Tom Werner named a finalist for MLB Commissioner

Toe Nash · Aug 6, 2014

wutang112878 said:
This type of view is what might doom MLB. When MLS, yes Major League Soccer, has more interest from young fans than MLB (according to an ESPN poll) you have a future problem coming. The younger generation isnt as interested in the long games and slow pace as the older generation is, so you need to find a way to have the product match your future fans interest or you will have a huge problem. We arent seeing the effects of this in the ratings yet, but I do believe we will start to see this trend over the next 10 years.

People said and wrote this when I was a kid twenty years ago. Revenues only grew (post-strike).

Granite Sox · Aug 6, 2014

Werner apparently has some "visionary" ideas he feels the owners need to hear.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/08/05/red-sox-chairman-tom-werner-among-finalists-mlb-commissioner/FoB9AFTReXppTYATC1wmFJ/story.html

I have ideas that I believe the owners should hear,” Werner said. “That’s why I’m involved in the process.

In addition to 'Dog's summary above, do these ideas include Pop-Up Trivia, Sox Culture (WMB likes Italian food!), in-game text polls, tweeted videos, and ceaseless in-game promos that subtract from play-by-play? Cuz that's sure to be something the other owners will drool over. Not to mention sharing Best Practices from the outside consulting studies on the excitement level of team composition.

Reinsdorf and Moreno also happen to be second-fiddle owners in two-team large markets. I'm certain pace of the game and appealing to younger generations are two central challenges, but I'm not sure what the anti-Manfred position is that these two owners are so hot and bothered about, other than the "commish works for the owners, and Manfred ain't an owner" angle.

HriniakPosterChild · Aug 6, 2014

wutang112878 said:
The problem as I see it is that its really difficult to isolate what Werner has done and you should need some serious credentials and clear accomplishments to get the Commissioners job.

What did Bud do besides grab the Pilots from Seattle?

twibnotes · Aug 6, 2014

Toe Nash said:
People said and wrote this when I was a kid twenty years ago. Revenues only grew (post-strike).

Revenues grew bc of cable television, new taxpayer funded stadiums, web-based viewing and a host of other factors. Just bc revenues grew does not mean baseball doesn't have a problem engaging young people. It's a real issue that needs to be addressed.

mabrowndog · Aug 6, 2014

Dick Pole Upside said:
In addition to 'Dog's summary above, do these ideas include Pop-Up Trivia, Sox Culture (WMB likes Italian food!), in-game text polls, tweeted videos, and ceaseless in-game promos that subtract from play-by-play? Cuz that's sure to be something the other owners will drool over.

It should be clear to one and all that he's already found the sport's magical magnetic youth elixir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8N8NcCWh6Q

mabrowndog · Aug 6, 2014

twibnotes said:
Revenues grew bc of cable television, new taxpayer funded stadiums, web-based viewing and a host of other factors. Just bc revenues grew does not mean baseball doesn't have a problem engaging young people. It's a real issue that needs to be addressed.

Well said.

wutang112878 · Aug 6, 2014

HriniakPosterChild said:
What did Bud do besides grab the Pilots from Seattle?

Oooohhhh, you mean before he was given the job. I agree he didnt have a sterling resume. I was pointing out what the next Commissioner's resume should be, not what it has been.

jscola85 · Aug 6, 2014

Hendu for Kutch said:
I hope Werner doesn't get it for the simple reason that I don't feel like hearing other teams' fans bitching and moaning about favoritism every time he makes a ruling that does anything other than hose the Red Sox. Call it the Campbell Principle.

Edit: removed some colorful language.

Meh, I want to win and having Werner in the most powerful position in baseball will only help the Sox.

