'm sure both would prefer that the games were played in locked, empty stadiums, as in Bill James' dystopic vision. Neither of them care about the fans. This is why Selig has gone out of his way to be duplicitous about being in attendance for the record-breaking. This is why he saw nothing wrong with the exclusive deal he signed with DirecTV to be the provider of out-of-market broadcasts. This is why the distinction 'out-of-market' still exists, and I have to spend 10 minutes finding a foreign proxy server in order to watch my team play the games that I have paid 120 dollars a year already to see. This is why they air the same stupid commercial every half-inning on MLB.tv. This is why baseball encourarages the constant denigration of its greatest stars (Bonds, Rodriguez, Clemens, Giambi) and trips over its heels to celebrate the 'scrappiness' of small, white, untalented baseball players like David Eckstein and Darin Erstad. It is the same reason that baseball is a closed world resistant to innovations like sabermetrics and alternative pitching styles and techniques. This is why steroids were permitted for so long in the first place.
  25. stephenw
    25. Posted by stephenw Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Selig is a loser and a poor figurehead. He and Bonds then, are on the same plane. They belong together. Bud should attend. At this point, neither are even interesting enough to dislike.

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