X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Selig as Guilty of Gambling as Rose: An Open Letter to Baseball's Commissioner

Dear Mr. Selig,

rotoballer-fantasy-baseball-advice-bud-seligI love the fact that you are finally cleaning up your sport. Kudos to you for that. And I realize you have a lot on your plate at the moment with the Rodriguez situation, other cheaters and all. But do you have time to answer a few questions?

Ever since Ryan Braun struck his deal with you, I've been considering something that many others are also curious about: Do Pete Rose's sins seem like such a big deal now? Isn't it time to let go of the allegiance to Bart Giamatti and allow Charlie Hustle to be officially recognized by Major League Baseball?

Braun has cemented his status as one of the most detestable liars/cheaters in history (who isn't an owner, league administrator, or A-Rod), and he took down innocent people along the way. Yet, he was able to strike a deal with your office and is still eligible to play again after serving his suspension. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is Braun's cheating and lying somehow less detrimental than Pete Rose's cheating and lying?

Why is a player allowed a few strikes when it comes to altering games with drugs, but a player who gambled on games is instantly given the death sentence with no chance of a pardon?

Can you tell me with a straight face that Alex Rodriguez, in your opinion, hurts the integrity of the game less than a repentant Pete Rose? A-Roid has already begrudgingly admitted to using PEDs once. Yet he continues to play baseball. Pete isn't allowed to set foot on any major league field without your permission.

Ironically, Pete Rose's accomplishments, though not the man who earned them, have been deemed worthy of a slice of real estate in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. My son and I recently toured the Hall and noticed with great pleasure a small section of the facility dedicated to the Hit King. Funny thing: a LOT of people, particularly older folks, were gathered around Pete's memorabilia, snapping photos and watching the continuous loop of hit #4,192. Isn't it odd that so many baseball fans would be interested in the accomplishments of a man who IS NOT enshrined in the Hall of Fame?

Are the contributions to baseball of Rube Waddell, nicknamed "The Sousepaw" by the Sporting News in reference to his drinking habits, greater for the game than those of Rose? Waddell has a plaque in Cooperstown. How about Phil Rizzuto, Nellie Fox, or even Lou Brock or George Sisler? Did any of these guys impact baseball like Pete Rose? How do their career stats line up with his? And how about Joe Tinker, who appears to have gotten in on the strength of a poem? Doesn't it seem tragic to keep a game-changer out of the Hall while so many who were inferior to him are honored? The only thing Pete's outstanding career needs for HOF consideration is your approval of his reinstatement to the game.

Every baseball fan knows Rose has more hits than any man who ever wore a uniform. Every fan also knows he wasn't a Barry Bonds, whose body morphed from Gilligan to Hulk Hogan under your watch without questions from your office. And anyone who ever watched Pete play still to this day talks about his love of the game-- his desire and all-out effort every single moment he was on the diamond. Pete changed the way players approached the game. He raised the bar by employing the now long-lost American work ethic: give 100% at everything you do. How many players can make this claim? How many players are remembered as much for their effort as for their statistics?

When you were a child, how many kids in your neighborhood emulated and idolized Travis Jackson, Stan Coveleski, Heine Manush, or Sam Rice years after they retired? Did any of these now immortal HOF inductees have a nickname summarizing his career... like, say, Charlie Hustle?

Quickly: when you see the #14, what name immediately springs to mind? When asked which player, past or present, loved the game of baseball most, whose name do you think the majority of fans would recite?

Rose's contributions to baseball aren't just ignored; it's as if you pretend he never happened. Networks with MLB contracts are discouraged by your office from broadcasting highlights of his career. Isn't this move a bit unrealistic? His entire existence is treated like Area 51. But we fans know he exists, despite your denials. We have issues with your Magic Bullet theories and accompanying smoke and mirrors… particularly that betting on games, the archaic "cardinal sin" for which Pete is guilty, is somehow worse than altering games by using PEDs.

Remember Brady Anderson in 1996? I'm certain you do. He hit nearly 25% of his career home runs that year, a season in which his physique was suddenly magazine model material. In the three previous seasons, sans the bulging biceps, he hit a combined 41 home runs, nine shy of his '96 total. Anderson was an All Star in '96 due to his outbreak. Can you tell me his obvious juicing didn't raise questions in your mind? Can you tell me his new body didn't alter the outcomes of multiple games? Didn't this happen two years before Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire spit on Roger Maris's sacred single-season home run record, which had stood for 37 years? And then Barry Bonds hit 71 homers in 2001, a full three seasons after Sosa and McGwire's pill-propelled march. And then, another six years passed before Bonds, who by then resembled a pro wrestler, broke Hank Aaron's revered all-time record for career home runs.

