Major League Baseball Cares Primarily About Big Cities

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will appoint a trustee to oversee all business aspects and the day to day operation of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The baseball team has been mired in contentious divorce between owners Frank McCourt and Jamie McCourt.
"I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club," Selig said in a statement today.

I don't know if the Dodgers are in such terrible financial shape that they need Major League Baseball to take it over. But what I do know is that the Dodgers are in a huge media market. They usually have one of the highest payrolls in baseball. This year they are twelfth in the league. They made the playoffs three times within the last five years. ('06, '08,' 09) When big market teams play in the World Series, there are big TV ratings.

But there's a bigger problem here than the Dodgers. Bud Selig will protect one of baseball's glamour teams but doesn't do anything to protect the game. And by that I mean level the playing field for all teams. Baseball has become a sport for the two coasts. Los Angeles on the West coast. New York, Philadelphia and Boston on the East coast. Baseball needs a salary cap so the teams in between the coasts have a chance at the playoffs. At least somebody needs to evangelize the concept. Pro football has a salary cap. That's why football has surpassed baseball as America's sport. Every team in the NFL, with the excepting of the Cincinnati Bengals, has a chance to win the Super Bowl regardless of payroll.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are woeful. Eighteen consecutive losing seasons. They have proud history every bit as great as the Dodgers. Where is major league baseball? If you're a Pirates fan, you know the answer.