Top Five Ways To Revive Major League Baseball

As time has went along and this country has evolved over the last 100 years, the reputation of professional Major League Baseball (MLB) has taken a hit over and over again.

The spiral first began in the early years and many problems have clogged it's progression and future success. It didn’t help in the 1919, when the infamous eight Chicago “Black Sox” players purposely lost the World Series.

Although not modern, it still damaged the game's legitimacy. Baseball's rep took another hit again when Pete Rose bet on baseball, denied it, was banned, then years later admitted to it. That wasn't even the tip of the iceberg.

Some say another huge hit was the strike that plagued the 1995 shortened season. In the modern era, it’s been the obvious issue—steroid use. From McGwire to Sosa to Palmeiro to Bonds and now "A-Roid”, steroids have dominated the mainstream media and impacted the sort of baseball greatly.

The reputation of a sport that is one of the truly American is all, but tarnished forever.

However, there is a chance to save the game that holds a special place in my heart. I hate to see a game as wonderful and enjoyable as baseball fall down to the slums it has now and I will not see it die.

Here’s what to do fix Major League Baseball and save a seemingly dying sport. In what seems like my personal Extreme Makeover: Major League Baseball Edition, I will give you the five supreme ways that baseball can turn around the negative image it presents to the public.

Here is how you do it, starting with reason No. 1.

1) Remove Bud Selig as Commissioner – So far, this guy hasn’t produced. He will say that Major League Baseball is fine and that things are working, but I’m not buying it. The man is delusional. Obviously, things aren’t ok.

The sports' popularity has stayed about the same, but seems in the decline in recent years. He has created some good notable changes, such as the replay on home run calls and interleague play, but he has had a bunch of bad influences. His supposed strict drug testing and punishment is laughable and it will be the judgment of his legacy as commissioner.

2) Create a salary cap – I understand that teams want to sign the best players and that’s great, but there comes a time when you need to level the playing field. A lot of people will say I hate the New York Yankees and that’s not true.

I hold nothing against the team and they are a truly great franchise. However, the money they generate off taxes could buy the payroll of the Florida Marlins. That’s just not equal competition.

Creating a cap would make sure that players can go other places than the power clubs like Boston and New York. It turned out well for the NFL and it would do the same for Major League Baseball.

3) Enforce tougher drug testing/sanctions – Something that bothers me is the testing for steroids. Testing should be done regularly and frequently. With the testing though, there needs to be an extremely rough sanction for positive tests.

“Big Papi” is absolutely right. Lay the hammer down on these "‘roiders". I want to see a season long ban for a first test and a second test should be lifetime ban. If you are going to do this, do it right. Do it the Roger Goodell way.

4) Reduce the schedule – 162 games. That’s way too many. I understand that it is tradition to have a long schedule, but sometimes it is just too long. Their season is one of the longest in all of sports (other than NASCAR).

Just imagine how much more each game would mean to a team if there were only 100 games played. Better yet, how much healthier players could stay or how much better the playoffs could be.

5a) Change the Hall of Fame voting – How many times have you heard Bert Blyleven on the Hall of Fame waiting list? How many times has been denied the shrine despite his great numbers? Right.

The voting needs to be changed so that more individuals have the chance to come in. It seems like a guy like Blyleven gets the shaft every year for not being a “big name” player.

For instance, Rickey Henderson is a very well known name as being the All-Time leader in steals for a career. Thus, his name gets placed on top of Bert’s name. Quite sad. I’m rooting for you Bert!

5b) Reinstate Pete and Joe – If you are going to allow your sport to have cheaters like A-Rod, Bonds, Sosa, Palmeiro, and others, then you should actually give credit to those who have accomplished great things in their careers and made mistakes.

Pete Rose bet on the game of baseball.

It was an honest mistake. However, you can’t deny the fact that the man has been a 17-time All-Star, a three-time World Series Champion, a NL MVP, and the career leader in hits with 4,256.

“Shoeless” Joe Jackson had a great career too. He did make the fatal mistake of getting involved with gambling and throwing his World Series that got him banned from the game. So I propose we reinstate both of these guys.

They’ve done no worse than the ‘roiders above. I would take it a step further and say that Pete Rose needs to be in the Hall of Fame. No doubt in my mind. He deserves in there. Period.