Bud Selig

Being from Wisconsin, I'm inclined to support Bud Selig, a Wisconsin graduate and former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. But I must say, after viewing the first two games of the 2004 World Series, I think he's made a terrible mistake regarding home field advantage. I'm not sure his decisions are in the best interest of baseball nor do they provide a reward for a successful regular season.

The league that wins the All-Star Game, held in July when divisional races are far from completion, host four of the potential seven games of the World Series. This decision was made after the tie All-Star game several years ago held, ironically, in Milwaukee. Interest in the game had been declining so, in an effort to add meaning to the game, he decided that the winner should have home field advantage for the Series.

Now, the Cardinals had the best win-loss record (.648) in all of baseball and finished the season an astonishing 13 games ahead of the second place Houston Astros, a team that captured the National League Wild Card. On the flip side, the Boston Red Sox (.605) won the American League Wild Card and finished three games behind the division-winning New York Yankees. So, with all things being equal, who should be the home team, a wild card team or the team with the best record?

This year, the decision takes on added significance considering the rabid Red Sox fans and the obsession they have with winning their first title since 1918. Fenway is out of control with excitement creating as partisan crowd as you will see in baseball. After the Red Sox won the first two games, they have guaranteed that critical games six and seven will be played in Boston as well, if necessary.

Interestingly, I heard a recent interview with Frank Viola, a great pitcher for the Twins, Red Sox, and Mets, say that the All-Star Game has changed since this decision in that, managers are not playing their full squads anymore in an effort to win the game. Thus, if you're from Milwaukee, for example, and only one player is on the roster, you might not be able to see him play if it's a close game. The All-Star Game IS an exhibition and was always intended to be one.

So, it seems that Selig has ruined not only the Fall Classic, but the Summer Classic too. And, given that baseball's opening day was played in Japan this year, he just may have ruined the Spring Classic as well.

Hey Bud, is nothing sacred?