MLB Properties has announced that Major League Baseball will auction the final Statues of Liberty on Parade statue, decorated in a stars and stripes motif, which includes the autographs of 89 Hall of Famers and All-Stars including Hank Aaron, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz. This statue appeared at various 2008 All-Star events including DHL All-Star FanFest, the All-Star Game Gala at the Museum of Natural History and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade presented by Chevy. The auction for this statue will take place August 15 through August 29 online at MLB.com with the bidding starting at $10,000.Profits from the sale of the statues will be donated to Boys Girls Clubs of America. More than $50,000 has been raised so far with the sale of the other forty-one statues. The contribution will be augmented by the sale of the final statue.Major League Baseball, through MLB.com has already auctioned forty-one of the Major League Baseball themed Statue of Liberty replicas that appeared throughout New York City as part of the celebration of the 79th MLB All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 15.The statues were commissioned by Major League Baseball and produced by MLB licensee Forever Collectibles and stand eight and a half feet tall. They are designed with bold graphics featuring each of the 30 MLB Clubs and other celebrations of New York baseball including the 2008 MLB All-Star Game, the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and the final seasons of Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium.Miniature versions of each of the statues are available to the public at a suggested retail price of $24.99 on MLB.com and other participating retailers, including Modell’s, Toys “R” Us, Yankees and Mets stadium stores and Clubhouse Shops. Sales of the Statue of Liberty replicas helped Major League Baseball set an all-time record for All-Star merchandise sales this year. A portion of sales of the replica statues will be donated to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., which is the charitable foundation dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enhancement of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.Source: MLB Properties Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

Nearly everyday after the All-Star break, there has been news that one or more players have been suspended as part of the Dominican Summer League. Thursday, it was Chicago Cubs Minor League players Jesse Lebron and Alexander Mejia, both of whom received 50-game suspensions after each tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Lebron, a pitcher, tested positive for Methandienone metabolites. Mejia, a second baseman, tested positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. The day before that it was catcher Juan Fortuna and pitcher Juan Garcia of the Kansas City Royals and pitcher Starling Peralta of the Chicago Cubs. All three of those players were hit with 50 game suspensions. All three players tested positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. It has been a constant part of the reporting here on The Biz of Baseball, and has given us a run for our money to keep the historical record up to date (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=996 Itemid=85). As reported last week (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2392 Itemid=1), the word was, “Sometimes they just come in bunches.” That may only part of the matter. The AP has reported that players that have been players suspended out of the Dominican and Venezuelan Summer Leagues haven’t been reported prior due to a legal issue (exact details not provided). The logic being that if the league never announced the suspensions before, these players have slipped by the public as PED users. That may, or may not be true on technicality. In 2006, six players were suspended out of the Venezuelan Summer League, with press releases coming out of the Commissioner’s Office. There were four players suspended on 7/24/06 (Carlos Fajardo, Reds - Alfredo Martin and Jonathan Requena of the Twins - Richard Rodriguez, Blue Jays) and two players on 8/2/06 (Marcos Chavez and Jonathan Gonzalez of the Cardinals). As mentioned, it may be a technical issue, but those players were suspended as part of the Venezuelan League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, which would be different than how the players that are being suspended now are classified. In the cases this year, the players in the Dominican Summer League have been suspended under the MinorLeague Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. No word back yet from the Commissioner’s Office as to whether it’s how they have been reported. Eric Fisher of the Sports Business Journal gets Selig on-record (http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/123283). I have no doubt the program is working as it should and there is a deterrent, Selig said. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

Sometimes, good causes trump reporting on the news. Jason at the website “It’s About the Money, Stupid” is offering a charity challenge (http://itsaboutthemoney.blogspot.com/2008/08/charity-challenge.html) to anyone that offers $100 or more to the Jimmy Fund (http://www.jimmyfund.org/gif/) or the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (https://secure3.convio.net/tacs/site/Donation2?1004976.donation=form1 idb=455592298 df_id=1004976 FR_ID=11632 PROXY_ID=2750034 PROXY_TYPE=20 JServSessionIdr009=xl4kol4uv2.app314a) – two great causes. The winner gets the right to a free posting on IIATM. Since IIATM is right in line with what we do on the Business of Sports Network, go over and take a peek. Remember, the Business of Sports Network believes in assisting those in need. Support Jason’s effort, and remember to donate to autism awareness. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

