[EmpireWF]

Bud Selig plans on finishing out his current deal which will end in 2009. At that point, he wants to retire, teach and author a book. During his reign as Commish (since 1992), the sport has seen expansion, the wild card, interleague play, drug testing, revenue sharing, record-making profits/ticket sales, labor peace until 2011 and tremendous international growth.

Of course there are some negatives (All-Star Game controlling World Series HFA and some Owners refusal to spend more money), but overall, I'd say Selig has been a very good leader for the game.

So, what are your opinions on Selig?

[MVB]

Darn, when I was scrolling down the main page of this site and saw the headline "Selig Set to Retire" I got all excited.... but we have to wait till '09.

Not a huge fan of the guy for a couple reasons. First of all, he seems so disinterested in baseball (which I know is odd), like the whole sport is just a bother. He's also anti-Yankee (like many commisioners before him), and has handled the steroid issue slowly and incompetently.

[domer747]

I think you are correct in saying that he hasn't handled the steriod issue correctly. I think he has been to passive as a commisioner, especially in regards to the steroid issue, and I think that is unfortunately how we will remember him. Too bad because I think he could have done some good things had he been more agressive...

[ThePundit]

I think Selig is a decent man but he was never anything more than the owner's puppet. This is part of the reason why baseball is in the shape that its in today. With certain teams having a $200 million payroll and other teams with $15 million..Baseball needs an independent commissioner - a Bowie Kuhn or Bart Giamatti but the owners would never go for it. So we'll get another puppet in there and then watch as the World series ratings keep declining.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

I think Selig is a decent man but he was never anything more than the owner's puppet. This is part of the reason why baseball is in the shape that its in today. With certain teams having a $200 million payroll and other teams with $15 million..Baseball needs an independent commissioner - a Bowie Kuhn or Bart Giamatti but the owners would never go for it. So we'll get another puppet in there and then watch as the World series ratings keep declining.

I was going to post almost the same thing. He was a former owner and was jsut supposed to be an interim commissioner if memory serves. He never had the games interest at heart in my opinion. Baseball needs to come together with the players union and have an autonomous commissioner as an agreement in the next CBA.

As far as Selig's tenure I like the wild card and inter league play. I thought he dragged his feet with the drug testing and only became a frontrunner on it when congress threatened to legislate it. Revenue sharing is a good idea, but is not being used for what it was intended. Owners are pocketing the money and not using it to improve the teams.( Marlins). Profit and ticket sales do not involve him. Owners set the ticket prices I think. He should be shot for letting the All-Star game decide home field advantage.

[Lefty Noob]

Any word on who might replace him?

[simple simon]

George Mitchell was one name thrown out there this summer

[snooker]

Is Tommy Lasorda to old for the job ? He be a good teacher pet

[Gotham Dark Knight]

He should write a book..."The Interim that Stayed too Long"...he's an idiot as far as I am concern.

[OswaldTheOsprey]

Not one second too soon! The worst commissioner ever!

OswaldTheOsprey

[EmpireWF]

Could George W. Bush be a candidate? By then he'll be out of the White House and he use to be an owner.

Interesting possibility.

[Lefty Noob]

Makes a heck of a lot more sense than the Condy Rice - NFL commissioner rumors from a while back.

Bush knows the game, was an owner and continues to be a huge baseball fan. I could see it. Regardless of what anyone thinks of his politics (which we should avoid getting into), he does seem to be a valid option to succeed Selig as MLB commish.

[OswaldTheOsprey]

Bush would be a valid commissioner. Please correct me if I am wrong,
but I believe he was one of those who stood by Fay Vincent during
that mess.

OswaldTheOsprey