Selig Takes Out Ad In Chronicle To Explain Moving Of Astros Games
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig Saturday "took out a full-page ad" on page C-16 of the Houston Chronicle Sports section "in response to criticism" over moving two Cubs-Astros games to Milwaukee's Miller Park in the wake of Hurricane Ike, according to Brian McTaggart of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Selig wrote in the ad, "I recognized the advantage the Cubs would have in playing in such close proximity to Chicago, and had there been a better option, I would have taken it. All of us involved in the decision regret the frustration the Astros and their fans felt about playing two games in Milwaukee." Selig said that roofed ballparks in Minneapolis, Phoenix and St. Petersburg "were not available." Selig wrote in the ad, "As commissioner, my job is to balance many competing needs, while also finishing the season on time" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/21). Astros 1B Lance Berkman said MLB "has always valued the dollar more than they do the individual, the players and their families." Berkman: "The most important thing is getting the game in so you don't lose the gate and you don't lose the revenue. That's A-No. 1. And then if in the course of that you can work it around where players aren't affected, that's a distant second." In Houston, Jose De Jesus Ortiz wrote, "A commissioner who valued people more than money would have understood that it would have been better to let the Astros regroup with their families and neighbors." Astros P Doug Brocail: "To make us go up and play at North Wrigley like we had to on no sleep, it was absolutely ridiculous. If it was [the Yankees or Red Sox], it would have been played at the end of the season" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/21).
MCLANE ALSO AT FAULT: SPORTINGNEWS.com's Richard Justice wrote Selig is an "easy target for Astros fans, but the problem began" with Astros Owner Drayton McLane. As MLB "peppered him with questions before the storm, McLane maintained until the last minute that some games still could be played at Minute Maid Park." McLane appeared to be "so obsessed with getting the revenues from three large crowds that he allowed his judgment to be clouded," and by the time the "matter was dumped in Selig's lap, his options were limited" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 9/20). One NL official said McLane "took the best deal. That's the story" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/21).
MAKING A CONTRIBUTION: MLB will donate $500,000 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to benefit the victims of Ike. Also, beginning yesterday, a PSA was set to air in ballparks and "on nationally and locally televised games encouraging fans to provide support." MLB.com and "each of the 30 club Web sites will provide fans with a link to make contributions" (CHRON.com, 9/20).
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