Does Baseball NEED a Commisioner?

[sturg1dj]

is the commissioner's office really necessary?

[Imgran]

It needs some form of government body, but I'd definitely prefer one much more independent from the owners.

[sturg1dj]

if we had the ideal of what a commish should be then I would be in favor. Someone who is above the players and owners. But what we have had over the history is a puppet for the owners (Landis wasn't even though at times you'd wonder). I would say what has been done by the last bunch of commissioners could have been done by either a coalition of owners (which now that I wrote that sounds scary) or done by the league presidents. I say this because I believe the Union has enough power where there is now a balance of power that was not there in 1920.

[Brian McKenna]

Baseball is a business. Business decisions are ultimately the responsibility of owners and/or CEOs. Any owner who would turn over decision making power to the labor force rather than their own management is a complete idiot.

[sturg1dj]

Baseball is a business. Business decisions are ultimately the responsibility of owners and/or CEOs. Any owner who would turn over decision making power to the labor force rather than their own management is a complete idiot.

and thats not the case. The owners don't need someone to speak for them though and its not like he's looking out for the players either, they are fine. So whats the commissioner's use?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

and thats not the case. The owners don't need someone to speak for them though and its not like he's looking out for the players either, they are fine. So whats the commissioner's use?

To me the Commissioner is like the CEO and the baseball owners are the board of directors. Don't CEOs need approval from the board of directors to implement some action?

[Old Sweater]

I voted yes. MLB could use a better one though that is not a proven thief. Ever since Selig and Riensdorf stole that 280 million from the players, the MLBPA hasn't had no trust in Selig. Can you balme them?

[rockin500]

To me the Commissioner is like the CEO and the baseball owners are the board of directors. Don't CEOs need approval from the board of directors to implement some action?

yes and thats a very very good analogy of what a commissioner is. He's a ceo and anyone who thinks differently is naive to the nth degree.

[sturg1dj]

wouldn't it be interesting though if the owners had to speak for themselves at these steroid hearings. You see Fehr and the players then in walks Angelos and Steinbrenner for questioning. That would be awesome

[Old Sweater]

wouldn't it be interesting though if the owners had to speak for themselves at these steroid hearings. You see Fehr and the players then in walks Angelos and Steinbrenner for questioning. That would be awesome

I'd be great, after seeing Selig and Fehr doing their tap dance and telling their lies in front of Congress without even getting their hands slapped. IMO<<<<<<<

[Brian McKenna]

The owners don't need someone to speak for them though and its not like he's looking out for the players either, they are fine. So whats the commissioner's use?

Sounds like a unfamiliarity with the role of a business leader. There are many books (many recent), articles and internet sites that can help with that. I could recommend some if you're not sure how to do the leg work.

[KCGHOST]

Though we would all prefer the idealized vision of the Commissioner's office that we have in our minds you have to have a commissioner. Heck, if for nothing else than the getting the CBA negotiated. Can you imagine the chaos if each team had to negotiate its own??

You do not have to go back to Landis to find a commisioner who tried to act in the best interests of the game. Fay Vincent made an attempt to do this but fell victim to the Reinsdorf/Steinbrenner/MLBPA cabal.

[jalbright]

My flippant answer is that Bud Selig is proving baseball doesn't need a commissioner, as he's one in name only.

[Brian McKenna]

I think it is obvious that MLB needs a structured, organized management body. 30 teams with no unified management structure could not function.

[sturg1dj]

I think it is obvious that MLB needs a structured, organized management body. 30 teams with no unified management structure could not function.

why?


so without a commish all of the sudden the structure of the MLB disappears? It still would have a GM for every team, an owner for every team and two league presidents.

and you are accusing me of not understanding the role of a business leader? I understand that when it is needed then you have one. Here it seems like there are more efficient ways to manage the league without paying out a huge salary to a figure head on top who doesn't show any extra vision or leadership skills. To assume that baseball would collapse if the commissioner's office was removed is laughable. The league would not be different at all except for different people being held accountable.