The New CBA

It appears that Selig and Fehr are going to formally announce the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement tonight before Game Three. Right now, no earth-shattering changes have been reported, as the salary structure and most importantly the drug policy remain unchanged. But rumors are swirling that draft-pick compensation for lost free agents is gone, which is a good thing, especially if it comes with a draft-pick salary slotting system.

I've heard Gammons say, a few times, that since drafted players aren't part of the union, the owners could establish a slotting system without angering the players, as long as draft-pick compensation was eliminated. As long as picks aren't tied to union member salaries, which they were under the old draft pick compensation system but wouldn't be now, then the draft wouldn't need to be collectively bargained. Let's hope this is something that comes to fruition - hopefully we don't need to read about more players slipping in the draft due to "signability issues," or guys like JD Drew not signing with the team that drafted them and re-entering the next year.

And by the way, why is it okay for Selig to make his own, press-conference-worthy, self-back-patting, major announcements during the World Series, but the Red Sox can't even announce the re-signing of Mike Timlin? I hate Bud.

Selig chat

On a related note, the "real" commissioner is chatting for a whole half-hour on Tuesday. I wonder how many Canseco questions I would have to send him before he answered one...

MLB's Sensitivity Training

What do you think about it, John Rocker?

John Rocker walked into the room to meet the man assigned to conduct his Major League Baseball-mandated sensitivity training six years ago and walked out shortly thereafter with the discussion delving no deeper than the weather.

“The guy told me when I got there I had to show up to make it look good for people, so after about 15 minutes I left and walked right out of the room and it satisfied the powers that be,” Rocker said… "It was a farce, a way for the scared little man, Bud Selig, to get people off his [backside],” Rocker said by phone.

Rocker’s comments also drew a fine that was reduced upon appeal from $20,000 to $500 but says that, too, was more about show than dough.

“I never paid a cent, a lot of players never pay a cent,” Rocker said. “It’s just a front to look good and the way Selig cowers to pressure.”

This doesn't really surprise me, but, good lord...

Bud in the booth

Oh boy... Bud Selig is in the booth with Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo on NESN, talking about being in town for the Boys and Girls Club, or something. Let's see if he says anything important:

Don asks about the WBC: "It sounds like (a great deal of players) loved it."

Bud: "It was spectacular... we gotta fine tune it a little bit... we'd like the U.S. team to come in (earlier in the spring to practice together)."

No mention of having it at a different time of year. And at least he's not only concerned about the U.S. team. Of course he isn't.

Jerry asks about the steroid issue: "(It was) a cloud hanging over baseball... are you pleased with the way things are going (with the new steroid testing program)?"

Bud: "I really am. When you think back... this sport had no drug testing of any kind, and I think it's fair to say... we've had significant drug problems in the past. We had a terrible cocaine problem in the 80's, couldn't get a drug testing program. We had one, starting in 2002... twice, with credit to the player's association, we've gotten them to tighten it up. Now we have the toughest program in American sports. We're funding a program at UCLA (to try to find a test for HGH), we've banned amphetamines... I'm not going to tell you that we've totally eradicated it with less than 1% (positive tests) last year, I think it'll be even less than that this year."

He also babbled about the Mitchell investigation ("there's nothing to hide"). A few observations:

He went straight from cocaine in the mid-80's to the flimsy 2002 drug testing program - no mention of 1998 or 2001, the two hallmark years of the steroid era.

I keep hearing this "toughest program in American sports" jibberjab... he can't be serious. They don't even test for the designer stuff (The Cream, The Clear, insulin, chlomid, etc.), and no test exists for HGH. However, I am impressed that they're funding HGH research. How far it goes remains to be seen, though.

The 1% thing... complete poppycock. It's the easiest test to beat - of course you're going to have a low percentage of people fail. Not every ballplayer is as dumb as Palmiero.

Jerry asks about Bonds and the new Nationals owners.

Bud: "We're very proud of (the selection of the new Nationals owners)... we agonized over (the selection process)."

*** INNING BREAK ***

"We only celebrate new records... we didn't celebrate Barry when he went by Willie Mays."

Way to dodge the question, Bud! Whatever you do, don't mention the book or the grand jury testimony or the charges of tax evasion or anything else implied by the question.

Don asks about the spike in power numbers this year.

Bud confirms that they've tested "dozens and dozens" of balls, and they aren't juiced. Honestly!

They continue to babble about the weather (warmer weather! That must be the reason for the balls flying out! It can't be all the guys on untested steroids, could it?).

Bah. Easy questions disguised as hard questions accompanied by mostly spin and Bud-speak, insisting that everything is hunky-dory and that baseball has no problems whatsoever. Of course - I'm glad he pointed all of that out. I feel much better about the state of the national pastime now.