Amid reports that the Dodgers "seem unlikely to make their May 31 payroll," MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is "poised to seize control of the team from embattled owner Frank McCourt, setting in motion a forced sale of one of baseball's signature franchises," according to sources cited by Bill Madden of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Dodgers monitor Tom Schieffer, following his initial inspection of the team's financial situation, reportedly has told Selig that the $30M loan McCourt secured from Fox last month "covered only the two payments in April and the May 15 payroll." If McCourt is "unable to make the May 31 payroll, MLB would have no choice but to take over the team -- otherwise, the Dodger players would essentially become free agents -- and McCourt would be forced to put the club on the market" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/5). In regard to the team's payroll, Dodgers RF Andre Ethier said, "Whether it's Major League Baseball or someone else, Frank has told us it would be taken care of either way, and we've been reassured of that on both ends. I don't think any of us (in the locker room) are too concerned with any of that" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/5). ESPN's Tim Kurkjian cited as source as saying that "we are way closer to the beginning of this story then we are to the end of this story." Kurkjian: "More stuff like this is going to continue to come out, and that's not good news for the Dodgers" ("Mike & Mike in the Morning," ESPN Radio, 5/5).
HEADING FOR A SHOWDOWN? In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports Selig, Schieffer and MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations & HR Rob Manfred met yesterday in Milwaukee to review Schieffer's initial findings, and the meeting is "expected to resume" today. Selig is "expected to meet with McCourt upon the conclusion of baseball's investigation into the Dodgers' finances." Manfred yesterday said that the Dodgers "have not cooperated with baseball's investigation into the team's finances," and that McCourt is "responsible for his own financial troubles." Shaikin notes MLB officials "have been guarded in their public comments in anticipation of McCourt filing a lawsuit, but Manfred didn't mince words." Manfred in a statement said, "Any financial problems faced by the Los Angeles Dodgers are the result of decisions made by Mr. McCourt and his management team over a period of years." His public comments were "part intended as a response to a letter sent earlier Wednesday from Robert Sacks, an attorney representing McCourt, to an attorney representing MLB." Sacks asked for "immediate approval of the Fox contract and said Selig's failure to accept the deal has jeopardized the Dodgers' financial health" (L.A. TIMES, 5/5). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports McCourt "appeared to move closer to a legal confrontation" with MLB yesterday by sending two letters that accused Selig of "causing the team's financial distress by not approving" the Fox contract (N.Y. TIMES, 5/5).
SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET DONE: ESPN's Dave O'Brien said he believes MLB and Selig are "doing the right thing if they have to step in and actually seize the franchise." O'Brien: "Frank McCourt doesn't seem to get the idea that he's just a tenant. It’s not like owning a piece of real estate. ... Owning a franchise is a public trust." ESPN.com's Buster Olney asked, "How do the Dodgers, with all their resources and with only the 12th-highest payroll in all of baseball, have issues with cash flow?" ("Angels-Red Sox," ESPN, 5/4).
DOUBLE THE FUN: YAHOO SPORTS' Jason Cole reported if Selig "does the dirty work and new ownership results, the possibility of reviving Dodger Stadium as a future home for an NFL team just got brighter." There are some "who see even bigger ideas with the Dodgers potentially in play." The idea of moving the team from Dodger Stadium to the site of AEG's proposed Farmers Field in downtown L.A. "has been met with some interest among people inside baseball and the L.A. sports scene" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/4).
