Playoffs Approach, Like Gambling, Potentially Exciting

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

The playoffs are approaching; the division/wildcard races are shaping up. In the American League Central, the Tribe’s got a three-game lead over the defending AL champ Detroit Tigers, Boston’s lead over the Yankees in the East stays steady, while Los Anaheim stays ahead of the potential-wildcard Mariners. In the National League, it’s a toss up in the Central between the Cubs and your Brewers. The East is still tight, too between the Mets and Phillies, while the Pads and D-backs are even in the West.

If I was a gambling man, and I’m not, I’d say that each of these contests would be exciting to bet on. I’d also say that wouldn’t make me a bad person. It’s easy for me to say that because I’m not a high-profile athlete, or high-profile anything for that matter. But it’d be exciting (personally) to drop some wagers on these season-ending battles.

I’m certain that’s how Pete Rose felt. Betting on baseball was exciting to him. Why? Because he digs baseball, and in life, everything, whether we want it to or not, hinges on money. It’s 2007, Mr. Commissioner. We, at this point in human existence, are celebrating the feats of our sports heroes more than any other time in history. Pete Rose should be no exception. He made a mistake. He was not gifted at the art of trying to fix that mistake. He was, however, gifted in the game of baseball. That, in and of itself, has Cooperstown written all over it.

Let’s lift the ban.

Gambling Addiction Not Taken As Serious As Others

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Okay. I’m through page 45 of the report. Thus far, I’ve uncovered significant evidence of Pete Rose gambling extensively and lying about it in his deposition. It’s unclear to me what sports he’s betting on; it’s also irrelevant. What I do find important is that Pete Rose clearly has/had a gambling problem. Assuming that statement -- he was allegedly at one point $200,00-400,000 in debt to various bookies -- is true, why are we continuing to punish him for this disease when we make so many grander efforts with other afflictions everywhere, every day in our society?

Yes. I still have a lot more reading to do. I’ve not yet read anything Rose himself has published. I do know this, though. When substance-abuse users, for example, get themselves into trouble, we take steps to get them help and put them right back on the job, unless of course their punishments dictate suspension. Why is gambling different? If Pete Rose had a problem with gambling, why can we not make an effort, or at least show that we tried, to get him the help that he needs?

Perhaps these points are all moot now that Rose is in his 60s and not necessarily affiliated with the game anymore. I still think it’s important, though, to recognize the good things he accomplished on the field. As I’ve said before, other players have had issues, whether they’ve been forced to face them or not. And they get the praise and the accolades.



The guy that holds the record for the most important offensive stat in baseball, however, is still on the outside. Why, I ask you, can we not unlock the gate, and take the first step to letting him back in?

Huard, Rose Proven Winners in Own Regard, Same Style

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

The Kansas City Chiefs made the right decision. They’ve announced they’ll go, at least for the September 9 opener in Houston, with the veteran guy, Damon Huard. Head Coach Herman Edwards indicated that Huard gets the nod, because he’s the proven winner. The proven winner.

Three championships and the title as the hit king also, in my book, qualify Pete Rose as a proven winner. Only he gets no official acknowledgement of these accolades due to a ban put on him by a guy who held office for a miniscule fraction of the time Rose played professional baseball.



The continuation of the ban is a travesty. Can we at least put some feelers out there, an official statement from your office perhaps, that asks what baseball fans think? We know what a lot of them thought four years ago. A considerable amount has changed since then, though. It’s time for more serious consideration regarding this issue. Please, Mr. Commissioner, for the sake of the game. Lift the ban.

Preparedness To Win

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:


The Kansas City Chiefs have a decision to make. After dropping their third of three pre-season football games last night, the who-will-be-the-starting-quarterback debate weakens as the youngster Brodie Croyle continues to make poor decisions and throw interceptions. Last night’s opponent, the New Orleans Saints, made the Chiefs look like a team uncertain of its own identity. The Saints, be it running, passing or defending, have their football tactics honed and ready for regular-season play.


