Schieffer takes charge: Hope there will not be friction with McCourt but it's up to him
While Frank McCourt was going confrontational in New York, the man assigned to take control of the team by Major League Baseball was trying his best to be diplomatic, which makes sense for a former diplomat.
Still, Tom Schieffer made it clear at a airport hotel news conference Wednesday that baseball is now in charge of the Dodgers.
"The commissioner has the right, under the agreements that we have and in the best interests of baseball, to take control of a franchise when there is difficulty," Schieffer said. "And I think that’s what the commissioner has done and I am his representative."
McCourt said at his news conference in New York that he viewed Schieffer less as a monitor, as MLB described him, and more of a receiver and he would fight losing control.
"I don’t want to get into an argument with Mr. McCourt, a transcontinental argument here," Schieffer said. "I’m just here to help and will be happy to listen to him and evaluate his arguments.
"But we want this franchise to focus on baseball. People don’t want to talk about what’s going on in the front office, they want to know what’s going on with the team."
Schieffer said he wasn’t all that sure what a monitor was supposed to be.
"I never was a hall monitor in school, so I’m not exactly sure what a monitor is," he said. "But I think what that is is a representative of the commissioner in the best interest of baseball."
Schieffer was appointed Monday as Selig’s representative. MLB took control of the Dodgers a week ago.
McCourt made it clear he felt baseball was overstepping its rights in assuming it could take control of the team and sounded combative.
"I hope there will not be friction, but that is really his choice," Schieffer said.
Schieffer said it was not predetermined that the club could not return to McCourt.
"I think we’re all open-minded," he said. "One of the advantages I think I have coming in from the outside, I don’t know all the rumors. I don’t know all the stories. The facts will speak for themselves. I want to get to the facts and see where that takes us."
Schieffer, a former U.S. ambassador to Japan and Australia, said he was uncertain how long he would remain with the Dodgers.
"There is no deadline," he said. "What we’re trying to do is bring this franchise back to healthy stature, that can function and be a big part of baseball."
Schieffer said he had yet to talk to McCourt.
"Mr. McCourt is the owner of the franchise," he said. "I would certainly like to listen to him and see what he’s talked about, but I am here to hopefully help the franchise get back on its feet."
Schieffer said his presence will hopefully set Dodgers fans at ease.
"I hope it will give them some confidence that the instability and turmoil is coming to an end, and we’re going to get to the bottom of whatever the problem is and make a positive difference," he said.
RELATED:
McCourt on Dodgers: "Nobody is going to take them away"
MLB statement regarding Dodgers oversight
Frank McCourt to make longshot pitch to baseball officials
-- Steve Dilbeck
Photo: MLBs new monitor for the Dodgers, Tom Schieffer, at his first day on the job in L.A. holds a press conference Wednesday. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
McDork, mean little soul-less man,dead man walkin.
Posted by: Tomas | 04/27/2011 at 06:38 PM
What?
.
Now I am worried.
Posted by: Alfred E. McCourt | 04/27/2011 at 07:15 PM
We think that Tom Schieffer and Bud Selig, depending on their performance, could become the greatest Dodger pitching duo of all time.
Posted by: Sandy and Big D | 04/27/2011 at 07:18 PM
HaHa, I think there will be plenty of friction from McCourt.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 04/27/2011 at 07:24 PM
"I think we’re all open-minded," he said.
.
Read that as, "You've got a snowball's chance in hell Frank."
Posted by: Labeldude | 04/27/2011 at 08:01 PM
frank %&#*s up everything. He'll do it again.
go away frank. just go away.
Posted by: alanw19 | 04/27/2011 at 08:45 PM
McCourt lost your wife, your team and now your mind. I can see you end up as a 5150 case in LA County mental health facility.
Posted by: Go_Blue_2011 | 04/27/2011 at 09:06 PM
...."I hope there will not be friction, but that is really his choice," Schieffer said....
Wow, talk about a passive agressive veiled threat. How is that comment non-confrontational. Dude needs to chek his pride at the door. And we fans needs to remember something, now the owner of the Dodgers, MLB, no longer has to answer to the fans....only to the commissioner. That is BAD for baseball and for the fans.
