Why Bud Selig Sucks

Jones trade hits a snag over debt
WASHINGTON D.C. -- The New York Daily News, citing unidentified sources, reported that Commissioner Bud Selig nixed the Jacque Jones-to-Florida deal because he did not want the next owner of the Cubs to incur any more debt.That means it will be difficult to trade Jones, who's owed around $7.2 million through 2008 unless the Cubs receive a similar contract in return.
Manager Lou Piniella insists Jones will not have to sit because of his status, though he hasn't started a game since June 20, a span of 11 games."We'll give him an opportunity to get out there," Piniella said. "That's a tough situation. In Jacque's defense, I think he's handled it quite well. I don't know what happened with the trade to Miami and why it didn't go through. All the players I have here play, and he's not going to be the exception."If Selig won't let the Cubs dump Jones while paying the bulk of the freight, they'll also have a difficult time trading anyone who isn't performing well and has a contract that runs past 2007, including Scott Eyre, who has a player option for $3.8 million in '08. Eyre has a limited no-trade clause, meaning he can block a trade to 10 of the 30 teams.A little day offPiniella gave Mike Fontenot a rest on Monday and defended his move during Saturday's game when he switched Fontenot from shortstop to second after he booted the first grounder he fielded, just as he did in Friday's game. Piniella was criticized on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" for messing with Fontenot's confidence."We didn't want any problems," Piniella said. "He's doing fine at second base. I just gave him the day off today. He's played about 15, 16 days in a row. … Fontenot will be back in there (at second on Tuesday). I wanted to take a look (at him at short)."I was trying to figure out how I could get [Cliff] Floyd, Fontenot and [Mark] DeRosa in the same lineup [Saturday]. That's all I was trying to do, and when I saw that it wasn't right, why compound it by leaving him there? We just switched him and just let him relax and play. He's done a fine, fine job for us."Piniella also rested the struggling Felix Pie, but said Pie isn't in danger of being sent down to Triple-A Iowa."It's a little more dangerous to play a young guy that's struggling rather than sitting him down a while and letting him get the cobwebs out," Piniella said. "A veteran player knows. He's been through it before. He can handle it better."Pitching changeWashington right-hander Tim Redding will start in place of injured lefty Micah Bowie on Tuesday.
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