The Chiefs, however, seem far from that stage. There are great deals of steps they need to make in order to be ready for competition on Sundays. This week’s contract-extension signing of running back Larry Johnson should help. That, however, is only one facet of the game. The club has its work cut out for it if it anticipates being able to hit from both sides of the plate, if you will.


Switch-hitting, one of many talents Pete Rose had on the baseball field, translates in football to time management while in possession of the ball and keeping your defense fresh, rested and ready to make plays. Metaphorically, this is a tactic that opposing managers could never employ when preparing their hurlers to pitch to Rose, as he could push and pull the ball, regardless of the pitcher and his handedness. HBO and NFL Films’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs” attempts to cover what it takes to be ready to play the game.



A special of such a nature on Rose could be highly educational to the youth of America in learning the game of baseball. This is one more reason why the ban on Rose should be lifted.

Fine Toothing The Dowd Report, Vol. I

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I’m a short ways into my studies of the Dowd Report. Suffice it to say that it is thus far, very interesting. My initial response is that I find it bizarre and amazing that this much energy and funds were exerted in order to finger one man’s inappropriate actions. Uninformed as I remain, I’m curious to find the underlying cause of why Pete Rose was cast so forcedly into the spotlight. I anticipate, that until I uncover more information, that this curiosity will become clearer. That said, the first 30 pages contain a lot of speculative information regarding Rose’s involvement in betting on baseball.


Numerous facts leave him guilty by association, but one must remain steadfast that facts also leave him as baseball’s all-time leader in hits. Until overwhelming evidence disproves that already-known tidbit, I’ll stay hot on the trail of Operation PutPeteIn.

Baseball Writers Display Mixed Emotions

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

In the small amount of reading I’ve done, I’ve come across some interesting quotations. The magnitude of individuals involved with Pete Rose’s circumstances has already astonished me. It would appear that Rose’s best chance to get voted in -- the Baseball Writers Association of America -- has come and gone. I learned this from a USA Today article that’s not quite as old as the others I’d come across. Rod Beaton, the article’s author, quotes several baseball writers and their varying opinions on whether or not they’d vote for Rose’s selection to Cooperstown. He cites Minneapolis Star Tribune writer La Velle Neal III as having mixed emotions. Neal writes:

"It is rather disturbing that he would use a method of making money (writing a
book) in order to admit his guilt," but later adds, “If Pete Rose is reinstated
by Major League Baseball, he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. If he's
on next year's ballot, I'd probably vote for him. He is the hit king. If we
start using character to determine who enters the Hall of Fame, you would have
to go back and re-evaluate a lot of people already in.”

This (the latter part) is a point I believe I have made before. Many athletes (including those in Major League Baseball) have made mistakes and told lies, some, it is speculated, did so before Congress, or pretended not to be able to speak English all of a sudden. I don’t mean to weigh one offense against another, but a mistake is a mistake.



It would also appear that some that would vote Rose in would prefer to wait, a sort of imposed punishment for his actions and lies. We’re going on 20 years since Giamatti’s ban, a span that’s closing in on the amount of time Rose’s professional baseball career stretched. How much time is due punishment? I’d say 18 years is a nice round number. Let’s end this before 20 and get this ban lifted.

Reading Time

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I’ve got some reading to do. Until this point, I’ve done nothing but offer my opinion and comparisons to sports-related stories regarding Pete Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball. Yesterday, I discovered a plethora of stories on USAToday.com. They’re all listed under the tagline of “Rose and Gambling.” They all discuss actions that’ve taken place in regard to Rose’s efforts to get back into baseball.

They also have something else in common. They’re all dated 2002.

What happened? These pieces are loaded with hints and suggestions that you were once considering liftage. No new developments?

I find that slightly difficult to believe and am curious to know what they might be, if in fact there are any. These articles suggest that there is still a significant split amongst those that feel Rose should be re-instated, those that do not, and those that have an opinion, with sub-opinions attached to them.