Can you honestly say you had no clue players in the '90s (and well into the 2000s) were 'roiding? And, perhaps my most important question: can you say with sincerity you weren't gambling on cheaters to ring the cash registers at MLB ballparks? Remember, the shadow of this seemingly unforgivable sin-- i.e., gambling-- still hangs over Pete Rose's head. The decision to ban Pete for life began with Giamatti and continues to live in your office, where it appears an unquestionably more destructive form of gambling has taken place. Given the fact that you are a very intelligent man, and considering your lifelong history of association with the game of baseball, I find it impossible to believe you did not know players were beefing up, altering the course of thousands of games and the proud history of baseball, all on your watch. Since baseball is a lucrative business, and since the sport had suffered in attendance prior to '98, particularly due to the player's strike in '94, I also find it impossible to believe you didn't see the economic value of players using drugs and boosting the popularity of the game.

For these transgressions, I find you MUCH MORE guilty than Pete Rose of harming the integrity of Major League Baseball. A lifetime ban for Bud Selig seems fair considering the damage you permitted to occur to our great pastime. To me, the hypocrisy of hypocrisies is that you will not allow one of the most widely recognized figures in the history of the game to be recognized as a member of a sport you govern. Between you and Pete, who has done the greatest damage?

I'm aware Pete comes across as pompous and proud. He should have owned up to his indiscretions many years before he finally did. And he shouldn't have come clean in a book so he could make money from the deal. Pete appears to be all about Pete. He was my childhood and early-adulthood idol until I realized he was superficial as a person, always trying to make a buck from his autograph and never seeming concerned with telling the truth.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize it doesn't matter what kind of person Pete Rose the baseball player was or is, although I believe he's mellowed and become more apologetic with age. All that really matters is his contribution to the greatest game in the history of the world… without using the PEDs your regime has allowed to tarnish the sport. As an ambassador for baseball, Pete's knowledge and near-total recall of every single event of his career could be a blessing in this moment of turmoil. He is one of the most revered members of the sport, a monumental accomplishment considering the great players who have graced this pastime, yet he continues to be shunned while today's multi-millionaire cheaters and liars are given slaps on the wrist… mostly because you, Mr. Selig, committed the sin of omission, further smearing the integrity of this great game. You continue to commit this sin via an obvious allegiance to a friend and former commissioner.

I ask you to consider turning the other cheek and lifting this 24-year ban. Enough is enough. Pete's transgressions were nothing compared to the sins that have occurred since he was expelled (which has effectively been your entire reign). Keeping him on the other side of the wall after all this time only verifies the public perceptions of a stubborn regime that needs to either change or go.

Or, you can do what you do best. You can pretend Pete Rose doesn't exist and continue to honor a ban that looks ridiculous today compared to the light sentences meted out to the newest brand of rule breakers. We're used to that. But, keeping past sins of omission in mind, a little compassion on your part may be the only positive thing history remembers about your legacy.

Respectfully yours,

Billy Bruce

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ladd McConkey20 mins ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
CeeDee Lamb33 mins ago

Cleared To Play In Week 12
Sam LaPorta44 mins ago

Off The Injury Report, Cleared For Week 12
Jake Ferguson53 mins ago

Ruled Out With Concussion
DeVonta Smith1 hour ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Brock Purdy1 hour ago

Not Seen At Friday's Practice
T.J. Hockenson2 hours ago

Expects To Be More Involved In Week 12
Alexander Mattison2 hours ago

Zamir White Doubtful To Face Broncos
Nico Collins2 hours ago

Set For Increased Workload Against Titans
Mike Evans2 hours ago

Officially Listed As Questionable
Malik Nabers2 hours ago

Questionable For Week 12, Intends To Play
Coby White2 hours ago

Listed As Probable On Friday
Jordan Hawkins2 hours ago

Set To Return On Friday
Sam Darnold2 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
Brandon Ingram2 hours ago

Available On Friday
Stephen Curry3 hours ago

Probable On Friday Against Pelicans
D'Andre Swift3 hours ago

Gets Questionable Tag For Week 12
Keenan Allen3 hours ago

Lands On Injury Report, Questionable For Week 12
Isiah Pacheco3 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
CeeDee Lamb3 hours ago

Practices Friday, Expected To Play Sunday
Tyjae Spears4 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Mike Evans4 hours ago

Will Return In Week 12
Jalen Hurts4 hours ago

"Good To Go" For Week 12, Remains A Must-Start QB
Adam Thielen4 hours ago

Tommy Tremble Will Play On Sunday
Jonathon Brooks4 hours ago

Set To Make NFL Debut In Week 12
Cam Thomas5 hours ago

Available Against 76ers
Shohei Ohtani5 hours ago

In Early Stages Of Recovery From Shoulder Surgery
Joel Embiid5 hours ago

Added To Injury Report On Friday
Tabatha Ricci5 hours ago

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Yan Xiaonan5 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Nicolas Claxton5 hours ago

