MLB's Blue Ribbon Panel on Baseball Economics suggested
"strategic" MLB franchise relocation to address competitive
balance issues, but committee member Paul Volcker said, "We
would not look to a contraction except as a last resort. I
don't think the industry should exclude it" (AP, 7/15).
Marlins Owner John Henry said he was happy that
consolidation was not a key finding of the committee: "I'm
very happy. It has been among my fears. I feel better about
it today" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/15). ESPN.com's Rob Neyer wrote
that there "are so many impediments" to franchise
contraction -- "possible political action, possible legal
action, Donald Fehr -- that it's completely pie in the sky,
and just another pointless waste of time for the Lords of
Baseball" (ESPN.com, 7/14). In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan
wrote on possible contraction and noted, "Even if only a
thinly veiled threat, this latest flaming arrow speaks to
the arrogance and myopia of baseball owners and their
precious committee. Instead of fixing what is broken in
baseball -- the ridiculous disparity in revenues, and, thus,
payrolls -- the owners considered ridding themselves of a
problem they created" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/15). But
in Dallas, Kevin Blackistone wrote MLB "wouldn't miss being
in Montreal or Oakland. Canada never has worked out as a
market, and baseball will still have a presence in the Bay
Area with the Giants." He added that "de-expansion, I'm
convinced, is the best idea anyone's had about baseball
since whoever invented the game. Especially as long as it
doesn't include my favorite team" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
7/15). In Montreal, Jack Todd wrote that while the report
seemed to place blame on small-market franchises, including
the Expos, the "problem in Montreal is and has been"
Majority Owner Jeffrey Loria, Exec VP David Samson and
former CEO Claude Brochu -- "not the baseball fans of this
city. ... Give us good ownership, Mr. Selig, and ... this
will be a franchise to make you proud" (GAZETTE, 7/15).
FOR DC/VA: In DC, Thomas Boswell wrote that the report
is more good news for the DC/Northern VA area's attempt to
recruit an MLB franchise. He wrote that at "some point,
instead of being Washington's worst enemy, [Orioles Owner
Peter] Angelos may want to consider the wisdom of becoming
Northern Virginia's best friend. Angelos' wisest position
might be to withdraw his objections to Washington. If 25
percent of his fans come from here, why alienate them? Keep
the loyalty of as many as he can. ... Baseball is looking at
us once again. Looking hard" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/16).
Orioles President John Angelos said the report "doesn't help
us, but it doesn't necessarily hurt us. It doesn't change
the fact that we feel that a second team in this area is not
good for baseball and certainly not good for the Orioles.
The Baltimore-Washington area is almost identical to San
Francisco-Oakland. You're not going to have two successful
franchises" (Baltimore SUN, 7/15).
