FanNation - The Republic of Sport

As the final out was recorded in the Trop on Sunday night, Bud Selig was seen quietly crying into his fine Milwaukee beer as he pondered the upcoming World Series.  It is unknown of the tears were tears of joy as another small market low payroll team climbed to the prominence of the World Series stage or tears of sadness as his hoped for boffo TV ratings with the Red Sox playing in the World Series went by down the tubes.  As Bubble Boy Bud reflects on the 2008 season so far on one hand he is happy as his master plan of watering down the level of play so that all MLB teams hover around 500 and have a "shot" at the playoffs is working well in the NL, and showed glimpses of working in the AL.  both the Cubs and the Angels showed that while winning the most games in the regular season is impressive, choking in the initial 5 game playoffs round is almost a given.  Much like the NBA, NHL and NFL mediocrity is the goal as long as one can make the playoffs then get hot, lucky, whatever take your pick.  On the other hand he is faced with teams with the highest payrolls, highest ticket prices and new revenue streams pending clearing the decks for FA runs for the 2009 season.  In the words of a former President, Bubble Boy Bud feels this would not be a prudent approach for MLB, unless it is the Red Sox who come out on top then all is overlooked and forgiven, as Bud's main goal  as commissioner is to do whatever possible to keep the Yankees from yet another World Series triumph.  As the Mets, Yankees, Tigers and Red Sox found out money not only cannot buy love, it also cannot buy good pitching, hitting, speed and defense, at least in the way it was spent this year by your respective GM's.  In Bubble Boy Bud's grand scheme of things, these teams that try to win are no better than the Pirates and Marlins who are more interested in making money than spending it these days.  In fact I am sure he prefers the approach of the Pirates and the Marlins as it keeps the league well grounded in mediocrity.

Luckily we now have the technology of Google Maps so Bud and all his MLB exec cronies will be able to find the Trop for the World Series games.  though even though he was under tremendous pressure from the senior community of St. Pete, Bud once again cowtowed to the TV execs and refused to make one of the game starts into an Early Bird special, with reduced senior ticket prices, a 5:07pm start time and free hot dogs for anyone over 65.  Luckily for the residents of Tampa Bay, the Trop is well lit at night, with numerous traffic signs pointing the way so for all of those really really strong Rays fans can easily find their way to the stadium, though some might be confused not realizing MLB has been played in the Tampa area for quite awhile now.  I hope the Rays bandwagon doesn't break down from the weight of all the hoppers on in the Tampa Bay area now that they are playing in October.

 Congratulations to Joe Madden, the Rays, Charlie Manual, the Philies for a job well done.  Enjoy your time in the spotlight for it is well deserved.

For all the rest of MLB teams and their fans, the planning for next year now begins, enjoy the Hot Stove league.