During Sunday’s MLB Civil Rights Game between Atlanta and Philadelphia which was won by the Braves, 3-2, TBS brought in MLB Walking Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig to talk about a few issues surrounding the game. Dick Stockton and Ron Darling conducted the interview.
TBS’ Dick Stockton and Ron Darling interviewed MLB Commissioner Bud Selig during today’s Civil Rights Game (Phillies @ Braves) regarding expanding the number of teams in the Postseason
Selig on the possibility of expanding Postseason:
“I am (looking at expanding the Postseason), in fact, John Schuerholz of the Braves and David Montgomery of the Phillies (are here), both are club presidents and they are on that committee and we’ve had conversations about it…I really believe that 10 out of 30 (teams making the Postseason) is still a good number. It’s by far the least number of any other sport as you well know. We’ve run all kinds of schedules and things and we have a 14-man committee with four managers (including) Joe Torre who now works for us, but (Tigers manager) Jim Leyland, (Cardinals manager) Tony La Russa and (Angels manager) Mike Scioscia and four general managers, four owners and then (author) George Will and (Hall of Famer) Frank Robinson (are on the committee). I can tell you, and everything has been very confidential but they won’t mind. This group has voted 14-0 for more playoffs. We’re moving there but we have details to work out and the details are difficult. But I’m very confident that we’re moving inevitably.”Stockton & Darling discussed Selig’s comments
Stockton on MLB potentially expanding the number of teams that qualify for Postseason: “Interesting that Commissioner Selig told us about the vote and how emphatic it was for Postseason play.”
Darling: “You would have thought with expenditures there would have been some dissention but I think that after the wild card and its been here for so long, that everyone wants to get more teams in play. It’s even better for the fans because it gives them the opportunity to think that they have a chance to get into the playoffs.”Stockton: “Like you said, not all managers agree, but 14-0?”
Darling: “I was very surprised by that vote but it lets you know where baseball is going to go. I don’t think the hard part is adding a couple of wild cards, it’s the format of how you’re going to do that to make sure you’re not playing into mid-November.”
And that does it.
