Bud Selig's official appointment as MLB's full-time
commissioner is "an opportunity to start the long-awaited
revamping of the commissioner's office," according to David
Rawnsley of BASEBALL AMERICA, who writes that "several" MLB
officials said that COO Paul Beeston "submitted a revised
organizational chart" for approval at last March's owners'
meetings. A "key element" of the plan is the creation of a
new Senior Exec VP position, and Beeston's "first choice"
for the new spot "was said to be" Braves GM John Schuerholz.
However, Beeston was unable to persuade Schuerholz to take a
sabbatical from the Braves to take the post, and Rawnsley
writes that "most speculation now seems to point" to former
Yankees/Astros GM Bob Watson for the position (BA, 8/17).
Twins DH Paul Molitor "insists there's nothing to
speculation he'll take a position in the commissioner's
office if he retires after this season" (USA TODAY, 8/7).
BASEBALL BITS: Selig is the subject of an extensive Q&A
with BASEBALL AMERICA's Alan Schwarz. Selig, asked whether
some MLB teams may have to relocate in the near future: "I
won't give odds, because obviously in my position I don't do
that, but I would say the next two or three years. And
maybe sooner than later" (BASEBALL AMERICA, 8/17 issue).
