Selig Talks November Baseball, Umps In Wide-Ranging Interview

Selig Discusses Issues Currently Facing MLB In "Studio 42" Interview

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig sat down with MLB Network's Bob Costas for a wide-ranging interview taped during the World Series that hits on several issues facing the league. With the World Series stretching into November, Selig said he is "not comfortable" playing games in the month. Selig: "I really loathe going into November, worried about it a long time." The World Series stretched into November this year because the World Baseball Classic (WBC) delayed the start of the season, and Selig said of the tournament, "It is such a unique device for taking our sport internationally, something we must do. ... Once every four years, we're going to have to take that as the price for doing what we're doing now." He also again noted he would like to see World Series day games. Selig: "What has really disappointed me is we do show quite a few day games during the postseason, they just don't do very well." Selig said he has talked to network officials and "TV ratings people" about day games, and "they all say including the World Series, your ratings will be down considerably." Selig: "Remember, it's my job, and our job as a sport, to make sure that as many people as possible can see our game as possible."

BOSS TALK: Despite numerous missed calls by umpires during the MLB Playoffs this year, Selig said he is "very proud of the umpires" and he wants to be "very protective of them." Meanwhile, he noted in the next CBA, the sport "needs a worldwide Draft" and a "slotting system for our players." Selig: "There's no question we're going to do that. ... When they went to the Draft in 1965, the objective was for competitive balance, and we have more competitive balance than ever before but the Draft has become a problem on that score." Selig said MLB wanted a salary floor when negotiating the current CBA, but the MLBPA was "against it." Selig: "I'll be able to get more into the economics as time goes on. I have a lot of ideas." Selig also said former MLBPA Exec Dir Marvin Miller "belongs in the Hall of Fame." Selig: "If the criteria is that the impact that you've had on the sport, whatever one wants to value that impact, yes Marvin Miller should be in the Hall of Fame ... and I stand probably alone on my side" ("Studio 42," MLB Network, 11/10).