MLB Commissioner Bud Selig this morning taped an interview for YES Network's "CenterStage," and said he "couldn't be more pleased" with the impact the implementation of a second Wild Card in each league has had on pennant races, attendance and local TV ratings. "It's been absolutely amazing," Selig said. "It's been fascinating to see the different things that have happened each day. We've had a little bit of everything. But even I didn't think it would work out as well as it has so far. Just think of where the National League would be right now without it."
Selig covered many elements of familiar ground in the taping, including his acquisition of the Seattle Pilots in '70, rise to the post as baseball's ninth Commissioner, and reformation of the sport's economic landscape. As Selig has repeatedly stated, he plans to retire after his current contract in '14, though acknowledging few believe him. "We'll be looking for somebody to continue the great momentum this sport has," Selig said of his eventual successor. "It's very important to have somebody who can build consensus." The episode is slated to premiere Sept. 27.
After the taping, Selig praised the financial outlook for the Mets following the settlement earlier this year by the club owners in the Bernie Madoff clawback lawsuit. But Selig steered well clear of several much more contentious issues, including the unresolved A's ballpark saga and the ongoing NHL lockout involving former baseball labor adversary Donald Fehr.