Now Listed As Probable Against 76ers
Dorian Finney-Smith5 hours ago

Upgraded To Probable On Friday
Muslim Salikhov5 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Chris Sale5 hours ago

To Have Normal Offseason
Garrett Crochet5 hours ago

Drawing Plenty Of Interest
Song Kenan5 hours ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Zhang Mingyang5 hours ago

Set For His Second UFC Fight
Ozzy Diaz6 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Macau
MacKenzie Weegar8 hours ago

Notches Three Assists Against Rangers
Macklin Celebrini8 hours ago

Tallies Two Assists In Thursday's Loss
Nikita Kucherov9 hours ago

Comes Up With Three Assists Versus Blue Jackets
Sean Monahan9 hours ago

Finishes Thursday's Win With Four Points
Zach Werenski9 hours ago

Enjoys Career Night With Five Points Against Lightning
Jack Hughes9 hours ago

Posts Three Assists Versus Hurricanes
Joonas Korpisalo9 hours ago

Records 21-Save Shutout Versus Utah
Wendell Carter Jr.19 hours ago

Out Against Lakers
Anthony Davis20 hours ago

Available Versus Magic On Thursday
Rui Hachimura20 hours ago

Unavailable Thursday
Carlos Ulberg20 hours ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir20 hours ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes20 hours ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA21 hours ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo21 hours ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan21 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Yves Missi21 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
CJ McCollum21 hours ago

Not Likely To Play Friday
Brandon Ingram22 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Shohei Ohtani22 hours ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge22 hours ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Ja'Kobe Walter22 hours ago

Ready To Go Thursday
Donte DiVincenzo22 hours ago

Available Thursday
Mike Conley22 hours ago

Will Not Play Thursday
Jordan Clarkson22 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Ausar Thompson22 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday
Zach Collins22 hours ago

Cleared To Play Thursday
Domantas Sabonis22 hours ago

Gets Through Full Practice
Alex Ovechkin23 hours ago

To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Zach Hyman23 hours ago

Expected To Miss 4-7 Days
Kent Johnson23 hours ago

Back For Blue Jackets Thursday
Yaroslav Askarov24 hours ago

Makes Sharks Debut Thursday
Mikael Granlund24 hours ago

Good To Go Thursday
Alexandar Georgiev24 hours ago

Returns To Action Versus Capitals
TB24 hours ago

Nicholas Paul Will Miss Thursday's Game
Frederik Andersen1 day ago

To Miss 8-12 Weeks
Cody Bellinger1 day ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
1 day ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Chandler Stephenson1 day ago

Registers Three Assists Versus Predators
Jason Robertson1 day ago

Totals Three Points In Wednesday's Win
Nils Lundkvist1 day ago

Exits Early With A Lower-Body Injury
Matthew Knies1 day ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
Mikael Granlund1 day ago

Exits Late With Injury Wednesday
Patrik Laine1 day ago

Returns To Practice
Chris Sale2 days ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal2 days ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat2 days ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English2 days ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin2 days ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Ludvig Aberg2 days ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy2 days ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole2 days ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
3 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers3 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
3 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri3 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
3 days ago

Phillies To Meet With Juan Soto
3 days ago

Luis Severino Rejects Qualifying Offer From Mets
3 days ago

Willy Adames Declines Brewers Qualifying Offer
3 days ago

Teoscar Hernandez Declines Qualifying Offer From Dodgers
3 days ago

Juan Soto Declines Yankees' Qualifying Offer
Luis Gil4 days ago

Wins AL Rookie Of The Year Award
Paul Skenes4 days ago

Named 2024 NL Rookie Of The Year
Brady Singer4 days ago

Reds, Royals Discussing Jonathan India, Brady Singer
Charles Oliveira4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler4 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva4 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy4 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
James Llontop5 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig5 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal5 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic5 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

Video: Week 12 Booms, Sleepers, and Streamers - 2024 Fantasy Football Start 'Em Analysis

And here...we...go... The YouTube team is dropping fresh fire content for the weekend ahead with our top Week 12 booms, sleepers, and streamers! NFL Network and RotoBaller contributor LaQuan Jones gives in-depth fantasy football advice, breaking down some of his high-upside, sleeper, and value plays as we head into Week 12 of the new fantasy […]


RotoBaller NFL Betting Picks Stock

2024 NFL Week 12 Betting Picks (Premium Content)

All other Premium Tools and Content can be accessed on the premium dashboard. To see ALL of Jamie's bets (and others from RotoBaller experts) then head over to the RotoBaller Discord. You'll find every bet and prop in the #NFL-BETTING-PROPS channel there!   Background My name is Jamie Calandro (@jac3600 on X) and I have […]