Skeesix · Aug 6, 2014

I'm just glad there are rumors for something beyond Bud staying on another year.

soxhop411 · Aug 6, 2014

Now, with a week to go before team owners are to pick a replacement for Bud Selig as Major League Baseball’s commissioner, Werner has emerged as a formidable challenger to Selig’s longtime deputy and closest adviser, Rob Manfred.
Selig formally announced in September that he would step down in January 2015, and Manfred, baseball’s chief operating officer, has been seen as the favorite to succeed him. But Werner’s candidacy has gained some traction in recent weeks as he has received the backing of a small but influential group of owners who are strongly opposed to Manfred and are trying to block his election.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/07/sports/baseball/tom-werner-emerges-to-create-a-race-for-baseball-commissioner.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

Until recently, the owners opposed to Manfred — the Chicago White Sox’ Jerry Reinsdorf; the Red Sox’ John Henry; and the Los Angeles Angels’ Arte Moreno — had largely failed to come up with an alternative candidate.But now, Werner’s supporters are contending that they have enough votes to block Manfred’s candidacy when the first votes are taken next week. They believe that if they can thwart him initially, the process will become chaotic, and other owners will join their side and elect one of their own. This account is based on interviews with several owners and others in baseball. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing deliberations Selig has urged them to keep private.

The Red Sox, Manfred’s supporters say, are opposing his candidacy only because they are trying to gain leverage over him and Selig as they try to get a larger share of profit from their local television contract. The supporters also contend that Werner is trying to gain votes by promising positions in his future regime to other owners. They said Werner’s supporters had told one of Manfred’s longtime friends that he could have a senior position in the commissioner’s office in exchange for his support.

Van Everyman · Aug 6, 2014

There may be a backbone under that fright wig and Peter Brady voice after all.

mabrowndog · Aug 6, 2014

Well, that Times article at least answers some of my questions on why these guys don't want Manfred.

There does not appear to be one chief reason the group of owners is opposing Manfred, who has been credited with improving baseball’s relationship with its players union and tackling the issue of doping in the sport.

Reinsdorf and Moreno believe that Manfred has not been tough enough on the players union in recent negotiations. Others have contended that Manfred does not have the business skills or the experience to expand the sport’s appeal.

It also sheds more light on what an a-hole Reinsdorf is.

The emergence of Werner is only the most recent development in a process that has not gone nearly as seamlessly as Selig had hoped and that has resulted in a falling-out between Selig and Reinsdorf, one of his oldest and closest friends in the game.

During Selig’s two decades as commissioner, Reinsdorf benefited significantly from their close relationship; Selig put Reinsdorf on his executive board and gave lucrative contracts to companies he owned.

But in a twist worthy of Shakespeare, Reinsdorf turned on Selig this year. Reinsdorf told other owners that Selig, who has said publicly that he is not supporting a candidate, should not play a role in picking his successor because he had no ownership in the game going forward and had not been transparent as commissioner. Electing Manfred, Reinsdorf said, would only continue that trend.

Although Selig felt betrayed, Reinsdorf has continued to oppose Manfred. Selig and Reinsdorf will now spend the week trying to outmaneuver each other in a baseball trench war they never thought they would fight.

“The next eight days will be about Bud versus Jerry,” one senior baseball official said. “Bud is dismayed.”

Van Everyman · Aug 7, 2014

Yes. I'm actually a bit stunned at what a mess this quickly became. Tho maybe it explains why Bud has kept putting this off over and over.

CHB weighs in today, with some actual insight:

Werner aced his first interview with the search committee and will have another hour to present his case in Baltimore Wednesday (Werner is fortunate the meeting is not being held in a Boston hotel that carries NESN). All three candidates will submit to questions from the owners on Thursday and the first vote will be taken later that day. Manfred is believed to have secured approximately 20 of the 23 votes needed from the 30 major league clubs. A few of the holdouts on Manfred appear to be Jerry Reinsdorf of the White Sox, Artie Moreno of the Angels, and possibly owners from Colorado, Toronto, and the Yankees. George Steinbrenner despised Werner, and his sons are still in power. It stands to reason that the Bronx Bomber bosses would be reluctant to support the candidacy of a Red Sox owner.

