The Classical: Bud Selig, Against All Odds, Is Still Bud Selig

Reminder: When Bud Selig became the chairman of the Executive Council of Major League Baseball in 1992, he was never supposed to be the permanent commissioner. The owners spent six years looking (or pretending to look) for an ostensible replacement before voting Selig into office.

When you consider that, it’s amazing to think about all of the changes in baseball that Selig has been responsible for over the past two decades. And there’s no denying that the game is healthy financially -- there’s a reason the dude gets $22 million per year and a private jet. Matthew Callan of the Classical, though, isn’t impressed with the new changes:

MLB saw three seasons in a row end with one-game playoffs (2007-2009) and 2011’s playoff teams were not determined until the very last minutes of the season. Taking notice of the buzz—and ratings—this generated, Selig seeks to institutionalize the phenomenon. It’s almost akin to mandating that each game end on an unassisted triple play. Something exceptionally rare and thrilling will become a legislated part of baseball’s everyday landscape.Callan openly wonders why the commish can get more wild cards jammed into a single offseason, but the league has been flirting with expanded instant replay for four seasons without a lot of progress. Then he answers his own question: money. Instant replay doesn’t sell tickets or ad space. There could be some new replay rules coming with the new CBA, but you can bet that they won’t be enacted as quickly as the additional playoff spots were.