DeVon Achane - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Injury News

Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Week 12 Matchups Analysis

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another start'em and sit'em piece as we look ahead to Week 12! There will be a whopping six teams on bye this week (Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets), so that means fantasy managers might need to look deeper on their benches. This Week 12 matchups […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

WR/CB Matchups to Upgrade and Downgrade - Fantasy Football Week 12 (2024)

Welcome back to our WR/CB Matchups for Week 12 of the 2024 fantasy football season. For those unfamiliar, this weekly series looks at fantasy football matchups for wide receivers versus the cornerbacks who are projected to cover them. The data we access for offensive and defensive players continues to skyrocket. Though we mainly focus on offensive […]


Houston Texans Defense D/ST Streamers, Rankings, Waiver Wire - Derek Stingley Fantasy Football IDP

D/ST Strength of Schedule: Best Fantasy Football Defense Streamers and Matchups (Weeks 12-17)

Ahh, the good old Defense/Special Teams (DST) position in fantasy football. It is a controversial inclusion in fantasy lineups for some fantasy players, but strategizing around DSTs is one of my favorite aspects of the in-season fantasy football experience. In the article below, I will present the strength of schedule (SOS) for the fantasy Defense/Special […]


NFL DFS: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football Picks for Week 12 - Top Lineup Plays Include Jayden Daniels, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff, Puka Nacua

It’s already Week 12, although the end of the 2024-25 campaign can’t come soon enough for teams like the Jaguars, Raiders, Giants, and Panthers, to name a few. On the other hand, clubs like the Bills, Chiefs, and Lions are only a few weeks away from officially punching their tickets to the postseason.   In […]


Braelon Allen - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Best/Worst Fantasy Football Playoff Schedules: Streamers and Starts To Win A Championship (2024)

Planning too far in advance to align your fantasy football players for an optimal playoff performance comes with many pitfalls. However, positioning yourself for good fortune in Weeks 15 through 17 should be a key piece of your strategy if you're in line to make the bracket. Fantasy players still have time to trade for […]


Bo Nix - Fantasy Football Rankings, QB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

The King's Week 12 Lineup Rankings and Analysis (Premium Content)

RotoBaller senior writer Scott "The King" Engel shares his Week 12 fantasy football lineup rankings for PPR, half PPR, and standard scoring league participants. He also provides an analysis of the rankings at every skill position. Regular starting options are included to highlight that some of your must-start players have a good chance of supplying […]


Courtland Sutton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Week 12 DraftKings NFL DFS Picks - Main Slate (2024): Anthony Richardson, Brian Robinson Jr., Courtland Sutton, and more

How's it going, RotoBallers? Welcome back to our DraftKings Main Slate article. Known around the fantasy football world as "Bye-Mageddon," Week 12 certainly offers up some unique challenges from a DFS perspective. Don't worry, we'll work through those difficulties to find the best plays we can on this slate. These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based […]


Brian Robinson Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings Running Backs, Waiver Wire Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football Week 12: Tua Tagovailoa, Rhamondre Stevenson, Brian Robinson Jr., Ladd McConkey, Will Dissly

Week 12 is here, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Tua Tagovailoa, Rhamondre Stevenson, Brian Robinson Jr., Ladd McConkey, and Will Dissly. Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely […]


Ladd McConkey - Fantasy Football Rankings, Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Booms and Busts - Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 12 Lineups Include Tua Tagovailoa, J.K. Dobbins, Ladd McConkey

Week 11 was pretty kind to us in this space. We correctly labeled Justin Herbert as a boom pick. He threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards on the ground. It culminated with a QB8 finish. We also nailed Kirk Cousins and Tony Pollard as busts. Cousins and the Falcons […]


Chuba Hubbard - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Week 12 Fantasy Football Busts? Players Who May Disappoint Include D'Andre Swift, JK Dobbins, Tank Dell, Chuba Hubbard, Mark Andrews, Jakobi Meyers

Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our Week 12 fantasy football busts, or players who may disappoint for fantasy lineups this week. It's a strange week in the NFL with six teams taking their bye week. That could mean lineups are gridlocked and fantasy managers don't have the luxury of analyzing matchups to decide their starters. Potential […]


Josh Downs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

PrizePicks NFL DFS Prop Picks - Over/Under Props for Week 12 (Sunday Main Slate)

Hello everybody, and welcome to our PrizePicks NFL DFS prop picks for Week 12 - Sunday Main Slate! The 2024 NFL season is now past the midpoint, and our friends over at PrizePicks have a TON of great DFS plays we can look to take advantage of. Our partners at PrizePicks offer some of the […]