That said, I have large piles of texts to scour, my feeling unchanged regarding Pete Rose’s still-deserving place in baseball’s hall. Let’s make like 2002 and start the wheels of unbanishment rolling once more.

Holmes, Rose Still Loved By Fans

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I hate it when one of my sports heroes does something shady. That’s the best word I can think of to describe Priest Holmes’ behavior as of late.

He says he’s here for the team, both to the local and national media, that his presence will be quite something for the youth of the club admire. But his behavior seems as though he’s only looking out for himself. There’s still time before the National Football League’s 2007 regular season gets underway, but I’m worried that this series of strange bits might be the last Chiefs fans see of Holmes.

I doubt Reds fans would say the same about Pete Rose. He started and ended his career with Cincinnati and delivered them two national championships plus the all-time hit record. He also managed some good clubs at the end of his playing career and probably inspired many people.

Holmes is the all-time leading rusher for the Chiefs. Larry Johnson will likely break that record, but Holmes has been something else, a breath of fresh air, something new to root for for Chiefs fans in the last five-plus years. Again, I’ll bet Reds fans feel the same regarding Rose; he was probably a cool blast in the 60s, 70s and 80s (not to mention Phillies and Expos fans), something they all fondly remember now.

Even though Holmes behavior of late has been peculiar, Chiefs fans will always love him, hope to see him on the Ring of Fame one day, maybe even in Canton. If an undrafted, persistent recoverer-from-injury back like #31 instills that kind of pride, how must Reds fans feel?

Please, Mr. Commissioner, for the Cincinnati fans, lift the ban.

Giambi Situation Looks Bizarre

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I’ll be brief today.

Why does Jason Giambi get off with a slap on the wrist for admitting his participation in the use of performance-enhancing substances? It makes no sense. Many have maintained their non-association with steroids and they continue to play baseball and make themselves a compelling argument for the hall of fame.



If Pete Rose had continued to deny the gambling allegations against him, would he now have a bust in Cooperstown?

I’m confused.

Rose's Wagering Assumed Greater Offense Than Animal Cruelty

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Last night, after watching the second installment of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Kansas City Chiefs,” my buddies and I stayed tuned for Bryant Gumbel’s “Real Sports.” Like everything else associated with media and sports in recent weeks, there was a feature on dog fighting. They interviewed one guy that used to run a dog-fighting ring, breed/sell dogs for fighting, and murder those canines that were deemed “unfit for competition.” The special, in its entirety, was horrifying and disgusting.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell is doing the right thing by allowing the legal system to determine what will happen with Michael Vick and his indictment. Some sports media figures are suggesting that the allegations of gambling charges are of greater concern to the NFL than those associated with the brutality towards animals. I find this preposterous. How is malicious murder a lesser offense than wagering and gaming? How is it that the world of professional sports can say with a clear conscience that it’s a greater offense to wager monies on competition than to willfully kill other creatures?

I’ve never been a gambling man myself, and I’ll probably never become one. I do however love me some sports. And some animals. Therefore, these statements by media personalities are, to me, mind boggling and ridiculous. Can one assume that Pete Rose could have his rightful spot in the hall of fame had he run a dog-fighting ring? I ask you to let that question sit with you for a minute.



Pete Rose raised the bar of baseball, the glory of the game and the will to compete. Sure. He bet on baseball while a part of the league, and obviously, he lied repeatedly when questioned on the matter.

Is that a greater offense than the utter disregard for man’s best friend?

Pete Rose. Cooperstown. Make it happen.

Playing to Win Name of the Game for Rose

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

The Kansas City Royals have something like seven hours left to sign their 2007 first-round draft pick Mike Moustakas to a contract. If a deal doesn’t get inked, the kid will allegedly go play college ball at the University of Southern California.