If Manfred fails to get the necessary votes on the first ballot, Werner has a chance. Big league owners like to hire one of their own as commissioner. Werner is in that club. He was a classic small market owner when he practically dissolved the Padres in 1993. He is not perceived as an “employee,’’ like the strong-minded Fay Vincent from 1989. He is one of the boys, like Uncle Bud. And he impressed the search committee with his appeals to include more ownership voices and reverse the aging demographic of baseball fans.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/08/06/red-sox-last-place-but-still-making-lot-news/7vXNyOCIMeKCtjF7uVgYMM/story.html

And Olney isn't holding back either:

@Buster_ESPN: After covering Tom Werner when he owned the Padres, I'm shocked he'd even want to be commissioner. http://t.co/lpOnPmdieW Too much scrutiny.

@Buster_ESPN: When the Padres went through the Fire Sale in '93, angering fans, Werner just flat-out disappeared. Cannot do that as Commissioner.

My main concern if Werner is chosen is that it breaks up the most successful ownership group in sports. Also, you only need to read Edes' story on Biogenesis yesterday to understand he would be inheriting a pretty dysfunctional organization:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/11318230/gordon-edes-mlb-got-win-came-cost

Toe Nash · Aug 10, 2014

twibnotes said:
Revenues grew bc of cable television, new taxpayer funded stadiums, web-based viewing and a host of other factors. Just bc revenues grew does not mean baseball doesn't have a problem engaging young people. It's a real issue that needs to be addressed.

Well, attendance grew too with the exception of the years around the strike. In 1990 attendance was 2,108,000 per team, in 2000 it was 2,423,000 per team, and in 2010 it was 2,439,000 per team. And with expansion the raw numbers show an even greater gain. That would seem to suggest that more people are interested in baseball.

Plus, it's not like you are a baseball fan at age 12 and remain so for the rest of your life. That may be the case among people posting on a Red Sox forum but I think it's a lot more flexible than that. We saw the huge spike in fans of all ages in Boston when the team got good; I suspect it is like that in most places. Seems like you can make a baseball fan at age 30 about as easily as at age 10 -- and the 30-year-old is going to have more money to spend.

Finally, my anecdotal experience with children tells me that a heck of a lot of them love baseball. I see a lot at most games I go to. It doesn't mean they should ignore kids but I really don't see much evidence this is a major problem for the future of the sport.

Harry Hooper · Aug 10, 2014

RedOctober3829 said:
An interesting article written by Bill Madden of the NY Times explaining why the Red Sox ownership would not want Rob Manfred to take over for Bud Selig. Apparently, the Red Sox have been paying far less in TV revenue sharing than they should and Selig has been trying to change that. According to the article, the TV deal with NESN is worth approximately $80 million but the team is only paying revenue sharing portions as if it was worth $40 million.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/madden-faction-owners-moving-block-rob-manfred-succession-bud-selig-article-1.1898077#ixzz3A0HsgJvv

Maybe I am not getting the formula, but I find it very hard to believe the San Diego and Pittsburgh local television $$$ are near half of the Yankees' proceeds.

Edit: I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect TBS and NESN were up and running before MLB ever considered sharing local tv revenue, so maybe the Braves and the Red Sox under a deal with Selig make smaller contributions because they could have claimed grandfathered status and fought to not pay in anything?

Mike F · Aug 10, 2014

[QUOTE="Hriniak]
What did Bud do besides grab the Pilots from Seattle?
[/QUOTE]
And father Wendy.

glasspusher · Aug 10, 2014

This is depressing. At least for one shining moment we had Bart Giamatti.

Baseball should have an informed, competent fan who came from the outside as a comish.

While I'm at it, I'd like a pony too.

Bill Lee as comish would be like Ralph Nader as prez- a dream come true, but only a dream.

Van Everyman · Aug 11, 2014

Henry with an expansive interview on what he's thinking with respect to the next commissioner (and with the Herald of all places):

“It’s a very important time,” Henry said. “There are excellent candidates. I believe, given today’s world, that we need a businessman who understands more than the inherent problems of owners and of labor. That person must excel in understanding media, entertainment, competition and business as well as the sport. The game won’t automatically grow and it could well be disrupted by standing still.”
...
Asked what else could be done besides more rigid enforcement, he pointed to the game’s great conundrum.