What happens when you break a 101 year old record? Have a promotion. In honor of Brad Ziegler going 39.0 straight scoreless innings to start his major league career, thus shattering the 101-year-old modern day record (since 1900) for consecutive scoreless innings, which was 25.0 innings, set by George McQuillan of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1907, the A’s are offering tickets in the Plaza Level Outfield and Plaza Reserved sections of McAfee Coliseum for just $1.01 for the game against Minnesota on Friday, August 29. These specially priced tickets will be available online at oaklandathletics.com/ziggy by entering the coupon code “Ziggy” (subject to availability, while supplies last). Tickets will go on sale starting at 9:00 am PT tomorrow morning. Prior to the 7:05 pm game against the Twins, the A’s will honor Ziegler in a special on-field ceremony. In addition, 15,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a Jack Cust bobblehead, courtesy of Kingsford Capital Management. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ziegler set the 90-year old American League record for scoreless streak by a rookie, surpassing the Yankees Hank Thormahlen who had 37.0 scoreless inning streak in 1918. In addition, Ziegler’s streak tied Al Benton of Cleveland (1949) for the longest single season scoreless streak by a reliever in ML history. The A’s reliever tossed a scoreless eighth inning today against the Rays before allowing a RBI-double to Upton which drove in Iwamura with one out in the ninth inning. Source: Oakland AthleticsMaury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

The Houston Astros announced today that on Sunday afternoon, August 17, the organization will retire the No. 7 worn by seven-time All-Star Craig Biggio in a pre-game ceremony before the Astros-Diamondbacks game. The announcement was made by Astros Chairman and CEO Drayton McLane. Biggio becomes the ninth Houston player to have his number retired, joining Jim Umbricht (32), Don Wilson (40), Jose Cruz (25), Mike Scott (33), Nolan Ryan (34), Larry Dierker (49), Jimmy Wynn (24), and Jeff Bagwell (5). Additionally, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 has been retired by all 30 Major League clubs in honor of his contributions to the game, meaning Biggio’s No. 7 becomes the 10th number overall retired by the Astros franchise. The 42-year-old Biggio is currently in his first season as a special assistant to General Manager Ed Wade. The agreement between Craig and the Astros was announced on February 11, 2008. He was also named head baseball coach at St. Thomas High School in Houston on May 19. Jersey retirement ceremonies will begin at 12:20 PM on Sunday, with Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton serving as Master of Ceremonies. Bagwell, Cruz, Dierker, Scott, and Wynn are all scheduled to attend Sunday’s event. Other expected attendees include former Astros second baseman Bill Doran and current Astros Special Assistant to the General Manager Matt Galante, who is on the scheduled list of speakers for the event, along with McLane, Bagwell, and Craig and Patty Biggio’s oldest son, Conor Biggio. Craig’s mother Johnna and brother Terry will also be in attendance, along with the Biggio’s other two children, son Cavan and daughter Quinn. Nancy Caminiti, wife of former Astro Ken Caminiti, is also scheduled to attend with her three daughters, Kendall, Lindsey, and Nicole. Additionally, Biggio and Bagwell’s longtime agent, Barry Axelrod, will attend the ceremony. Astros Director of Team Travel Barry Waters and Clubhouse Manager Dennis Liborio, both of whom are in their 29th season with the club, will also be on the field for the ceremony. In addition to his jersey No. 7 being unveiled alongside the other former honorees on the display above the right field scoreboard, the Astros will present Biggio with a special gift. There will also be a tribute video shown on the SmartVision video board before the No. 7 is unveiled. All fans in attendance on Sunday will receive a special Craig Biggio Jersey Retirement Pin, courtesy of AT T. A commemorative Astros Magazine and other merchandise related to the event will also be available at the ballpark on Sunday. Since the early 1990s, Biggio has served as the main spokesperson for The Sunshine Kids, a support organization for children with cancer and their families. Frankie Velazquez, a young man whom Biggio met through his work with The Sunshine Kids, is also expected to attend the ceremony on behalf of the organization.Select Read More (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2402 Itemid=1) to see information more information on Craig Biggio

