Selig Calls Bad Economy A 'Concern' For Future

Major League Baseball attracted 78.6 million fans this year, its second-best mark for a season, and Commission Bud Selig said yesterday that his job is to maintain prosperity. Calling the current economic state a "concern," Selig noted two things: Gross revenue for his sport is at an all-time high. And, plenty of factors jeopardize that stability.

"We need to protect our ticket prices," Selig said. "This is family entertainment. I tell the clubs this all of the time. I think a lot of clubs have; I think there are some clubs I'm obviously a little concerned about. But it's something we have to concern ourselves with in the future. We should be very careful not to get too cocky and overprice ourselves."

Baseball was on pace for much of the year to set an attendance record, but because of a late-season drop-off -- Selig attributed it to gas prices and September weather -- the final attendance figure fell 0.7 percent from 2007. Gross revenue for the sport reached $6.5 billion, topping 2007's $6.1 billion and dwarfing the $2 billion mark from 1992, when Selig became commissioner.

Selig hesitated to mention specific strategies baseball would use to deal with the current economic crisis, but said those issues would be on the table for the offseason.

"Even the economists are trying to feel their way through it, and while I do talk to a lot of economists -- because I was raised in a family of economists -- nobody knows" what will happen, Selig said. "I wished they did. Who knows what's gonna happen."

Cameron's Emergency Trip

Milwaukee center fielder Mike Cameron started last night in his usual spot, at the top of the batting order. But he started the day in a different place altogether. Cameron left his teammates during the off day after Game 2 and headed to Atlanta, where his wife had an emergency C-section and delivered the couple's fourth child, Lily Christina.

Cameron only learned the procedure would be necessary on Friday morning. "He gave me a call and had to get home right away," Milwaukee Manager Dale Sveum said.

New-Look Dodgers

As much attention as Manny Ramírez and Casey Blake have garnered for the impact they've made since their arrival via trades, the Los Angeles Dodgers have added what's proven to be another valuable piece without even having to go outside of the organization.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal, who missed most of the season after undergoing back surgery in July, was 3 for 9 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI entering Game 3 of the series. In 25 playoff games before this season, he had hit just .226 in 106 at-bats.

Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella said that the return of Furcal after missing 125 games -- combined with the additions of Ramírez and Blake -- have given the Dodgers a settling effect just in time for the postseason.

"These guys have all had postseason experience and all of a sudden you're facing a different look than what you've seen this past summer from the Dodgers," Piniella said.

East Coast Bias?

It seems ironic, considering his many years in New York. But Los Angeles Manager Joe Torre said that the Dodgers may be sneaking under the radar, or worse, underestimated, because their games rarely end before bedtime for more than half of the country.

"People don't get a whole lot of information on us or watch enough of our games to see how good we've actually pitched over the course of the year," Torre said. "That's been the most consistent part of our game."

Harlan reported from Milwaukee. Carig reported from Los Angeles.