“There are purists who think the lack of a clock is great thing,” he said. “But that relates to the fact that a game will go on until a winner is decided. Our internal clocks, our attention spans in (modern) America — have shortened markedly. We have to compete with other forms of entertainment.”
...
The chase for the attention of viewers and readers is the chief job of any content provider. With its slate of 2,430 regular-season games, MLB is a robust player in that sense, with a successful TV network and Internet presence overseen by the thriving Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Henry has devoted a substantial portion of his baseball time working with MLBAM to increase its influence. If viewers are choosing to click away from NESN or any televised baseball game, it is a big deal to him. The intersection of baseball and technology is priceless real estate, which is part of the reason Henry wants baseball’s next generation of leadership to capitalize on that crossroads opportunity.

Said Henry: “MLB needs to confront the realities of 21st century media. We need the game on phones and tablets. We need to reduce the amount of waiting between pitches. The NFL has done a tremendous job of adapting their games and schedules for television. Baseball in 2014 needs, in addition to a commissioner, a real CEO who is intently focused on forcing the sport to compete in a world that more and more belongs to those who can create, adapt, build and execute in a transformed entertainment world.

“Baseball didn’t have to compete with that much 30 years ago. But today, competition is changing. The video game world is bigger than movies now. The digital world will surpass the analog world across the board where it already hasn’t. Baseball, digitally, needs to be more about competing within the entertainment industry than about leveling the playing field.”

A level playing field within the game has been a primary concern of owners for some time. In 2009, Henry was fined when he complained that high-revenue teams were subsidizing smaller-revenue teams with hard-earned dollars that were not being reinvested appropriately into the product on the field.

The situation has improved.

“Revenue sharing is an important part of sports and baseball,” Henry said. “I don’t think baseball could live without it. A few years ago I observed that clubs on the receiving end had done better from a profit perspective than a competitive one, but that has changed since then. There has been a focus on putting dollars to work and all you have to do is look at the records of the Yankees and Red Sox over the last three years to at least partially see the impact.”

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2014/08/john_henry_game_must_adapt_to_the_times
Must read for a number of reasons IMO. And with respect to the commissioner battle, it seems like a lot more than the revenue sharing from NESN is driving this.

JimD · Aug 11, 2014

glasspusher said:
This is depressing. At least for one shining moment we had Bart Giamatti.

Baseball should have an informed, competent fan who came from the outside as a comish.

While I'm at it, I'd like a pony too.

Bill Lee as comish would be like Ralph Nader as prez- a dream come true, but only a dream.

Those days are long gone.

Reverend · Aug 11, 2014

Van Everyman said:
Henry with an expansive interview on what he's thinking with respect to the next commissioner (and with the Herald of all places):

“It’s a very important time,” Henry said. “There are excellent candidates. I believe, given today’s world, that we need a businessman who understands more than the inherent problems of owners and of labor. That person must excel in understanding media, entertainment, competition and business as well as the sport. The game won’t automatically grow and it could well be disrupted by standing still.”
...
Asked what else could be done besides more rigid enforcement, he pointed to the game’s great conundrum.

“There are purists who think the lack of a clock is great thing,” he said. “But that relates to the fact that a game will go on until a winner is decided. Our internal clocks, our attention spans in (modern) America — have shortened markedly. We have to compete with other forms of entertainment.”
...
The chase for the attention of viewers and readers is the chief job of any content provider. With its slate of 2,430 regular-season games, MLB is a robust player in that sense, with a successful TV network and Internet presence overseen by the thriving Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Henry has devoted a substantial portion of his baseball time working with MLBAM to increase its influence. If viewers are choosing to click away from NESN or any televised baseball game, it is a big deal to him. The intersection of baseball and technology is priceless real estate, which is part of the reason Henry wants baseball’s next generation of leadership to capitalize on that crossroads opportunity.

