FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Bud Selig is having difficutly sleeping at night, he is torn between getting the matchup that would produce killer ratings, the BoSox vs. the Dodgers, besides the huge TV markets both teams have, the story lines of Manny, Joe, Theo etc, would generate massive media coverage.

Or does he root for the Series between the low payroll Rays, validating his faith in how small market teams can compete, and either NL representative.  With the Dodgers you still get the East/West coast TV market ratings, with the Phillies you have story lines around the team with the most losses in MLB history, versus a team with 2008 being the only year they have had a winning record in their history.

Since he has sold most of his soul for TV ratings and money, I assume he will want the BoSox and Dodgers, just too juicy of a series to not root for if you are the Commish.  Don't be surprised to see the umps shrink from the duties in Fenway & Dodger Stadium, with different strike zones and crucial calls going Boston's & LA's way.  While I am not saying the umps graduated from the Tim Donaghy School of Umpiring, I do think they let the Fenway faithful get in their heads (though I did feel the Varitek call was correct, just if the situation had been reversed the Boston runner would have been safe).  

On the positive side, not sure when Fox picks up the broadcast, but it was nice to watch the games on TBS and not hear the Master of the Malaprop, Observer of the Obvious, Tim "I make a mistake a game" McCarver.  Harold Reynolds had some goofs, but it was different hearing some more recent observations about what was going on versus how Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton would pitch.   Boston pitchers and Terry Francona never throw at the opponents best players in key games (look out Evan), just have slight control problems if you listen to Tim, but yet the situation is reversed when Yook or Dustin get plunked, then it is deliberate payback.

Finally if the Red Sox make the World Series, even win, do they vote Manny a partial winners share and give him a ring, or do they ignore him like he ignored the team when he wanted so badly to leave Boston.   Imagine the irony that Theo and team will feel knowing that they are paying Manny to play against them, maybe even lead the Dodgers to victory, they probably wish the Marlins had not been so greedy on their end of the Manny trade so they could have traded him there and maybe not have to worry about facing him in October. 

October baseball, not matter how much Bud has watered down the competition, cowtows to TV execs and has favorite owners he likes to see succeed (just about anyone not named Steinbrenner), still is exciting.  One word of advice to the winners, ditch the goggles in the locker room celebration.  If you don't want the champagne to sting your eyes, then don't use champagne.  I haven't checked but perhaps MLB & EBay are auctioning off the game used goggles for rabid fans.  The winners have worked hard all year to get to that celebration, don't wimp out and put goggles on.