Could Selig Fine Red Sox Players?

[UNHWildCats]

A Boston.com blog entry says Selig is unlikely to issue fines to Red Sox players for the refusal to take the field yesterday for over an hour, though the issue hasnt been discussed yet and Selig isn't too happy with what happened.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/03/selig_likely_wo.html

If he wanted to though could Selig actually fine the players for the actions they took? A standard player contract doesn't begin until the championship season begins. Therefore are players technically required to take the field for a Spring Training game?

[dbackjon]

If anyone should be fined, it should be Bud and the rest of the bumblers that allowed the issue to be a problem to begin with.

[Peems]

If anyone should be fined, it should be Bud and the rest of the bumblers that allowed the issue to be a problem to begin with.

It will be great when he is gone. Now being MLB commish is far from being easy, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a few clues from Stern and others. But not from Bettman!

[saint0917]

The players should be fined, the Exhibition game against the Blue Jays had NOTHING to do with the trip to Japan. Selig is a gutless wimp, he wont do anything.

[bluehenbillk]

Selig has done zero to further the game of baseball & it will be better off when he leaves. Ditto for Bettman & hockey, oh wait, the NHL isn't relevant anymore, great job Bettman.

[AZGrizFan]

Selig has done zero to further the game of baseball & it will be better off when he leaves. Ditto for Bettman & hockey, oh wait, the NHL isn't relevant anymore, great job Bettman.

What? Nothing? Come ONNNNN....

He brought us:

1) Interleague play, so the importance of the playoffs is now diluted
2) Home field advantage for the world series being determined by an exhibition game
3) Steroid-induced freaks hitting balls a country mile
4) Ties in the all-star game....


That's SOMETHING. xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

[Col Hogan]

YES


Would he????


NO

[Peems]

What? Nothing? Come ONNNNN....

He brought us:

1) Interleague play, so the importance of the playoffs is now diluted
2) Home field advantage for the world series being determined by an exhibition game
3) Steroid-induced freaks hitting balls a country mile
4) Ties in the all-star game....


That's SOMETHING. xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx

How does interleague play dilute the playoffs? Honestly wondering

The tie in the all star game I'm not too upset as you mentioned above it's just an exhibition game, but what should he have done? I think at the time it was the right decision.