Said Henry: “MLB needs to confront the realities of 21st century media. We need the game on phones and tablets. We need to reduce the amount of waiting between pitches. The NFL has done a tremendous job of adapting their games and schedules for television. Baseball in 2014 needs, in addition to a commissioner, a real CEO who is intently focused on forcing the sport to compete in a world that more and more belongs to those who can create, adapt, build and execute in a transformed entertainment world.

“Baseball didn’t have to compete with that much 30 years ago. But today, competition is changing. The video game world is bigger than movies now. The digital world will surpass the analog world across the board where it already hasn’t. Baseball, digitally, needs to be more about competing within the entertainment industry than about leveling the playing field.”

A level playing field within the game has been a primary concern of owners for some time. In 2009, Henry was fined when he complained that high-revenue teams were subsidizing smaller-revenue teams with hard-earned dollars that were not being reinvested appropriately into the product on the field.

The situation has improved.

“Revenue sharing is an important part of sports and baseball,” Henry said. “I don’t think baseball could live without it. A few years ago I observed that clubs on the receiving end had done better from a profit perspective than a competitive one, but that has changed since then. There has been a focus on putting dollars to work and all you have to do is look at the records of the Yankees and Red Sox over the last three years to at least partially see the impact.”

Click to expand...

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2014/08/john_henry_game_must_adapt_to_the_times
Must read for a number of reasons IMO. And with respect to the commissioner battle, it seems like a lot more than the revenue sharing from NESN is driving this.

tl;dr

Posted from my iPhone.

InsideTheParker · Aug 11, 2014

LOL, Rev.
As for the statement, I don't personally agree with Henry, as my interests are different from his. But I do think rules regarding batters asking for time-outs and pitchers taking too long between pitches ought to be enforced. However, those are easy, so if a new commissioner is required to shorten games, I dread what the changes might entail. I wonder if Remsillo's silliness is under direction from Henry himself, who imagines viewers tuning out because the game is too leisurely. I think I am against Werner if that's what's driving his candidacy.

soxhop411 · Aug 11, 2014

I believe voting is on Aug. 14th... So we should see where things stand soon

richgedman'sghost · Aug 11, 2014

Reverend said:
tl;dr

Posted from my iPhone.

Not germane to the thread but a simple question: what the heck does tl;dr even mean?

ScubaSteveAvery · Aug 11, 2014

too long; didn't read

richgedman'sghost · Aug 11, 2014

richgedman'sghost said:
Not germane to the thread but a simple question: what the heck does tl;dr even mean?

tl;dr.. LOL Thanx Rev Praise You!

wutang112878 · Aug 12, 2014

Van Everyman said:
Henry with an expansive interview on what he's thinking with respect to the next commissioner (and with the Herald of all places):

http://bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/boston_red_sox/2014/08/john_henry_game_must_adapt_to_the_times
Must read for a number of reasons IMO. And with respect to the commissioner battle, it seems like a lot more than the revenue sharing from NESN is driving this.

I think Henry is spot on with regards to the need to transform the game so it matches consumers new tastes. However, I dont see how Werner addresses that whatsoever. With our long games we are the poster child for what the league doesnt want, so it seems both this article and the Times piece is really some posturing on both sides.

Average Reds · Aug 12, 2014

I get some of the reasons that Henry would be opposed to Manfred, but from his time as owner of the Padres, I cannot imagine that Werner would be anything but a disaster as Commissioner.

Also, the specter of Jerry Reinsdorf as the power behind the throne should concern everyone, because it means that we can look forward to another labor stoppage in the near future.

JimD · Aug 12, 2014

wutang112878 said:
I think Henry is spot on with regards to the need to transform the game so it matches consumers new tastes. However, I dont see how Werner addresses that whatsoever. With our long games we are the poster child for what the league doesnt want, so it seems both this article and the Times piece is really some posturing on both sides.

I don't get this. Are the Red Sox supposed to unilaterally force their players to adhere to some unwritten standard to provide some sort of good example for the rest of the league?