It seems that instant replay will be addressed in baseball before MLB’s blackout policy is. At Wednesday’s quarterly owners meetings, the topic of putting instant replay into place for the so-called “boundary calls”, possibly as early as the end of the month, and before the playoffs was broached. With instant replay not having to do with MLB rules, no vote by the owners needs to take place. As reported by The AP (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3533985), MLB COO Bob DuPuy said that as far as the owners are concerned, instant replay is a go. There's not any opposition to it that I've heard, DuPuy said.Commissioner Bud Selig, once a staunch opponent, appears to be more comfortable with the use of replay. Agreements are needed with the players' association and umpires' union. We don't need a lot of lead-up, DuPuy said. What we need is stuff installed, and what we need is people to make sure it's going to work, and what we need is for the umpires to understand the protocol. What we need is to make sure that everyone who's participating understands it. In other news, any hope of MLB addressing their arcane televison blackout policy has been shelved until the next meeting in November. DuPuy said he wished to collect more information. Lastly, as expected William Neukom was approved by the executive committee as the new controlling owner of the San Francisco Giants. He is expected to be approved by the owners today. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

As part of MLB’s investigative department, the league is looking into a gambling ring that allegedly ran through former Washington Nationals “bird dog” scout, Frank Falzarano. Falzarano plead guilty earlier this year to corruption and gambling charges, but MLB is looking into other scouts that gambled through Falzarano. As reported by Mike Fish of ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3529999), it appears that “seven or eight” scouts are involved, although that number could grow with the New York City police getting involved: Sources close to the bookmaking probe identified one of the alleged bettors as Alan Marr, a respected high-ranking scout fired by the Baltimore Orioles last month. Marr acknowledged knowing Falzarano, but declined further comment when reached by ESPN.com at his home in Sarasota, Fla.[…]To date, only Marr has been fired by his club and no disciplinary action has been taken by MLB against any of the scouts. It is expected, however, that a report will be forwarded to Bud Selig within 30 days and that the baseball commissioner could discipline Marr and perhaps the others. The scouts are under investigation only for placing bets and not for being involved in the bookmaking operation. The firing of Marr is seen as a blow to the scouting world, and certainly the Orioles. Marr has been viewed by his peers. I wasn't familiar with his personal life, but professionally he was all about scouting, said John Mirabelli, the Cleveland Indians' assistant general manager of scouting operations. He was a very passionate, committed baseball guy. He lived it, breathed it. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

Today at MLB’s quarterly meetings, two key issues will be addressed: the approval vote of William Neukom (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2393 Itemid=1) as the managing partner of the San Francisco Giants, and MLB’s television blackout policy on the local and regional level. Word is that Neukom should be easily approved after Peter Magowan announced that he was stepping down after 15 years of running the organization. The issue of the blackout policy will be harder fought. MLB COO Bob DuPuy has recommended that clubs will lose the right to a given territory if they do not broadcast within it for at least one season. Said DuPuy to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-blackouts080708 prov=yhoo type=lgns), “I see no reason why there ought to be so many clubs able to black out in those territories. That’s my intention. That’s my goal. I didn’t get any pushback. The whole thing is about making the game more popular and available.” As reported, MLB’s national policy would not be impacted by any vote to approve DuPuy’s proposal. National exclusivity deals are still in place with FOX and ESPN for Saturday and Sunday games, thus placing the entire nation under blackout for given periods on those days (see Out of the Dark? DuPuy Talks Lifting Blackout Restrictions (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2390 Itemid=1)).Check back often with Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

