Ways New MLB Commissioner Can Make Baseball Better

Bud Selig's successor has some work to do.

MLB to Vote for New Commissioner as Bud Selig's Successor - It’s almost the end of an era for Major League Baseball. That’s because MLB owners will vote Thursday on a successor to replace commissioner Bud Selig, according to USA Today. The owners will reportedly be choosing between Rob Manfred, the league’s chief operating officer; Tim Brosnan, the MLB's executive vice president of business; and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. Selig, 79, has served as the MLB commissioner for the past 22 years. Although we feel like he’s done a respectable job, we still think there are ways to improve America’s pastime to make sure it shines bright in the years to come. That being said, we offer some unsolicited advice to the next commish.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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MLB to Vote for New Commissioner as Bud Selig's Successor - It’s almost the end of an era for Major League Baseball. That’s because MLB owners will vote Thursday on a successor to replace commissioner Bud Selig, according to USA Today. The owners will reportedly be choosing between Rob Manfred, the league’s chief operating officer; Tim Brosnan, the MLB's executive vice president of business; and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. Selig, 79, has served as the MLB commissioner for the past 22 years. Although we feel like he’s done a respectable job, we still think there are ways to improve America’s pastime to make sure it shines bright in the years to come. That being said, we offer some unsolicited advice to the next commish.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Limit Time of Players’ At-Bat Routines - Remember Ivan Rodriguez? The former Texas Rangers great used to do just about every motion imaginable as part of his at-bat routine. Rodriguez would loosen and tighten his batting gloves, tap the dirt out of his cleats and take a few warm-up swings…between every pitch. While it’s sort of fascinating to watch, these kind of at-bat routines only lengthen the time of an already exhaustingly long game. That’s not needed. The new commishioner might want to put a time cap on all players who insist on their at-bat hijinks. Knock it off already, will ya?  (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Limit Time of Players’ At-Bat Routines - Remember Ivan Rodriguez? The former Texas Rangers great used to do just about every motion imaginable as part of his at-bat routine. Rodriguez would loosen and tighten his batting gloves, tap the dirt out of his cleats and take a few warm-up swings…between every pitch. While it’s sort of fascinating to watch, these kind of at-bat routines only lengthen the time of an already exhaustingly long game. That’s not needed. The new commishioner might want to put a time cap on all players who insist on their at-bat hijinks. Knock it off already, will ya?  (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Consider Shortening Games to Seven Innings - This past April, one MLB exec told ESPN that he thinks the league should shorten all games from nine to seven innings. The exec cited a faster game would be more attractive to a younger generation of baseball fans. Something to consider…  (Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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Consider Shortening Games to Seven Innings - This past April, one MLB exec told ESPN that he thinks the league should shorten all games from nine to seven innings. The exec cited a faster game would be more attractive to a younger generation of baseball fans. Something to consider…  (Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Make Sure Every Team Plays Every Team - Take a look at the current MLB schedule. What’s glaring is the fact that while baseball has opened up its interleague play, it hasn’t opened it up enough. Did you know that the New York Yankees will not have played the Los Angeles Dodgers once during this 2014 season? With 162 games in a regular season, there’s absolutely no valid reason why every team shouldn’t be playing every team over the course of a year. The season is too long not to fit in every game and give fans a total package of marquee match ups. We’re missing out and shouldn’t be!  (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

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Make Sure Every Team Plays Every Team - Take a look at the current MLB schedule. What’s glaring is the fact that while baseball has opened up its interleague play, it hasn’t opened it up enough. Did you know that the New York Yankees will not have played the Los Angeles Dodgers once during this 2014 season? With 162 games in a regular season, there’s absolutely no valid reason why every team shouldn’t be playing every team over the course of a year. The season is too long not to fit in every game and give fans a total package of marquee match ups. We’re missing out and shouldn’t be!  (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)