I find this development (or lack thereof) a bit disturbing in that four of the five top picks from the draft are still unsigned, allowing their agents to barter for more money for them. I don’t want to get into all that I dislike about the systems and financial aspects of today’s game. Media sources keep reporting, though, that this kid is eager to play pro ball, and is excited about being a Royal. I can’t really think of any athlete in any market in any similar situation saying anything different, but Moustakas’ alleged attitude, coupled with General Manager Dayton Moore’s confidence regarding getting a deal done equals one more reason to be excited about Royals baseball in the immediate future.

The only attribute I can finger as the common denominator in all of this is the desire to win. Moore wants to win. I have to imagine Moustakas wants to win. And we all know Scott Boras, Moustakas’ agent, wants to win himself some American dollars. Lots of guys in baseball say they want to win. One guy proved it. Pete Rose was and still is he ultimate example of wanting to win.



Let’s make today a milestone day. Let’s show the kids the model for wanting to win. Please, Mr. Commissioner, for the kids. Lift the ban.

Thinking It Through Could Be Wise For Some

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Sometimes, knee-jerk reactions will get you out of a bind. Sometimes, they’re bad decisions later regretted. In perusing the newspapers and the Internets today, I came across the untimely phrase “lifetime ban” in reference to the Michael Vick (Editor's Note: Sweet Site and song, Oogs) proceedings. Those terms have such an ugly sound when put together. Now, nobody’s used that phrase as any part of any official ruling, but I think your NFL counterpart is juggling the thought of it as I write.

The tease of this phrase comes attached to of course the murdering of dogs, but heavily coupled with the gambling allegations associated with Bad Newz Kennels. Or is it Bad News Kennelz? I can’t remember. Granted, I don’t condone either of these activities. I find it peculiar, however, that the NFL has always been in favor of letting due justice play its role before making a statement on anything, and that seemed to be congruent with this case in the beginning. Rog’ did make an exception with Adam Jones based on his multiple offenses. And rightfully so. He seems to be eager to do that with Vick now, and, if I were you, I would caution him.

We wouldn’t want a commissioner of any professional coughcoughGiamatti leagues to make any hasty decisions coughcoughA.Bartlett regarding the entire future of one lone athlete coughcoughVincent. I find it’s always best to weigh everything and make wise, informed decisions that will be respected for generations to come. I suppose, though, if one were to make a rash decision, one would always have faith in one’s successors to right one’s wrongs coughcoughHere’sWhereYouComeIncoughcough.

One would hope that might happen for one Peter Edward Rose. He deserves to be in. Some time ago.

Tips To Aid Secret-Agent Mission?

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Well, Bondsmania isn’t over yet, at least not in the eyes of some media figures. Jason Whitlock of The Kansas City Star wrote a column for yesterday’s paper claiming that Hank Aaron’s silence with regard to the ultra-hyped home run record chase was “golden.”

The column is long-winded and makes a few key points, but offers little new insight. The reason I mention it today is that Whitlock points out that segregation and steroids are a burden that belong solely to you as the commissioner of baseball.

I see this as an opportunity to re-visit a theme that I’ve brought up on several occasions: doing something positive, something different to shake some of the negative press from the foreground. What, you might ask, is something that squelchtacular.

It involves a specific number, that much I can tell you. It would be non-erudite of me to flat out give you the digits. I am, however, a huge fan of hints, and your hint is this: said number falls somewhere in the abyss of numeric range that spans from 13 on up to 15. Once you’ve compiled a team of strategists to solve this mystery, I, again, can’t tell you exactly what to do with it. I can offer one more hint, though.




Advanced phraseology may aid you in deciphering that the answer rhymes with “direct new troopers down.” That and the whole thing might have something to do with New York.

That’s all I got for you today, Mr. Commissioner. God speed.

Base Hits Plus Playing to Win the Game Equals Rose in Cooperstown

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I had some friends over the other night for the debut episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. The wife’s out of town, we had some cold beers and really enjoyed the program. Afterwards, our talk shifted to baseball. In moments, I was in the midst of the second argument in less than a month with my friend Ed. The topic of our disagreement: Kansas City Royals outfielder Joey Gathright.