Tuesday, MLB and MiLB passed a milestone of sorts, showing that baseball takes drug testing seriously, while outlining that PEDs are still being used within the sports. Since mandatory drug testing has been instituted at the major league and minor league level of MLB, there have been 203 suspensions. With Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League players Winfild De La Rosa and Ramon Mariano and Kansas City Royals Minor League player Victor Jorge being suspended for PEDs (De La Rosa, a pitcher, and Mariano, a first baseman, tested positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. Jorge, a pitcher, tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol), there have been 30 minor league players suspended as part of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. To place that in perspective, there was a total of 28 minor league players suspended last season. This year has seen a huge influx in the number of players suspended as part of the Dominican Summer League. All told, 21 of the 30 players suspended this year have been part of the Dominican Summer League. Since the latest Joint Drug Agreement has been in place, MLB began listing the substances that players have been suspended for. Ten players have been suspended for the metabolite Boldenone. Seven players have been suspended for Stanozolol. Jordan Schafer, a key prospect for the Braves was suspended for a non-analytical positive for hGH. There currently is no valid test for hGH. Thomas Mendoza of the Angels’ Single-A Rancho Cucamonga club tested positive for Amphetamine, a drug MLB deems to be a performance-enhancing substance. The other positives took place before the latest JDA with four PEDs, and one failure to test. All told, over the 203 suspensions 6,775 games have been served. The day with the largest total amount of suspensions was April, 4 2005 when 38 players were suspended as part of the initial wave of suspensions for PEDs. 2005 also saw 89 minor league players suspended – the largest total. The team with the largest number of suspensions? The New York Mets at thirteen. Second, it’s the Seattle Mariners with twelve players between the major and minor leagues. The team with the least number of suspensions for drug violations? The Boston Red Sox with two. Fourteen minor league players have been suspended in the month of August alone. From May 16 to July 25, there were no suspensions. Since the 25th of July there have been 23. See our Drug Violations page (images/steroidsbaseball.jpg) for details for each year since 2005. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

A week ago tomorrow, I reported (Minor Leaguers Being Suspended for PEDs at Record Clip (Minor Leaguers Being Suspended for PEDs at Record Clip) how minor league players out of the Dominican Summer League were suddenly being suspended for PEDs at a rate not seen since the initial suspensions were doled out in bulk on April 4, 2005 (see Drug Violations page ( Tampa Bay Rays Minor League players Cesar Guillen and Victor Henriquez received 50-game suspensions after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. Guillen, an outfielder, tested positive for Ephedrine. Henriquez, an infielder, tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. Both were (you guessed it) currently with Tampa Bay's Dominican Summer League team.

Yesterday, Boston Red Sox Minor League pitcher Victor De La Cruz received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for Stanozolol. Where was he when he tested positive? Boston's Dominican Summer League team. Since July 25th, 15 players have been suspended as part of MLB's Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. All told, it comes to 750 games being served under suspensions, a staggering figure in such a short period. Every one of the players, with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Minor League pitcher Thomas Mendoza the exception (he is currently with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga of the California League) all the players suspended were in the Dominican Summer League.

It begs the question; is there something going on?

To that end, I contacted Rich Levin, spokesman for the Commissioner's Office. I asked whether there might be that a review process had ended, thus rolling the release of the suspensions into a short window. The answer was no. The answer, it seems, may be more random, from MLB's perspective.

"The percentage of players testing positive in the Dominican Republic, so far this summer, has decreased from last year," said Levin. When asked why the sudden spike in analytical positives, Levin replied, "It is just a matter of timing. Sometimes, they come in bunches."

Maybe.

But, if they "sometimes come in bunches the question is, why? Could there be a communication issue between players in Latin America? Could it be that a single source a€" a Kurt Radmonski-type a€" is in and around the Dominican Summer League? Hard saying. One could surely speculate that MLB is looking closely at the matter. No one in the mainstream media has picked up on this story, but if the rate continues through the end of the season, one would hope others would report on this story.

