Baseball commissioner Bud Selig denies that teams conspired against free agents after the 2008 season

Seriously - what did you think he would say?

As long as the minor league clubs are affiliated with the major league clubs, I think I agree with that not being allowed.  Or, at least, have to wait the full 50 games played by the MLB club before the player can play in the minors again.

As for the second statement by Selig regarding collusion…baahaha.  I don’t think there’s any direct collusion going on…but possibly unspoken.  If referring to Bonds, I don’t understand why no one would sign him. 

However, I don’t see a reason why it would actually hurt baseball or any reason owners would collude to keep him out.  He draws fans.  Even if owners had an unspoken agreement about signing him, I think it would have been PLENTY profitable for a team to say, “Oops…I forgot” and sign him to the minimum and have a virtually FREE DH with an OBP of .450.  They can’t keep the owner out of the revenue sharing loop without getting slammed (though, your legal opinion, Craig, would be much more interesting to hear on that).  Given that…maybe all the owners really are just not interested in Bonds?  I’m not convinced (not even close), but I don’t see too much incentive keeping at least ONE owner from not signing him.  Which leads us back to direct colluding.  Too bad it’s really hard to prove in this situation.

That’s wrong, Kranky.  It has been specifically adressed. This is the exact language from the basic agreement:

“During the term of his suspension, a Player may consent to an assignment to a Minor League affiliate of his Club under the terms of Article XIX(C)(1) and (3), except as modified above with respect to salary and except that such assignment shall not exceed five (5) days (eight (8) days for pitchers) for a Player suspended for a period of 25 games or less, and shall not exceed ten (10) days (16 days for pitchers) for a Player suspended for a period of between 26 and 50 games.”

If everyone wants to change the rules now—as Bud seems to want to—fine, go ahead and either reponed the agreement or renegotiate it in 2011 when it’s up for renewal.  In the meantime, the effort on the part of writers, some fans, and now the Commissioner to turn it into a moral issue worthy of outrage is ridiculous.  If you want to change the rules, fine, make your case, but as of now, it’s specifically provided for in the rules.

JE:  I agree totally:

http://bases.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/14/3024811-collusion-not-likely-but-definitely-possible?category=sports

One thing salient about Bud: what a terrible chess player! Every fiasco of his tenure was avoidable and predictable; every crisis could have been mitigated with just a little advance thought. The All-Star Game tie: I had been screaming at the screen for years that the way managers wasted players just guaranteed the scenario we got: why couldn’t Bud see it coming? The PR disaster from the strike; Bonds breaking the home-run record while under a steroid cloud; the loooong games; the 2 AM World Series problem;the decline in African American players; the steroid leaks; Mitchell being criticized for doing his report while being on the Red Sox board…the list goes on and on and on. Since he’s obviously incapable of recognizing future problems as they approach, I’m not surprised that he can’t recall past disasters that he participated in once they’ve receded, like collusion. The man makes Bowie Kuhn look like a genius; he makes Spike Eckert look like a leader; he makes Happy Chandler seem like the epitome of competence. I would rather see Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Palmeiro, Sosa, Jose Canseco, Hal Chase and Vlad the Impaler admitted to the Hall of Fame with a parade down my street than see Bud enshrined there. I’m just praying he gets caught having sex with a dead sea otter or something, so I don’t have to burn the place down.

Such silly inferences regarding Mr. Selig.  Why, if he wasn’t the bestest commissioner ever, he wouldn’t be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the next year or two.  After all, Bowie Kuhn needs the company.