Maybe, just maybe, Jose Canseco wrote his name on a ballot for the next MLB Commissioner as Bud Selig is set to step down after the 2014 season. So just what did Canseco say? Well, he didn't quite say it, but instead, like a lot of people do today, he tweeted his thoughts. Here are his 10 ways to fix the game of baseball and I share thoughts on what works and what doesn't.
I'll list the 10 suggestions here, but here's a look at the tweets. He calls it "Canseco Care," guessing he was taking a bite at President Barack Obama as well.
1) Stop drug testing but ban players with moobies.
2) Use imminent domain and seize all teams from owner and give to cities. Profits to local youth sports.
3) Get rid of DH
4) Juice the ball
5) All umpires must be ex-players
6) Move MLB offices to Las Vegas
7) Limit MLB Players to 100% humans
8) Kids U12 get into all games free
9) No penalties for fighting if it is only two guys
10 No extra innings home run derby settles ties
11) VHS demolition night at Astrodome before it's torn down.
He already messed up because in the tweets, he repeats #CansecoCare3, two times. So it's not even "10" things he would change. Anyways, these are the things your "new" commissioner would try to change if he was in charge. Unfortunately, there is no doubt that Canseco is one of the least respected human beings on the planet. He's probably up there with Alex Rodriguez and people might hate him more than Pete Rose.
However crazy this may seem, there are things that make sense. Why not make ex-players umpires? How would you like somebody who's never played a game in his life throwing you out of a game? Of course, Canseco, the problem with having ex-players as umpires are the biases that might exist. Though a player is gone from the game, he still might carry some venom with him. A lot of former players' sons are now entering the big leagues, what if these former players umpired a game and held something against one of their former opponents? Then these young guys would end up taking the worst of it.
Canseco Care No. 2 and 8 in reference to the youth makes sense. If I was a parent, I would not want to take two or three kids to the ballpark if they pay the same price as I do for admission. Kids get hungry and they are more expensive than any date could possibly be. No. 2 would anger a lot of owners, but the idea that organized youth baseball can see tons of funds would probably help the U.S. win a World Baseball Classic as they would nurture their home grown talent and keep some kids off the streets.
No. 9 would make the game turn into hockey. However, when was the last time you ever saw two players go at it mano a mano? Baseball is a fraternity. No Boston Red Sox player will watch his teammate get beat up by a New York Yankee. Though, it would make the game a little more exciting.
No. 10 is whacky as it gets. So Canseco, who pitches for these guys in the "extra inning" home run derby? Their coaches? Their own pitchers? Or the opposing pitchers? Do we bat in the same order or are the team's hottest hitters only allowed to participate? If that's the case, somebody phone Matt Stairs, he'll find a job in no time.
Canseco continues to entertain on the side and is now using Twitter to express his thoughts. The last time Canseco's twitter account blew up, he was attempting to run for mayor in Toronto. This time, he's trying to add his name to another list and race as the commissioner's seat will be vacant. However, no worries, Canseco won't even get nominated.