OttoC · Aug 12, 2014

Baseball's commissioner has the power to act unilaterally "in the best interests of the game," but he faces three obstacles: the umpires union, the players' union, and networks contractually tied to the game.

With regard to the networks, they would be against shortening time between innings; in fact, they would love to make it even longer to allow more commercials, so I expect that from time to time we will see slight bumps in that time to keep the dollars flowing into MLB's and the teams' coffers.

Maybe if players stopped wearing all that body armor that they have to put on before going up to bat and taking off afterwards; maybe if they stop having to switch batting-gloves for base-running gloves; maybe if they used bats that didn't keep shattering into pieces that need to be picked up...maybe the game would speed up. Batting gloves...oh, I have to re-adjust my straps after every pitch whether or not I swing. Gee, maybe if they spent more time in the batting cage without gloves they wouldn't need them at all and we'd see fewer bats flying through the air because they have a firmer grip on the bat. Oh, they might get callouses. Maybe they could stop pimping at home plate and around the base paths when they hit home runs. Unfortunately the players' union is strong and likely to strike if they don't get their own way.

The commissioner could direct the umpires to call the rules rigidly: pitch within 12 second if there is no on on base, stop granting last moment timeouts, etc. The umpires would certainly do this but they might also decide to call everything rigidly and negate the time thus saved (for example, they could start consulting each other more often on calls). A strike by the umpires' union certainly would not rival one by the players' union in its effect on the game.

One other thing that needs to be done is to tighten up the mess made by the appeals play where the manager essentially goes out on the field but waits for "permission" before formally challenging a call.

jimbobim · Aug 12, 2014

A clock of some sort maybe 15-20 seconds wouldn't be an awful introduction to speed up time between pitches and force batters to stay in the box. What the penalty would be ( a ball for the hitter if the pitcher doesn't deliver? ) would be the hardest part.

I imagine you could test it out in the minors or summer league for a bit.

I'm surprised lowering the mound hasn't got more play as a solution to both shorter games and more importantly in my opinion more offense. Some people like pitchers duels but lowering the mound would probably lead to less strikeouts and more balls in play which leads to more activity either runs or outs. It also has the benefit of being done before so its not without precedent.

Still think Werner is a weak attempt at a threat to Manfred. Bronson from the entertainment side would be more realistic I would think.

Toe Nash · Aug 12, 2014

OttoC said:
With regard to the networks, they would be against shortening time between innings; in fact, they would love to make it even longer to allow more commercials, so I expect that from time to time we will see slight bumps in that time to keep the dollars flowing into MLB's and the teams' coffers.

I disagree. If commercial breaks get too long people will notice and change the channel more often, and fans at the park will be frustrated. I think you'll just see more in-game advertising (on uniforms, more overlays, etc). Those can't be fast-forwarded through.

Maybe if players stopped wearing all that body armor that they have to put on before going up to bat and taking off afterwards; maybe if they stop having to switch batting-gloves for base-running gloves; maybe if they used bats that didn't keep shattering into pieces that need to be picked up...maybe the game would speed up. Batting gloves...oh, I have to re-adjust my straps after every pitch whether or not I swing. Gee, maybe if they spent more time in the batting cage without gloves they wouldn't need them at all and we'd see fewer bats flying through the air because they have a firmer grip on the bat. Oh, they might get callouses. Maybe they could stop pimping at home plate and around the base paths when they hit home runs. Unfortunately the players' union is strong and likely to strike if they don't get their own way.

This is nice and grumpy, but most of the time spent waiting is not for the batters but rather for pitchers. Umpires already refuse to grant time for hitters every once in a while, but the same pressure isn't put on pitchers beyond the ump slowly walking out to break up a mound meeting. Beckett and Buchholz are allowed to hold the ball for ages while the hitter is ready to go.

Saints Rest · Aug 12, 2014

I know we have the humor-version of "Who Should the Next Commissioner Be" in P&G -- but who, in all seriousness, does SOSH think SHOULD be the next commissioner?