The Royals’ crowded outfield has been a baseball topic in Kansas City for most of the last two seasons. One of General Manager Dayton Moore’s first moves when he was hired a year ago, was to obtain Gathright from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for speed on the base paths and perhaps in the field as well. I feel that Gathright has shown very little contribution to the team. Ed thinks he’s incredible. We hollered and compared stats, and ultimately agreed to disagree. We did, however, agree on a couple of other matters. Well, we first continued our disagreement when I told him I’d rather, at this point, have Emil Brown playing leftfield over Gathright, which he found preposterous.

But we agreed that getting base hits (something Gathright can clearly not do) is crucial to winning games. And we agreed that the Royals have looked considerably better this season than they have in the last three. The hits conversation was the crux of things, though. It led us to talking about the hit king himself, and our agreement that Pete Rose definitely belongs in baseball’s hall of fame.





If Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Herm Edwards’ mantra of playing to win the game is in fact right about all sports, then hits is what gets you wins in baseball. Let’s end this thing. Let’s put Pete in. In the meantime, perhaps Gathright should check this out.

(Link courtesy of Be a Better Hitter)

If JoePos Says It, It Must Be Right

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Joe Posnanski of The Kansas City Star wrote an (surprise) excellent column for today’s paper. It’s about the difference between football stats and baseball stats. And it’s about Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards.


Posnanski talks about the incredible inner workings of Edwards’ mind and his undying desire to understand things and to do them right. As a Chiefs fan, I couldn’t be happier to have Edwards back in Kansas City. He’d always been a tremendous, underrated player; his contributions to both the Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers were phenomenal.


It’s the way in which Posnanski starts the piece, though, that got me thinking of our friend. He writes:

“…but you probably do not know off the top of your head, say, what is the exact
record for most career touchdowns or Jerry Rice’s total yards from scrimmage.

“You probably do know, on the other hand, how many home runs Hank Aaron
hit or Pete Rose’s hit total.”

And he’s right. Seven hundred fifty-five and 4,256, respectively. Four thousand, two hundred fifty-six and the man’s banned from baseball. I realize that you didn’t make that decision yourself. You can undo it, though. If Posnanski’s right, and most sports fans have that number rolling around in their head, doesn’t that imply that the figure is uber-important? I think it does. Let’s get the ball rolling and take the first step towards getting Rose in the hall.

Bad Press Easily Diverted

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Well. Now that that’s finally over with, all the focus has turned to you. Shocker. Your fifteen years worth of commissioning appears to have not left you in the prettiest of lights. Deadspin really let you have it today, as are all of the sports talk radio personalities. Not to worry, though. I’ve got the solution.

As an older brother to three sisters, I frequently found ways to divert their attention when trouble arose. A stubbed toe? Give ‘em a Charlie horse in the thigh. Feeling particularly fat? Remind ‘em how ugly they are. Always takes their minds off of what they’re worrying about. Now, I come prepared to offer you a similar solution.

All of this ado over the newly crowned homerun king can be easily dissipated. It requires one step, and one step only. Yep. You guessed it: Lift the ban. Jim Rome had -- big surprise -- some really choice words for Bonds today. It all centered on the infamous asterisk. I posit that you, too can have an asterisk on your career.

For every time someone complains about the state of baseball’s affairs on your watch, imagine how awesome it could be if someone else would then turn and say, “Sure. But he got Pete Rose back in baseball.”

It’s that simple. The homerun king will go to Cooperstown no doubt. Can you really stand there with a clean conscience and allow that to happen while Pete Rose sits on the outside? I didn’t think so. Let me know how I can help get this ball rolling. I’ll be in touch.

If White Deserves A Shot, Rose Deserves The Gun

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:



When Royals Manager Buddy Bell announced his end-of-season retirement last week, local sports talk radio did the same thing they always do when the Royals are looking to change skippers. They jump on the Frank White bandwagon.



