Behind The Box Score

Bud Selig has stated recently that he would like to keep players away from the Minors if they are under suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. This stems from the Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez playing at AAA Albuquerque for two games, and playing three at A Inland Empire while he was suspended 50 games. “Their logic was OK — look, guys get hurt, they can go out on rehab, and so and so forth. But I think that’s something we need to really change in the next labor negotiation,” Selig said at a Q and A session today with the Baseball Writers of America. There cannot be any rule changes until December of 2011. Also, Robert Manfred, the executive vice president of labor relations said they won’t ask for any rule changes before that time.

Personally, I agree with commissioner Selig on this one. I think that if you are caught doing PED, then you should have to pay the price, and work out on your own time, and not get the chance to play live games with your farm teams. There is a loophole in the laws that Selig sent down about this kind of stuff, and it needs to be fixed. The only time you should be sent down on a “rehab assignment” is when you are actually hurt. There is no other reason than that.

Some interesting facts also from the meeting today:

• For us Reds fans, Selig is still reviewing Pete Rose’s 1997 application to lift his ban on baseball!!
• He said that “I think this may be in a certain sense our greatest season,” even with attendance down 6.3 percent.
• He has hope for the Pirates, with 17 consecutive losing seasons with them, stating that “When you have a club that’s been down that long, it just takes a long time, and that’s all I can say. But are they on the right track? They are. And I think that track will be faster than most people believe.”