David Ortiz Talks Losing Respect for David Price - Big Papi is mad as hell and is not going to take it anymore. After getting hit by a David Price fastball Friday and seeing the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher go unpunished, while Boston Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman was suspended for six games for throwing a close pitch, David Ortiz tore into Price. "We're the ones getting fines and suspensions," Ortiz told ESPN. "I guess the rules aren't for everyone.” Ortiz deemed Price’s act as “some punk a-- s--t.” "I'm not going to get hit again," Ortiz continued. "Not by him. He did it on purpose. He punked me, and that's very disrespectful. I'm a grown-a-- man. I've been around the league a long time, and I know how to take care of business on my own." (Photo: Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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Add DH to National League - Why should the new commissioner add designated hitters to the National League permanently? Well because nobody wants to see a damn pitcher hit. We know the baseball purist are all riled up right now, but it's true. The DH position allows treasures like Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, 38, to play late into their careers. Remember, fans dig the long ball. More offense, means a more appealing product. (Photo: Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

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Expand the Playoffs  - The MLB did a good job in adding a second wildcard berth in the playoffs in 2012, but with 30 teams, the league is missing the boat on capturing its full post season potential. Why not open up the playoffs to a 16-team format? The top eight teams in each the two leagues compete for the title. If the MLB would have something like that in place currently, the league would enjoy an eighth-seed New York Yankees in Derek Jeter’s farewell campaign against the top-seed Oakland Athletics. Sounds good to us. The first-round series could be the best of five, shifting to seven for every subsequent series. We think this format would be a big hit.  (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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Expand the Playoffs  - The MLB did a good job in adding a second wildcard berth in the playoffs in 2012, but with 30 teams, the league is missing the boat on capturing its full post season potential. Why not open up the playoffs to a 16-team format? The top eight teams in each the two leagues compete for the title. If the MLB would have something like that in place currently, the league would enjoy an eighth-seed New York Yankees in Derek Jeter’s farewell campaign against the top-seed Oakland Athletics. Sounds good to us. The first-round series could be the best of five, shifting to seven for every subsequent series. We think this format would be a big hit.  (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Get Rid of All-Star Game’s World Series Home Field Advantage Rule - The midsummer classic is supposed to be fun. We strongly suggest that the new commissioner get rid of the rule that allows the winning league of the All-Star Game have home-field advantage during the World Series. It’s a forced rule that just doesn’t add up. Get rid of it for good. You’re outta here!  (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Get Rid of All-Star Game’s World Series Home Field Advantage Rule - The midsummer classic is supposed to be fun. We strongly suggest that the new commissioner get rid of the rule that allows the winning league of the All-Star Game have home-field advantage during the World Series. It’s a forced rule that just doesn’t add up. Get rid of it for good. You’re outta here!  (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Shorten the Schedule - Baseball’s schedule can drag out, especially toward the end. It would be great if the new MLB commissioner finds a way to end the season early in October or even September. We might be pushing it a little with the latter request, but having the year all wrapped up early would only keep fans watching.(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Shorten the Schedule - Baseball’s schedule can drag out, especially toward the end. It would be great if the new MLB commissioner finds a way to end the season early in October or even September. We might be pushing it a little with the latter request, but having the year all wrapped up early would only keep fans watching.(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Better Marketing of Individual Stars - It’s a damn shame that baseball’s young stars don’t seem to get as much shine as that of those from the NBA or NFL. For that, baseball is to blame. The MLB needs to do a better job of marketing its young stars, helping turn them into household names. Stars such as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, 27, or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Mike Trout, 23, should be known by people who don’t even follow baseball. That’s how exciting they are to watch. Market your stars better, MLB!  (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Better Marketing of Individual Stars - It’s a damn shame that baseball’s young stars don’t seem to get as much shine as that of those from the NBA or NFL. For that, baseball is to blame. The MLB needs to do a better job of marketing its young stars, helping turn them into household names. Stars such as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen, 27, or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Mike Trout, 23, should be known by people who don’t even follow baseball. That’s how exciting they are to watch. Market your stars better, MLB!  (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)