I don’t have an issue with this, per se. At least not until they start saying things like “He deserves the job,” or “He deserves a quality chance at getting the job.” These statements I take issue with. Why? Because Frank White has never proven to anyone that he’s a great AA or AAA manager of baseball. In three seasons, he led the Wichita Wranglers to the Texas League championship, but finished his stint there with a record barely above .500. Don’t get me wrong, number 20 is one of my all-time favorites, as he is with many longtime Royals fans. I just don’t think you go around handing out job interviews to guys just because they were incredible players for the team. Take Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes for example.





The ‘Yotes finished with one of the worst records in hockey last year; Gretzky’s stint as bench boss may be over is things don’t turn around this year for him and his club. I honestly wouldn’t mind White being given the same shot Gretzky was. I’ll just never imply that he deserves that shot.



Pete Rose, on the other hand, deserves a shot at being elected to baseball’s hall of fame. With the current ban, he won’t, he can’t get it. Frank White won eight gold gloves, was voted most valuable player in the 1980 American League Championship Series and was part of the Royals’ 1985 championship team. These don’t add up to “deserves a shot at managing the Royals.” They add up to Cooperstown potential.





Kind of like Pete Rose. Only not as obvious.

Rose's Feat Continues To Be Overshadowed

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

This weekend, packed full of individual milestones, received much attention and scrutiny. Everything associated with Barry Bonds tying Hank Aaron’s record has been analyzed and re-analyzed for the better part of the last two years, especially when Bonds has been healthy. Alex Rodriguez’s 500th homerun was quite the story as well. It all developed with the special balls being used for both milestones, and the rainout game that would’ve meant Rodriguez’ 499th in Kansas City was technically his 500th.


Well, the makeup game came and went, ironically right in the middle of long homerless streak for Rodriguez, pitting him once more against the Royals in search of longball number 500. This time, obviously, he got it. Another interesting tidbit about the whole thing is that Rodriguez’s first major-league homerun came against, none other than, the Royals. Also in the mix was Tom Glavine, seeking his 300th victory, a feat he finally achieved on Sunday, but not before the media finally had a small field day with him being stuck on 299. Throw in the fact that he’s a lefty, and his company becomes even more elite.


If you break it all down to sole achievement though, nobody’s feat is as big as Pete Rose’s eclipsing Ty Cobb’s hit record. He did it as a switch-hitter, without steroids, and not in an age where homeruns likely happen three times more frequently than they used to. He did it in an era saturated with humility and steamrolled beyond the immediate thresholds of the previous mark. Those two facts alone are worth considering his re-connection with the game.


Pete Rose. Cooperstown. Today they are their own sentences. It would be nice to see them joined as one.

One Step Shy of Half of "Machine" Being In

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

In light of the latest development with the Hit King and his alleged debacle at the U.S. Army Reds Legend Baseball Camp, I must remain steadfastly in favor of Mr. Rose’s still-non-existent inclusion in baseball’s Hall of Fame. The Big Red Machine of the mid 70s has been hailed as the greatest octet to ever take the field. How many of them are in Cooperstown? Only three to my knowledge. It could easily be six, most definitely five.


As I’ve mentioned in previous letters, Mr. Rose has demonstrated poor judgment and unappreciative public and private behavior. None of that, however, is a reflection of what number 14 stood for on the playing field. There are a number of guys in the Hall that have had suspect, at best, lives away from the diamond. Regardless of Rose’s unfortunate behavior at the baseball camp, I would still suggest he is a hero to many and should be a role model to the athletes of today.

Consideration for his future election to the Hall is in order. Rose was a key member to the Machine. Sparky Anderson was their skipper, and if he thought that the eight of ’76 was the best club to ever take the field, that should stand for something.

Oh. No. He Didn't.

