http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/8184086.htm


Selig says A's need a new stadium to keep top players

By Joe Stiglich
CONTRA COSTA TIMES


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Saturday that if the A's want to boost revenue to keep their marquee players, they'll need a new stadium to do so.

But he added that does not necessarily mean the team should be able to move to the South Bay, considered the Giants' territory.

Selig dropped by Scottsdale Stadium and addressed the media during the Giants-A's exhibition game, covering everything from the territorial battle between the Bay Area teams to the ever-present steroid controversy.

Selig confirmed he would visit Oakland "very soon" to inspect Network Associates Coliseum, agreeing with A's owner Steve Schott's desire to build a new facility.

"That stadium cannot produce enough revenue for his team to be competitive and keep the players that they want to keep. That's just a fact of life," Selig said.

Schott was quoted last week saying he would consider suing Major League Baseball, as a last resort, to challenge the Giants' territorial rights, which prevent the A's from building a stadium in the South Bay.

He went so far as to refer to Giants owner Peter Magowan as a "crybaby" for trying to keep the A's out of that area.

On Saturday, Selig stood firm on Major League Baseball's territorial boundaries.

"You know, the territorial situation is what it is," Selig said. "I've described it in the past and it's no different today. We have internal rules and the internal rules are essential to running the game. If you don't have internal rules, you have anarchy."

As for the war of words between the team's owners, Selig said he has talked to Giants officials and plans to talk to the A's about putting a stop to the bickering.

Regarding the steroid issue, Selig said he has yet to speak with Giants superstar Barry Bonds, one of the biggest names linked to the current controversy gripping professional sports.

But the commissioner reiterated that the majors need to adopt a steroids policy similar to that used in the minors, where players are more severely punished for a first offense.

Besides the health factor and a feeling of social responsibility regarding steroid use in baseball, Selig said there's also an integrity issue to consider.

Asked if it's unfair that Bonds' name has been linked to the controversy at this point, he responded: "Until there's evidence, empirical evidence (of steroid use), I'm not going to do what others have done and engage in that kind of speculation."

Selig also said that SBC Park is still a strong candidate to host an All-Star Game in coming years and that a decision would be made in the near future.