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The Associated PressTo Rangers’ George W. Bush, ‘Baseball is a marathon sport ... 162 games.’forms over a course of 162 games. (Ex-Firing of commissioner clears way for ownersBy Tony DeMarcoFort Worth Star-TelegramWith the ugly dismissal of Fay Vincent accomplished, baseball’s owners have started on a new course — preaching unity.When Texas Rangers managing general partner. George W. Bush accepted Bud Selig’s invitation and accompanied the interim commissioner to Milwaukee to witness Robin Yount’s 3,000th hit Sept.9, it was seen as a sign of that unity.No two owners were further opposed on the Vincent issue. Selig, the Brewers’ owner, was one of the leaders of the majority dissenters, going as far as eliciting votes to fire Vincent. Bush was the most vocal of the minority supporters.“I looked at it as a chance to see agreat moment,” Bush said about Selig’s invitation. “But I also took it as a gesture of friendship. That’s why I respect Bud like I do. My mission now is to patch over our differences and unify baseball as much as we can.”But Bush again could find himself a minority dissenter if those who are leading the game get their way.Yes, Bush has been named to the 13-member restructuring committee, a group charged with studying and recommending major changes that are certain to occur in a tumultuous period ahead.So has fellow Rangers owner Edward W. “Rusty” Rose, as well as five other owners who were Vincent supporters in the face of the coup led by Selig and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.Certainly, Bush and Rose will have input into shaping the new role of the commissioner’s office, the committee’s first task.But there seems to be little debate about what that position will eventually become — slightly watered down, more marketing oriented, with little or no say in labor negotiations. In short, more an instrument of the owners, and less a power over all of baseball. Speaking the general consensus, Mets owner Nelson Doubleday said:“I’m not taking a shot at any other commissioners, but the way the office is structured has been there too long. We’re in the 20th century. Some things have to change.”Where debate — and quite possibly, radical change — is possible, is in accommodations made for television. Accommodations such as another layer of playoffs, three-division setups in each league, and possibly a shorter regular season.Those are changes Bush, who calls himself “a stubborn traditionalist,” strongly opposes.“Baseball is a marathon sport,” Bush said. “What matters is how a team per-panded playoffs) would cheapen the • regular season. As owners, we want games in April to mean as much as August.“One of the great things about our game is the ability to compare the past to the present. I’d like to keep as many variables as constant as possible.”Bush prefers to attack baseball’s problems from another angle.“We’ve got to be concerned about ticket prices, salaries getting out of touch to reality, and service at our stadiums,” he said.But Bush is realistic enough to know the changes he opposes could occur, primarily because the same group that forced Vincent’s resignation is leading the charge for dramatic change.“It could happen,” Bush said.While salaries continue to rise uncontrollably, all-important television revenue is about to take a serious fall. The $1.4 billion windfall over four years from CBS and ESPN will end after the 1993 season.CBS claimed after-tax losses of $55 million for 1990. It is estimated that the network will lose from $150 million to $170 million on the four-year deal. ESPN is losing $35 million to $40 million annually. *A reduction to baseball of up to 30 percent is expected in the next contract, which could involve as many as three networks.To address the situation, a three-man committee headed by San Diego’s Tom Werner has been formed.“We’ve got a tough time ahead of us,” said White Sox owner Eddie Einhorn,another member of the television committee.One answer, of course, is an additional round of playoffs, which attract lucrative advertising dollars, CBS took in about $200 million from the 1991 postseason.The extra round could come by ex-■panding each league to three divisions, and adding a wild-card team from each league, which would expand the playoffs from four teams to eight.Taking this season as an example, the three-division alignment indeed would have resulted in more teams playing games of importance this month. •For the sake of argument, we will realign the divisions as follows:■ American League East: Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox.■ American League Central: Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers.■ American League West: Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Angels, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners.■ National League East: Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins.■ National League Central: Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs.■ National League West: San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Dodgers, San Francisco Giants (if move made to Tampa, move them to NL Central), Colorado Rockies.In the realigned American League, Oakland already would have clinched', and Toronto would be a likely division winner.But look at the race in the newly created AL Central. Milwaukee, Minnesota and Chicago would be involved in a heated fight for a division title, something the latter two have no chance for under the current arrangement. In addition, the Orioles, Twins and White Sox would be within percentage points or each other for the wild-card spot.In the National League, Pittsburgh! would be beating Montreal in the East' Atlanta would be running away from Cincinnati in the Central, and San Diego would be winning in a weak West. Thewild card would be Montreal,
Newspaper Details
Santa Ana Orange County Register
Santa Ana, California, US
Sun, Sep 27, 1992
Page 26
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael H.
USA 07 Mar 2022
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