MLB and Bud Selig Cannot Afford to Leave Mark Cuban out This Time Around

Two years ago, Bud Selig and the rest of the Major League Baseball owners opted not to allow the Cubs to be sold to Mark Cuban, even though at the time he was the highest bidder.  Now, the Cubs are a fading team, with attendance at an all time low.

Wrigleyville is practically a ghost town for some games, and it comes down to money. 

First off, Cubs fans pay an exorbitant price for seating to go and watch a subpar product.  They have literally priced themselves out of the game in Chicago, especially when you can go just down the Red Line and see a game for considerably less money. 

Secondly, in the front office,Tom Ricketts has already announced that he plans to cut the payroll over time.  Basically letting a few contracts he was saddled with run out and for all purposes, conceding the next few seasons. 

This is one of baseball's most storied franchises, and they have basically been handed to a second rate owner that doesn't really care to win now.

Mark Cuban would not have been that owner.  He proved it in Dallas when he arrived and immediately started making moves and putting money into the team.  Since, his Mavericks have been one of the most successful franchises in the league and in all sports, finally capturing its first NBA title this season.

I understand the MLB owners are a tight and elite group that don't really want the boat rocked, but they also have the Steinbrenners.  And Cuban's track record has shown that he is not afraid to be vocal on different issues at times in the NBA, but that's also his passion coming through. 

After all, when bidding on the Cubs, NBA Commissioner David Stern wrote a recommendation letter for Cuban, even though they don't always see eye to eye on everything.

Mark Cuban would immediately bring some credibility back to the Dodgers organization that has been mired in the McCourt divorce case and questionable financial dealings during the time of the McCourt ownership.  He's proven that he'll spend on his team and his facilities, as well as make the moves necessary to build a contender and a winner.

Baseball can only benefit from one of its iconic teams returning to dominance as it did in the '60s and '80s.  It would benefit all of the owners and the league for another solid team on the West Coast to emerge and challenge some of the Eastern Dominance of late. 

Since 1990, only three teams from the West Coast have won the world Series (Arizona in '01, Anaheim in '02 and San Francisco last year.). 

Also, if Cuban joined the Dodgers, you instantly put a new fire and face on the Giants-Dodgers rivalry, which was struck with tragedy earlier this year in a post-game parking lot issue that has kept one Giants' fan in intensive care since.

Cuban's undeniable ability to market himself and his team would bring a new spotlight to West Coast baseball and spread the Dodgers' marketability to new heights. 

So with that, I think it is very simple.  Major League Baseball cannot afford to pass on an owner like Mark Cuban again.  They did it once, and it has so far brought poor results to one of its most popular franchises.  They cannot afford to do it again.