What about Paul Allen? Or maybe some other influential owner from other sports?

I hated his politics, but what about George W Bush? Or any other former politicians (Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani)?

How about former players? Cal Ripken leaps to mind. Tony Gwynn would have been a bold choice.

Red(s)HawksFan · Aug 12, 2014

JimD said:
I don't get this. Are the Red Sox supposed to unilaterally force their players to adhere to some unwritten standard to provide some sort of good example for the rest of the league?

It might better explain the AJ Pierzynski experiment.

/ducks

wutang112878 · Aug 12, 2014

JimD said:
I don't get this. Are the Red Sox supposed to unilaterally force their players to adhere to some unwritten standard to provide some sort of good example for the rest of the league?

Not to be a good example. But if Henry & Werner believe that their consumers would prefer a product where the game moves faster then wouldnt it be logical to try to get the team that they own to play a style closer to their fans preferences??

InsideTheParker · Aug 12, 2014

wutang112878 said:
Not to be a good example. But if Henry & Werner believe that their consumers would prefer a product where the game moves faster then wouldnt it be logical to try to get the team that they own to play a style closer to their fans preferences??

Buchholz is definitely bad for business.

wutang112878 · Aug 12, 2014

Performance aside, so was DiceK and Papelbon and Lester during stretches where he was struggling. It was like a team epidemic.

OttoC · Aug 12, 2014

Toe Nash said:
I disagree. If commercial breaks get too long people will notice and change the channel more often, and fans at the park will be frustrated. I think you'll just see more in-game advertising (on uniforms, more overlays, etc). Those can't be fast-forwarded through.

...

You are aware that the time between innings in post-season games is already longer than in regular-season games? I don't believe it's much of a stretch to think that networks might ask to extend the time during regular season when they next negotiate contracts. And I also don't think it is hard to believe that clubs would choose 3+30 game times over 2+30 as fans in attendance will buy more food and drink and perhaps memorabilia in the longer time frame. We'll still probably get more in-game advertising, to boot.

soxfan121 · Aug 12, 2014

Saints Rest said:
I know we have the humor-version of "Who Should the Next Commissioner Be" in P&G -- but who, in all seriousness, does SOSH think SHOULD be the next commissioner?

What about Paul Allen? Or maybe some other influential owner from other sports?

I hated his politics, but what about George W Bush? Or any other former politicians (Bill Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani)?
How about former players? Cal Ripken leaps to mind. Tony Gwynn would have been a bold choice.

Former owner. Passionate fan. A bigger Q rating than any MLB owner. Used to speaking in public.. Wouldn't be bullied by the PA or the owners. Has said it is his dream job. Would be an excellent choice for those and lots of other reasons.

But he left the club and is too powerful to control, so the owners would never go for it.

Average Reds · Aug 14, 2014

Presentations to the owners from the three candidates were given yesterday. And according to the NY Times, it was a difficult environment.

If the story in the Times is accurate, Jerry Reinsdorf decided to play fast and loose with the facts when he grilled Rob Manfred:

Reinsdorf told Manfred that if he was going to be commissioner it would require him using good judgment. Reinsdorf then followed by asking Manfred whether he had used good judgment in having two senior executives in the commissioner’s office write letters supporting him.

Reinsdorf said that if Manfred were to become commissioner, the two executives — Bob Bowman, the head of M.L.B.’s advanced media division, and Tony Petitti, the head of its television network — would work for him, and that he would have a say over their compensation.

Thus, Reinsdorf inferred, Manfred had put both Bowman and Petitti in untenable positions by asking for the letters.

Manfred responded by asserting that he had not asked them to write the letters for him. And if he were to become commissioner, Manfred added, he would not set the compensation of the two men because that is done by a committee run largely by the owners. Manfred added that Bowman and Petitti had recently signed long-term contracts with the sport.

Complicating matters is that Manfred only submitted the letters after Tom Werner insisted that the candidates be allowed to submit letters supporting their candidacy.

