Bernie Pleskoff is a former professional scout for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. You can reach Bernie at thebigstrawhat@aol.com
The greatest job in the world might just be Commissioner of Baseball. Most baseball fans have an idea what they would do if they were in that important postition. I've thought about it a great deal. Here is Part I of what I would do:
Leveling the Playing Field
1-Currently, there are six divisions in professional baseball. Four of the divisiions are comprised of five teams each. One division, the American League West has only four teams. One division, the National League Central has six teams. How fair is that? It isn't. The path to the playoffs differs for the AL West and the NL Central.
My solution? I would move the Houston Astros from the National League Central where they do not belong to the American League West where they do belong. With one stroke of the pen I will even the divisions and level the playing field a bit more for every team.
2-Currently, teams that exceed the Major League Baseball spending ceiling are penalized with a "Competitive Balance Tax" (more commonly known as the Luxury Tax.) The New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers paid the Competitive Balance Tax for last season to smaller market teams. The problem is there are few rules dictating the use of the Competitive Balance Tax by recipient teams.
My solution? Competitive Balance Tax money provided to teams should go into a special Player Procurement and Development Account for each recipient club. It should be required that every penny of the tax money received be used solely for player procurement and development and for no other purpose.
3- Currently, first year players selected in the June draft are free to negotiate their salary with the selecting club. The result has been wildly escalating salaries for unproven individuals that have never played an inning of professional baseball. It isn't the fault of the players or the agents. It is the fault of the Players Association and Major League Baseball for not instituting some sort of structure to control the escalation.
My solution? First year amateur players selected in the June draft would be paid according to a pre-negotiated scale based upon the round of selection. A "salary scale" similar to the one used by teachers would be implemented that includes every round of the draft and every draft slot. It is the best and fairest way to compensate unproven players and it will allow every team to know the price of talent prior to the draft. Small market teams would be placed in the same competitive arena with every club in baseball.
4-Currently, baseball does not permit trading of draft picks. That takes some of the excitement and competitive "juices" out of the draft.
My solution? Permit each club to trade draft picks for players and/or other current year draft picks. Future year draft picks would not be permitted as trade items in an effort to contain "stockpiling" or "dumping" of future picks and/or salary obligations. Coupled with a salary scale for draft selections, trading would really make the draft an exciting, much anticipated event for Major League Baseball while leveling the competitive playing field.
5-Currently, teams play an entire season to get to the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, a team must win the best of five games to advance. How fair is that? It isn't. If that best of five system is so good, why isn't it used in the subsequent round? A true champion should have to beat his opponent at least four times in each round.
My solution? The best of five series in the playoffs should be changed to best of seven.
6-Currently, the All Star Game winner dictates home field advantage for the World Series. Why should a game that does not count in the standings dictate something of such importance? Home field advantage does not only mean home cooking and a favorable crowd for the home team, it means millions of dollars for the team and the host city. Consider what hotel, rental car, restaurant and retail revenue from one extra game in a city can mean. Should an All Star Game that doesn't count mean so much? I don't think so.
My solutiion? Revert to alternating American and National League cities as the host for the World Series. Give the All Star Game winning players an extra amount of money to donate to their favorite charity.
NEXT BLOG: This Commissioner of Baseball tackles the Designated Hitter rule and Roster Size. Watch for it!
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