Complaints and Grievances: Where Baseball Goes From Here

Okay, so maybe changing baseball back to what it was in the 50's isn't such a good idea after all.

For those unfamiliar with the lineage of this article, I wrote one about changing baseball.  A lot of the ideas would have taken baseball back to the 1950's. 

Here's my first crack at being Commissioner:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/141884-mlb-changes-we-could-believe-in

Alex Danvers wrote an article slamming mine.  It was, as he said, not malicious but just about a good debate.  It's a good look at a totally opposite viewpoint. 

Here's Alex's response:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/142274-why-brs-nick-dewitt-should-not-be-commissioner

Well, I looked at his article and mine, looked at baseball's current state of affairs, and came up with a new package of changes that maybe we'll both agree on.  Then again, maybe not.  We'll see.

So here is the NEW list of potential changes to baseball that I think will really benefit things.  Unlike the first one, these are all within the realm of possibility.  I'd also like to thank Andy Mease for contributing his ideas in our long conversations.

1. New All-Star Game Format

Okay, no All-Star Game in Cooperstown.  It wouldn't, as was pointed out by a commenter, be able to handle the massive influx of fans, players, and media.

But I still want to change the All-Star Game. 

Here's how:

Home Run Derby: Old Timers vs. Young Guns.  I'm a big believer in connecting the game to its history.  So let's bring the old timers back for a home run derby with the young guys.  I'm betting Reggie Jackson can still hit some BP fastballs.  I'm also betting fans would like to see Reggie—Mr. October—go head to head with A-Rod. 

The Home Run Derby format is something in constant flux.  It's not broken the way it is, but this is, I think, a neat new idea.

All-Star Selection: I'm still against automatic bids the way they are, but let's still have a guy from each team.  After the initial selection process that we already have, have another selection, let's say for a week, for stars on poor teams.  Each team would have two or three nominees, chosen by the players on that team.

Celebrity Softball Game: I still think the celebrities are ridiculous, but how about we let the old timers play their own game.  Maybe even let them play a real baseball game (softball is fine though).  My chief complaint is that these celebrities (Jimmy Kimmel) have no place on a diamond with Dave Winfield.

I'm curious as to how you all feel about the home field advantage being decided by the game.  Is that something that should be changed?  I'm pretty indifferent on that myself.

2. New Commissioner

I'm still in favor of a new commissioner—maybe not Frank Coonelly.  Alex makes some good points about his lack of qualifications in his article.  I jumped the gun on that one.  But how about these for commissioner qualifications:

-Not currently an owner or part owner of any MLB team (ala Bud Selig and the Brewers in 1992)

-Background in labor negotiations and law

-Baseball expertise (no total outsiders ala Judge Landis or Happy Chandler) as a player, GM, manager, or former owner

There should be other qualifications too, but those are the basics I think.  Feel free to suggest your own additions to the list.  Baseball's commissioner should also be an eloquent public speaker.  Selig just does not strike me that way.

3. World Baseball Classic

I didn't really touch on this in the first article besides to say that it was a great idea with some kinks that should continue.  Alex called me out on not really making changes. 

Here's a couple:

-Either play the games at a point where it allows MLB players to participate without restriction (after the season or around the All-Star break) or don't allow the baseball teams to restrict players from participating.

I was appalled to hear the Braves would be upset if Brian McCann played at first base for a game, so that the USA didn't have to forfeit a semifinal.  Mark DeRosa ended up taking the start there, but really, where's the national spirit?

-National Spirit; Team USA and the people behind it seemed to lack this terribly. Seemingly, it was just like Spring Training it seemed.  The players had it, but they lacked a supporting cast of effective coaches and executives.  Some of the best players didn't even make the trip.  This needs to change.

I think Team USA is still the weak sister of the heavy hitters in the WBC.  Part of that has to be MLB's fault for handicapping it's country's team.

4. New Interleague Play

This is just a thought.  I'm not sure if it would work or not, but I'd like your opinions on this one.  Hockey this year adopted a schedule in which every team played every other team at least once.  Do you think the same would be possibly for baseball?

I think that this would be hard to accomplish, but maybe by eliminating four game sets with one team and also cutting interleague series to two games apiece.  I think that this would be something neat to bring to the game, but I'm not sure if it's possible.

That's really it for now.  There are other changes that need to be made, but they are mostly minuscule in my opinion.  What do you guys think?  Let's keep the debate going!