MLB owners "voted unanimously" at yesterday's meetings
in Cooperstown, NY, to "consolidate all operating functions
in the commissioner's office," according to Murray Chass of
the N.Y. TIMES, who writes that the move "generated little
or no opposition among owners." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig,
who "spearheaded the move to consolidate such matters as
umpiring, scheduling and discipline," said, "This is an
historic moment that many have felt was long overdue."
Selig said that AL President Gene Budig "has been offered
the role" of Senior VP/Educational and Government Affairs.
Selig also "confirmed" that NL President Len Coleman was
resigning after the season, but he "will serve" as Senior
Adviser to Selig and as MLB Charities President. D'Backs
Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo, on centralizing
the power within MLB's commissioner's office: "This is all
about eliminating redundancy and being more efficient in the
league office" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/16). In Dallas, Ken Daley
reports that the plan "strips" the AL and NL presidents "of
all but ceremonial power." Coleman: "I'm not interested in
a ceremonial post. It's been a nice ride, but being a
league president recently has been like being the chairman
of Studebaker" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/16). In N.Y., Bill
Madden gives his reasons why MLB "couldn't have found a more
meaningful position for Coleman": "It was no secret he had
designs on being commissioner. ... Even more fatal was
Coleman's close relationship" with MLBUA General Counsel
Richie Phillips (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/16). For more from the
meetings, see (#15), (#16), (#17), (#18), (#19).