There was a point in time when minor league baseball conjured up something just above sandlot ball. Either that, or Crash Davis and Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham. That has changed, and in a big way. Minor league baseball is certainly not “minor” any longer, at least from a business perspective. There have been peeks at minor league club values in the past, but nothing comprehensive. Forbes, whose MLB club valuations are a religious stop each year, has released a valuation of the top 20 minor league clubs by focusing on the 160 minor league teams in either class AAA, AA or A (excluding rookie leagues) that, although they are independently owned and operated, are directly affiliated with a Major League Baseball team. As reported by Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/08/06/baseball-minors-sacramento-biz-sports-cz_ mo_0806minors.html): The most valuable team is the Sacramento River Cats, an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics owned by Art Savage and worth $29.8 million. The River Cats drew more than 700,000 fans last season (an average of 10,000 per game), the most in the minors.[…]Rounding out the top five: The Memphis Redbirds, The Frisco RoughRiders, The Round Rock Express and the Indianapolis Indians, publicly traded under the ticker symbol INDN. Since its thinly traded shares were listed on the pink sheets in 2004, the price of Indian shares increased to $24,000 per share from $16,000, during a period the S P 500 tanked. In 2007, the Indians increased the dividend to $350 a share from $200 as net income increased to $1.3 million from $810,000. The report goes on to say that “on average, the top 20 teams are worth $21.2 million and pulled in $9.8 million in revenue per team, of which 49% came from tickets.” As noted, clubs can pull in a hefty profit because their MLB parent club picks up all minor league player payroll, thus cutting margins.For more on minor league baseball, read The Biz of Baseball interview with Pat O'Conner (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=1937 Itemid=81), the president of Minor League Baseball Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

With 2009 fast approaching, and with it the launch of the MLB Network, Jeff Passan is reporting that (praise be) MLB may be lifting the lion’s share of blackout restrictions at the local/regional level. While there is not a collective voice (yet) from the owners, MLB COO Bob DuPuy said he is vastly in favor of lifting the restrictions after hearing the cries from fans subscribed to MLB Extra Innings or MLB.TV. As reported by Passan on Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-blackouts080708 prov=yhoo type=lgns): At the owners’ meetings Wednesday, DuPuy said he will propose that if a team is not broadcasting in a geographic location for at least one season, it loses the right to black out games in that area. Gone would be the blackouts that prevent folks in Iowa and Las Vegas from seeing as many as six games each night and have caused viewing havoc throughout the country.“I see no reason why there ought to be so many clubs able to black out in those territories,” DuPuy said. “That’s my intention. That’s my goal. I didn’t get any pushback. The whole thing is about making the game more popular and available.” In Passan's report, DuPuy brings up the little known “haircut provisions” – the fact that many times advertising deals are tied audience size, which a paring down a give territory for a club or clubs might impact. Passan reports that “DuPuy’s staff pored over the 30 teams’ local television contracts last week and has yet to determine how potential conflicts would affect his plan.” Before there is dancing in the streets by baseball fans caught in MLB’s arcane and vexing television territory messes, remember, national television deals will not be altered. That means, ESPN maintains their exclusive national broadcast window for all games they broadcast on Sunday nights. So, no telecast can be made available for out–of–market distribution (that’s MLB Extra Innings or MLB.TV) during this exclusive window. As their rights are for night games only, any games which start after 5:00pm ET (2:00pm PT) cannot be distributed out–of–market. But remember, that changed the first Sunday after the All–Star Game (7/15/08). From then on, no game with a start time after 3:00pm ET (12:00pm PT) can be distributed out–of–market. As for FOX, every Saturday of the regular season, the they have the exclusive national rights to broadcast games up until 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT). That means that MLB Extra Innings games are available Saturday for night games that begin after 7:00pm ET (4:00pm PT). As mentioned, the MLB Network channel launch on January 1, 2009 impacts matters greatly. MLB has planned to air some games on the new network, which will reach approximately 50 million homes. If the cries of consumers are loud now, how do you think it will be when the audience on a magnitude larger come January? Here’s to hoping DuPuy gets the owners to see the light, and get us all out of the black.MORE ON MLB's BLACKOUT POLICY Tell Your MLB Extra Innings TV Blackout Story (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2120 Itemid=82) Back in Black: Extra Innings and MLB.TV Blackouts (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2073 Itemid=82)On Baseball Prospectus: Not Quite Catching All the Action (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=2100 Itemid=82) Blackout Issues Could be Addressed (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=1041 Itemid=82) Extra Innings: Blackouts Lifted on Padres/Phillies (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=1011 Itemid=82) Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

