Is Draft Day Drawing Near for Selig?

With the possibility that a protesting Bud Selig would accept a draft and agree to remain as full-time commissioner, the committee searching for a replacement is close to making a final recommendation, according to the chairman, owner Jerry McMorris of the Colorado Rockies.

“I’m hopeful that by the time of the next executive council meeting, we’ll have narrowed the field significantly,” McMorris said. “I’m hopeful we’ll have this all resolved and behind us in the next 60 days.”

The next executive council meeting is Jan. 13 in Phoenix, the opening session of a three-day owners’ meeting. McMorris said he hoped to recommend no more than two or three candidates then.

Could there be a vote?

“Possibly, but I don’t want to be presumptuous,” he said. “If not in Phoenix, I would be hopeful in the next 30 days.”

McMorris and Selig have been interviewing candidates recommended by an executive-search firm.

“I’d be very happy with any of the finalists,” McMorris said. “They all have a tremendous record of success. Now we have to work through it and make a final choice.”

The veil of secrecy has increased speculation that much of this is a charade, that owners will inevitably turn to Selig, the Milwaukee Brewer owner now in his sixth year as acting commissioner.

Sources say a group of small-market owners continue to lobby on his behalf, hoping to persuade Selig to remain.

Said a high-ranking baseball official, “I’ve been saying for two years that Bud will move to New York as commissioner, and I have no reason to change that opinion.”

Said McMorris, “I understand there’s a group working to draft Bud, and that’s always been a possibility, but he continues to tell me he’s not a candidate and he’s been straightforward with the people we’re interviewing. He’s been consistent with them and with me.

“I think he’ll do what’s in the best interest of the game and sincerely believes in the transition. I don’t believe he would accept a draft, even if it was strong enough to elect him. I know that defies popular thinking and I know anything can happen, but I’m confident we’re in the process of picking a new commissioner.”

Said Selig, “We’ve spent a lot of time and money finding the right candidate and I think we’ll be successful in that. I am not and have never been a candidate. I don’t know what more I can say about that.”

One of Selig’s biggest supporters is Paul Beeston, the former Toronto Blue Jay president who has moved into baseball’s New York office as chief operating officer or deputy commissioner and is drawing raves for the vigor, the ideas and the follow-up tenacity he has brought to Park Avenue. He also is seen as a respected bridge to the players’ union.

Selig talked Beeston into accepting the job, and Beeston is trying to talk Selig into transferring control of the Brewers and becoming the full-time commissioner.

“I have nothing to do with the search,” Beeston said. “But if I could influence Bud to stay by doing my job well and making it easier for him, then I think I would have done my job.

“We have a great relationship, and I think we’d make a good team.”

The impression is that Selig is being pulled in several directions. There are Beeston and a group of small-market owners urging him to move to New York as commissioner. There are his Brewer partners urging him to stay in Milwaukee for the rebirth of his struggling franchise with the move to the National League and construction of a new ballpark.

There’s also the possibility of a fight if Selig accedes to a draft.

McMorris, choosing his words carefully, said the question baseball faces in its recovery from the long labor dispute is how to get to the next level.

In that quest, he said, “I think the commissioner needs to work out of the central office in New York and I think it becomes difficult for any sport when an owner is in charge and there’s an inherent perception of a conflict of interest.”

Dodger owner Peter O’Malley has often expressed a similar opinion. Selig and baseball may now be at a crossroads.

“Bud has done an outstanding job,” McMorris said. “I have to think he’ll always be involved.”

In what capacity? Owner? Commissioner? A hazy combination of the two?

PADRE PRAYER

San Diego Padre owner John Moores and President Larry Lucchino agreed to a $5-million-plus budget boost so that General Manager Kevin Towers could trade for pitcher Kevin Brown. Whether the Padres are merely renting Brown for a year or can sign the former Florida Marlin to a multiyear contract--he becomes a free agent after next season--is uncertain and, perhaps, even unimportant. The trade is aimed at ‘98, regenerating enthusiasm--in and out of the clubhouse--while the Padres are lobbying for a new ballpark.

Enthusiasm?

“Brown’s going to make everyone better,” Manager Bruce Bochy said of his pitching staff. “I’ll match our five-man rotation [of Brown, Andy Ashby, Joey Hamilton, Sterling Hitchcock and Pete Smith] with anyone’s.”

Bochy might get an argument from Atlanta and the Dodgers on that, but there is no disputing Brown’s durability, his effectiveness or his furniture-busting competitiveness. He pitched 470 innings the last two years, with a 33-19 record and baseball’s best earned-run average, 2.30.

DUSTY’S FUTURE

A year ago, coming off a season of 94 losses, the San Francisco Giants had to respond to rumors that Jim Fregosi had been hired as a scout to eventually replace Dusty Baker.

Now, with Baker the National League manager of the year after guiding the Giants to a Western Division title, the club is working on a contract extension to keep Baker through the opening of Pacific Bell Park in 2000.

At the groundbreaking, General Manager Brian Sabean told a crowd of about 7,000, “In the year 2000, on opening day, when Shawn Estes pitches seven innings of shutout baseball and Barry Bonds hits a three-run homer in the first inning and Bill Mueller makes a diving catch to save the game, I’ll make this promise to you: When you look in the dugout, Dusty Baker will be the manager.”

FOX TALE

Angel President Tony Tavares strongly denies baseball rumors that he has been lobbying clubs to reject Rupert Murdoch’s purchase of the Dodgers.

“I can honestly say that I have not had a conversation with another baseball executive in a month,” Taveras said. “Where that may come from is that [Disney] recently took a very strong, very vocal position against multiple ownership in hockey, and that involved [Murdoch owned-] Fox. However, it wasn’t a Disney-Murdoch issue, but an integrity issue.”

In the hockey case, Disney reacted to rumors that Fox, already owning 30% to 35% of the New York Rangers, was interested in becoming a partner in the Kings. Taveras and Disney argued that multiple ownership represented a danger to the league’s integrity and that, at the least, there should be a 60% cap on the percentage an individual or corporation could own in more than one team.

Taveras reiterated that Disney probably will abstain from voting on the Dodger purchase and that the battleground, if there is one, will be in the National League rather that the American. Three-fourths approval is required in the National, compared to majority approval in the American.

VETERAN NUCLEUS

Experience won’t be a problem for the Baltimore Orioles next season. Their signing last week of free agents Joe Carter, 38; Doug Drabek, 35 in midseason; and Norm Charlton, 35, underscores what looms as a ‘98-or-bust approach.

The average age of the anticipated roster is 33. Armando Benitez, 25, could be the youngest player on a team that figures to include only five players under 30.

There will be one player, Jesse Orosco, over 40; five players, Carter, Cal Ripken, Eric Davis, Harold Baines and Jimmy Key, between 36 and 38, and 11 more between 33 and 35. Even General Manager Pat Gillick, 60, plans to retire when the season is over.

No word on senior discounts.