One of the other candidates, Tom Werner, a member of the Boston Red Sox ownership who has a background as a Hollywood producer, said that he wanted to include such letters as part of his presentation to owners. The committee overseeing the selection process then informed Manfred and the third candidate, Tim Brosnan, baseball’s top business executive, so that they could include letters as well.

When everyone gathered on Wednesday, Werner presented a letter from David Hill, the chief executive of Fox Sports Media Group, and Dick Ebersol, the former head of NBC Sports. Brosnan had a letter from ESPN, and Manfred had his from the baseball executives.

One could infer that the entire charade of introducing letters was part of an orchestrated effort by Reinsdorf to allow him to make the claim that Manfred was somehow unethical to solicit letters from executives working for MLB. Which would fit with my image of Reinsdorf.

Tom Werner also made a presentation. Didn't seem to go very well.

Once it became Werner’s turn to speak, he was verbally confronted by Bill DeWitt, the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals and the head of baseball’s search committee to find a new commissioner. DeWitt, who is seen as a Manfred supporter, asked Werner pointedly where he stood on revenue sharing ...

DeWitt said that Werner had been for revenue sharing when he was running the small-market San Diego Padres in the 1990s. But now, in the last decade as one of the owners of the Boston Red Sox, a big-market, big-revenue team, DeWitt said Werner had become critical of the system.

DeWitt told Werner, according to the one of the owners present, that he had just given his entire presentation without even addressing revenue sharing. So what was his position? DeWitt asked. Put on the spot, the person said, Werner tried to answer without making a definitive statement.

Apparently not satisfied with that response, Stuart Sternberg, the owner of the small-market Tampa Bay Rays, jumped in and also tried to pin Werner down, asking whether he would increase revenue sharing to small market teams. At that point, the person said, Werner said he would not.

Prediction: I don't think we need to worry about Tom Werner becoming the next Commissioner.

Tim Brosnan (a/k/a/ "the other guy") apparently gave an impressive presentation. No idea what impact that will make.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/15/sports/baseball/mlb-commissioner-inside-the-ballroom-scenes-from-baseballs-election-battle.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

JohntheBaptist · Aug 14, 2014

The Tom-Werner-Commissioner-Presentation would be a dynamite potential comedy sketch for an all-SoSh audience.

amfox1 · Aug 14, 2014

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 2m
Now we are down to two with Tim Brosnan pulling out of commish job and likely joining forces w Tom Werner

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS 11m
Tim Brosnan drops out before mlb commish vote. Now down to rob manfred and tom werner

Laser Show · Aug 14, 2014

I know very little about Manfred, but I can't imagine Tom Werner as MLB commissioner would go well.

soxfan121 · Aug 14, 2014

Werner won when Brosnan pulled out.

Average Reds · Aug 14, 2014

soxfan121 said:
Werner won when Brosnan pulled out.

My guess is that you have the dynamic backwards - Brosnan pulled out to give Manfred the best chance to get to the 23 (out of 30) votes he needs.

Werner will never receive 23 votes. (Well, never say never. I'll be shocked if he ever gets to 23.) He's there to stop Manfred and allow the owners to pick a compromise candidate.

Laser Show · Aug 14, 2014

Average Reds said:
My guess is that you have the dynamic backwards - Brosnan pulled out to give Manfred the best chance to get to the 23 (out of 30) votes he needs.

Werner will never receive 23 votes. (Well, never say never. I'll be shocked if he ever gets to 23.) He's there to stop Manfred and allow the owners to pick a compromise candidate.

https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/499961683285397504

Average Reds · Aug 14, 2014

Who you gonna believe? Some fool on Twitter or me?

(Don't answer that please...)

JimBoSox9 · Aug 14, 2014

It's looking like this choice is boiling down to an owners showdown over revenue sharing more than anything to do with the candidates. Might just be getting interesting.

IpswichSox · Aug 14, 2014

Amazing the level of detail here from sources. It's like some of the owners (or staff) are practically live-blogging to reporters from the meeting.

Tom Werner named a finalist for MLB Commissioner

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