MASN announced today that DirecTV will be moving the MASN and MASN 2 channels in their television line up. The change puts MASN and MASN 2 in consecutive channel positions.On August 13th, MASN 2 will be moved to Channel 641. Any corresponding HD games will move to Channel 641-1. On August 27th, MASN will move to Channel 640. The corresponding HD channel will move to 640-1. The changes will affect DirecTV customers throughout the county including viewers in MASN's seven state region.To assist viewers, DirecTV will provide on screen messaging regarding the channel changes and for the first week of the change, MASN programming will still be available on the old channels.Visit MASNsports.com (http://www.MASNsports.com) to check channel listings for their area.Source: Mid-Atlantic Sports NetworkMaury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

Mark Cuban, the NBA Mavericks owner, and to date, the highest bidder for the Chicago Cubs, made comments about the organization he might someday own at a bowling fundraiser on Wednesday in Chicago. Who was throwing the event? None other than Kerry Wood. As reported by The AP (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cubs-cuban prov=ap type=lgns): “The Cubs have got smart, smart people here. I mean they’re winning, they’re doing great things, I’ll just stay out of the way,” Cuban said. “Believe it or not, I can stay out of the way.”[…]Cuban told reporters he attended the bowling event to support Wood, who is from Dallas.“Right now I’m just a fan, supporting a great organization, and that’s why I’m here,” Cuban said. Cuban has reportedly by $1.3 billion for the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and a 25 percent stake in ComcastSports Chicago. There are five bidders that have been approved for the second round of bidding. They include Cuban, Thomas Ricketts, whose father Joe founded the TD Ameritrade brokerage, Michael Tokarz, chairman of MVC Capital Inc., Sports Properties Acquisitions Corp., who has Henry Aaron and Jack Kemp as public representatives, but is headed by Andrew Murstein, a New York taxi company magnate, and fueled by a $200 million shares sale this past January, and a group headed up by Hersch Klaff, a real estate investor. Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/), which includes The Biz of Baseball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/), The Biz of Football (http://www.bizoffootball.com/), The Biz of Basketball (http://www.bizofbasketball.com/) and The Biz of Hockey (http://bizofhockey.com/). He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus (http://baseballprospectus.com/news/?author=124), and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content view=article id=47 Itemid=18) He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (http://www.businessofsportsnetwork.com/index.php?option=com_contact view=contact id=2 Itemid=29).

30. Its a number that seems to suit big pro sports leagues in America. The NBA has it. Ditto for the NHL. And yes, MLB has it. Currently, only the NFL is the exception at 32. The number of markets at 30 is manageable. The NFL has the advantage of being highly centralized (revenues are shared more evenly across the franchises), and exceptionally popular. Even with that, there are strains (note that the owners recently opted out of the CBA) with the added teams. Of all these, it is MLB that was the last to expand (1998). NHL? 2000 with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild. NFL? 2002 with the Houston Texans. NBA? 2004 with the rechristened Charlotte Bobcats. And, when you look at MLB historically, the stretch in-between expansions currently is the second longest since, well… the Expansion Era: a decade. There are reasons for this, of course. The rapid period of expansion in the ‘60s occurred shortly after Walter O’Malley and Horace Stoneham moved the Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast. The moves in 1957 showed that with air travel, markets west of the Mississippi could be tapped that had never been considered before. When coupled with the growth of television, untapped revenues could be accessed. The AL and NL were also very much separate leagues vying for markets. Now, most all the prime large markets have been sucked up, and television, once simply an over-the-air matter, is a huge factor given regional sports networks. Below is a listing of markets, along with their respective leagues from the time the Dodgers and Giants relocated, till 2008. Expansion or Relocation in the Modern Era Team Year League Angels 1961 AL Senators relocate, become Twins 1961 AL Senators (Part II) 1961 AL Mets 1962 NL Astros 1962 NL Milwaukee Braves relocate to Atlanta 1966 NL KC Athletics relocate to Oakland 1968 AL Padres 1969 NL Expos 1969 NL Royals 1969 AL Pilots/Brewers 1969 AL Second Senators relocate to Arlington (Rangers) 1972 AL Mariners 1977 AL Blue Jays 1977 AL Rockies 1993 NL Marlins 1993 NL D-Backs 1998 NL Devil Rays 1998 AL Expos relocate to DC (Nationals) 2004 NL Select Read More to see the Top 10 Markets for Relocation or Expansion