SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Bud Selig still hasn’t made out his lineup card for Barry Bonds.
With Bonds only five home runs from breaking Hank Aaron’s career mark, the commissioner was adamant Tuesday that he hadn’t decided whether to attend the record-breaker.
“All of this will have to be played by ear,” Selig said. “I do have a day job.”
Bonds entered the All-Star break with 751 homers. After hitting 11 home runs in his first 76 at-bats, Bonds has just six his last 131.
Many baseball executives have speculated in recent weeks that Selig ultimately will go to some games when Bonds nears the record. The commissioner said there’s no plan in place, either way.
“None. Zero. I said I’d do it at the appropriate time, and I’ll determine what the appropriate time is,” he said during a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America prior to the All-Star game. “I’m just going to handle it in my own way and hope that that is appropriate.”
Back in 1974, commissioner Bowie Kuhn was criticized when he wasn’t at the ballpark in Atlanta for Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run. Kuhn did attend the opening-day game in Cincinnati when Aaron hit No. 714 to tie Babe Ruth.
After the Braves rested Aaron the following game, hoping Aaron would set the record back in Atlanta, Kuhn ordered the team to play him in the series finale against the Reds.
Selig didn’t think there would be a similar issue with the Giants and Bonds.
“I hope everybody uses their good judgment, and I trust they will,” he said. “Clubs are in pennant races right now. I would hope that certainly is the overriding issue and the overriding determining factor. You want to try to win every game and play your best team.’
Bonds frequently has taken off day games after night games. That won’t be a problem with Selig.
“When you hit 42 and 43, that’s certainly understandable,” he said.
On other topics, Selig said:
-He’s willing to meet with former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to discuss his views of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball history.
-He remains opposed to expanding the first round of the playoffs from best-of-five to best-of-seven.
-He dislikes the proposal by agent Scott Boras to expand the World Series to best-of-nine and start with two games at a neutral site.
-He is willing to re-examine the rule that allows team to expand active rosters from 25 to 40 each Sept. 1.
-Remains hopeful that a new ballpark will be built in Miami.
-Plans to announce two or three All-Star sites within two months. The 2008 game is at New York’s Yankee Stadium and 2009 is in St. Louis.
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