http://www.pressdemocrat.com/sfgiants/stories/14selig_c4empirec.html


Selig: A's can't have Giants' territory

Oakland want SF to yield rights to South Bay
March 14, 2004


By JEFF FLETCHER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While the Giants and A's were playing on the field at Scottsdale Stadium, Bud Selig was in the press box siding with the Giants on a fundamental conflict between the teams.

The commissioner spoke to reporters on a variety of topics during Saturday's game, including the A's contention that the Giants should yield their territorial rights to the South Bay so the A's can try to build a new ballpark there.

Even though the Giants were first granted the territory in the early '90s for the purpose of building a new stadium that they no longer need, Selig said that doesn't change the fact that it's their territory.

"You are always willing to revisit something, but I don't see it," Selig said. "Territorial rules are a basic part of our internal rules and they were put there for a reason....

"The territorial situation is what it is. It's no different today. We have internal rules, and if we don't have internal rules, you have anarchy. I am a stickler when it comes to internal rules."

Selig agreed with the A's on one point: They need a new ballpark someplace.

"That stadium can't produce enough revenue for that team to be competitive and keep the players they want to keep," Selig said.

"That's just a fact of life. As much as I want to change that, I can't."

On another issue, Selig indicated that the Giants are among the favorites to be selected to host the 2006 or 2007 All-Star Game when a decision is announced within the next month or so.

Giants managing general partner Peter Magowan also said he "feels pretty good about" his team's chances of hosting its first All-Star Game since 1984.

This year's All-Star Game is in Houston and next year's is in Detroit.

Of course, the commissioner also addressed the steroid issue that hangs over baseball this spring.

He reaffirmed his hope to toughen Major League Baseball's steroid testing policy to the much higher standard used in the minor leagues.

"I cannot and will not rest until we have the minor-league policy," Selig said. "It's fair. Its tough. It does all the things we want, starting with punishment on the first offense."

Selig also said he felt it was unfair for Barry Bonds to be specifically singled out as a steroid user on the basis of rumor and innuendo.

"Until there is empirical evidence, I'm not going to do what others have done and engage in that type of speculation," Selig said. "I don't think that's fair."

Can someone explain to me and Bud how the A's building a new stadium in San Jose/Santa Clara 40 miles from San Francisco infringes on the Giants' territorial rights, but building a new stadium in Oakland only 10 miles across the Bay does not?

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Originally posted by BC in Newberg:
Can someone explain to me and Bud how the A's building a new stadium in San Jose/Santa Clara 40 miles from San Francisco infringes on the Giants' territorial rights, but building a new stadium in Oakland only 10 miles across the Bay does not?

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Magowan's public answer - "it's separated by water and harder to get to."

Magowan's private answer - "Many of my well-heeled patrons live in the South Bay."

Maybe the solution is a quid pro quo. A's get the south bay in exchange for relinquishing their interest in the east bay to the Giants.

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Originally posted by The Cactus Leaguer:

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Originally posted by BC in Newberg:
Can someone explain to me and Bud how the A's building a new stadium in San Jose/Santa Clara 40 miles from San Francisco infringes on the Giants' territorial rights, but building a new stadium in Oakland only 10 miles across the Bay does not?

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Magowan's public answer - "it's separated by water and harder to get to."

Magowan's private answer - "Many of my well-heeled patrons live in the South Bay."

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Magowan's other private answer- "I lost my shirt building a stadium for my own team with my own $$'s, and I fully intend to recoup my losses!!!! I can't stand those darn California taxpayers who steadfastly refused to build me a new stadium!!!"
FYI, Magowan knows that territorial rights to Oakland would be pointless, because Oaklanders do not like the Giants at all.

Another thought: how will this impact MLB to Washington? Or will Bud find a loophole to try to put a team in Washington, and yet still keep the A's out of the South Bay due to Magowan's failure to get publicly subsidized stadium in SF?

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Originally posted by PirateNBama:
Another thought: how will this impact MLB to Washington? Or will Bud find a loophole to try to put a team in Washington, and yet still keep the A's out of the South Bay due to Magowan's failure to get publicly subsidized stadium in SF?

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The South Bay territory award IS the loophole, not the general rule. Bud will claim "best interests of baseball" and make the payoff settlement to Angelos out of court, if necessary. The shenanigans probably aren't enough for Congress to revoke the anti-trust exemption.