Fuck. Thanks a lot, dude. After all this work, you go and publish another volume of "Check Out How Much of An Asshole I Am." Sweet. The Enquirer ran this story yesterday and I'm less than thrilled. The Enquirer's Peter Bronson summed this fiasco up with the following paragraph:

"His comment that he was (bleeped) off that Marge didn't leave him any money in her will and that she left it all to the zoo. His comment about how Marge loved to smoke and she would have smoked in her sleep if someone was there to hold her cigarette all night. His comment that he saw Joe DiMaggio in the shower and he saw more of him than Marilyn Monroe ever did. His comment on a good friend of his that was a gambler - and how I could go on."

Further, Rene Collins, a mother who attended the function as part of a camp for freaking kids, Pete, said, "It was like an uncle at Thanksgiving you want to stick in a back corner." Sweet. I'm sure it was damn funny, yo, but this ain't "Last Comic Standing." Ugh.

Time For Bonds Equals Time For Rose

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I was eating lunch with the wife today at a restaurant called the 810 Sports Zone. This, as you can imagine, is another one of those ESPN-type bars that are popping up all over the place. They’re busy with tons of sensory overload and a zillion televisions; we even had our own flat screen right in our booth. Nevertheless, we ate a very mediocre lunch delivered to us by a very terrible server. Luckily for us, the television, which I quickly switched from “Extreme Makeover” to SportsCenter,” was chock full of Barry Bonds coverage that was heavy under scrutiny vis-à-vis your presence at the still-yet-to-happen record-breaking game.

I thought I’d let you know that I don’t disagree with your decision to attend or not to attend each game that Bonds plays in until the record is finally tied and/or broken. I’m curious, however, if this time is affecting your ability to manage the other tasks for which a commissioner is responsible.

Like the campaign the House of Georges (http://www.houseofgeorges.blogspot.com/) is hoping you’ll launch, and by campaign, I mean one swift blow from your authoritative fist, to ultimately put Pete Rose baseball’s Hall of Fame. You could do it in a 30-second phone call en route to see your boy Barry not hit homeruns. I can hear it now:

“Yeah, Jim (I made that name up), it’s Bud. Good. Good. You? Great. Listen. Yeah, uh, I’ve decided to un-ban Rose. Huh? Yes. Of course Pete Rose. Of course I’m referring to the Hall of Fame. Anyway, gotta go. Get that paperwork ready. See you when I get back.”

There. That’s how easy it is. We have faith that you can do it. Let’s knock out that first step. You can check it off your list and move onto more Barry Bonds-related issues.

Royals Offer Bell Post-Retirement Position, Baseball Offers Rose Zilch

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball
Allan H. (Bud) Selig, Commissioner
245 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10167
(212) 931-3800

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I’m listening to an on-the-road press conference at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota announcing that Manager Buddy Bell will step down at the end of this season. Many baseball fans want to call the guy a loser based on his records as a manager with the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies. When former Royals General Manager announced that Bell would succeed Tony Pena, the baseball naysayers never even gave Bell a chance.

There were also those that speculated that current General Manager Dayton Moore would relieve Bell of his duties when Moore was hired last summer. Moore proved them wrong and together, they appear to have the team headed in the right direction. Thus, I will mark Bell’s short tenure in Kansas City a success. Bell claims he has known since the first week of the season that something had changed for him, largely based on his health issues last September, and he feels good about the direction things are headed. He also claims to wish he could’ve stayed longer but he wanted to give the Royals ample time to find the right guy for the job.

In sum, Bell is doing what’s right for himself and what’s right for the organization, something I feel should be done for Pete Rose. A. Bartlett Giamatti put Major League Baseball as an organization first in determining what would be done with Rose and his gambling allegations. That decision was to set a model for what the league will not tolerate. The message is clear: gambling will not be tolerated. That message will not become any clearer with time; it is as explicit as possible right now. The Royals organization understands that Bell wants to put his family first. Baseball fans understand that Rose made a mistake. The Royals immediately offered Bell another position with the club. Baseball has offered nothing to Pete Rose.