In the search for MLB Commissioner BUD SELIG's successor, no one is "being touted behind the scenes among baseball owners" more than Allen & Co. Managing Dir STEVE GREENBERG, but the "trouble is convincing" him to do it, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Greenberg not only is "respected among owners and MLB executives, but he's also a personal favorite" of Selig and White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF. Greenberg negotiated local TV rights "for nine clubs and is working on a TV deal" with Cardinals Chair & CEO BILL DEWITT JR. It also was "Greenberg's original business plan that was used for the launch of MLB Network." Selig said, "He's been a great adviser for us, and he's been really involved." Reinsdorf added, "If he wanted to, he'd be a great candidate." But Greenberg said, "Early on, I told Bud I was not going to be a candidate. I'm sticking to that." He added, "I know what's involved. It's a 24/7, 365-day schedule that the commissioner has to keep to do it right. The three years I spent in the commissioner's office was exhausting." Former MLB Commissioner FAY VINCENT, who hired Greenberg, thinks that the job "will eventually go" to MLB COO ROB MANFRED. Vincent: "Manfred is clearly Selig's choice, and since Selig is undefeated in politics in baseball, Manfred will get it. Manfred would be a wonderful choice. But if you want the best choice, it's Steve" (USA TODAY, 7/18). Meanwhile, MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE said of himself as a potential candidate, "If the owners feel I can help baseball, I'm willing to do whatever they want me to do." But he added, "I don't envision it; I don't anticipate it. I'm certainly not lobbying for it. ... I'm going to be 74 years old." Torre: "Whatever the owners want me to do, I'll do it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/18).
