Bud Selig Discusses Economy's Impact on MLB, TV Ratings and WBC
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Selig Says He Is Sensitive To
Economy's Impact On Fans |
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig participated in a Q&A with ESPN.com's Jayson Stark and said he has "never seen anything like" the economy and its impact on MLB. Selig: "Neither has anybody else. ... While, in the past, I've felt baseball was recession-proof, this is different. And each owner is going to have to determine, personally and from his team's standpoint, what that means." When asked if MLB can "reach out to people who have been affected" by the economy," Selig said, "I've been very sensitive about ticket prices. And a lot of clubs are offering discounts. We know that people can't travel as much. So I really hope that we can fulfill the needs of people who want to be entertained, who love our sport." Selig said of MLB's need for a salary cap, "The fact of the matter is, we've had, up till now, more competitive balance than we've ever had. So I want to continue to watch things. And I'll make very strong judgments, but at the appropriate time. And now is not the appropriate time." When asked if he thinks that the current revenue-sharing system is "enough to maintain the kind of competitive balance baseball needs to succeed," Selig said, "I'm proud of the current system. We went through a lot of travail, a lot of anguish, to get where we are today. And we have more than $450[M] in revenue sharing. We have Milwaukee in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Minnesota is very competitive. Obviously, we know the Tampa story. I think there are enough illustrations around to prove the point."
DAY MAN: Selig said he and Fox Sports President Ed Goren have had a lot of "very constructive conversations" concerning the health of MLB's postseason broadcasts. Selig noted he would "like to have earlier starting times, and maybe find one even earlier where, if it isn't a day game, it's very early in the evening." Selig: "What's interesting to me is that the sport has never been more popular. The television ratings, the local ratings, during the season, are spectacular. Attendance has been unbelievable. And I'm proud of all that. ... And then we get to the postseason." MLB is "really going to try to do some things so that the postseason ratings are commensurate with the rest of the season. Earlier starting times are very important to me, no question about it." Meanwhile, Selig said of moving the WBC to another time of the year instead of March, "The season ends around the first of October. So the players are gone for a month. So you can't bring players back. And the playoff teams are worn out. So could we play it any other time? I don't think that's practical" (ESPN.com, 1/23).
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