Seriously do not think for a single moment that Selig gives a flip about what is in the best interest of the fans. he is only licking his wounded pride because McCourt seems to have weaseled his way out of the jam he and old-lady McCourtCo created. Selig cares not one penny about the fans and given his pass on billionaire ownership of the Dodgers he seems to want a "poor" owner of the team to keep salaries down. Last thing he wants is a MLB version of the Lakers and how they keep a very solid winning team on the floor.
Posted by: grumpy3b | 04/27/2011 at 10:35 PM
If Selig wants to do what is best for the Dodgers to get them financially stable...approve the Fox deal. It's up to a $3-BILLION cash infusion to the team. And unless the next owner has the huge cash to build their own Dodgers TV network then making that deal cannot harm the value of the team. In fact knowing the team has at least a $200M annual positive cash flow before selling a single ticket can only add to the value of the team.
Actually Selig might well be not approving the deal to allow some less financially viable bidder to be awarded the team. I mean think if a billionaire buys the Dodgers then has an extra $200M/yr to play with can you imagine the team salaries in NY, Boston and then add the Dodgers to that club? Each will likely be over $200M/yr with the rest of the league to try and emulate the formula used by the DRays.
Posted by: grumpy3b | 04/27/2011 at 10:41 PM
Starting packing your stuff Frank, You are no longer the "steward"of OUR team!
Posted by: campc4 | 04/27/2011 at 10:54 PM
I don't like the looks of this guy, but as we all know, ANYTHING is an improvement.
Posted by: FormerLifelongDodgerFan | 04/27/2011 at 11:27 PM
Regarding the reported $3B tv deal...given the chance McCourt will blow through that money so fast (you know, haircuts, mansions, lawyers, alimony) that the Dodgers would basically be operating without television revenue through most of the contract's term.
Sell the team and get out of LA, McCourtHouse!
Posted by: Airedale | 04/28/2011 at 05:00 AM
I like the looks of this guy. He seems strong and aggressive and not the least bit passive. Tom Schieffer is going to turn over all the rocks and rid the Dodgers of everything that crawls out and start the franchise down the path of rehabilitation.
Posted by: Skyharbor | 04/28/2011 at 06:22 AM
I agree with you skyharbor. The man is "no nonsense" just the type of guy to get the job done. Like he said "I have negotiated with the North Koreans." Tom is not going to let a "bag of wind" like McCrummy get one over on him!
Posted by: MJRod | 04/28/2011 at 08:39 AM
How many times are going to here "in the best interests of baseball" from the commissioners office? That is clearly what they are trying to establish as the basis for their takeover of McCourts private property. All I can say is they better be able to deliver a winning team. McCourt is the only one who has done that in the 22 years. Personally, I don't think it is the best interest of baseball to reject the best broadcast rights contract the league has ever seen because they are afraid the guy who owns those rights might actually profit from them. If I were Frank, I'd be all over all of those teams that take "revenue sharing" and then have a payroll less than what the league hands them. You want to tell me those owners don't take any money out of their teams?? It just happens that the Dodgers have a lot more cash flow to deal with.
Posted by: Tom Thompson | 04/28/2011 at 09:08 AM
Whatever Selig's motives, grumpy3b, the bottom line is that he and probably all 29 owners want McCourt gone. Sure, he screwed up OK-ing the sale from FOX. But then, let's not forget who originally sold the Dodgers to FOX. We don't need any more finger pointing now. We need McCourt gone. FOX doesn't care who owns the Dodgers, as long as they don't make a deal with Time-Warner or start their own cable network. And contrary to your opinion, the NBA loves a winning Lakers team, and a winning Boston team, for that matter. It only helps the league make more money. That's the other bottom line.
Posted by: Since '58 | 04/28/2011 at 10:59 AM
It seems to be a given that removing the McCourts is clearly...CLEARLY..."in the best interests of baseball"
Posted by: LoveYaVin | 04/28/2011 at 11:08 AM
Schieffer takes charge? Really? Is he running the Dodgers from a hotel room at LAX?
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/28/2011 at 11:19 AM
i read where frankie says "he loves this team and he loves this community". Well the feeling is so not mutual. frankie is certifiable, completely INSANE. Does he not read some of these blogs where people are talking about the use of the second amendment and how much they despise him and his lady? But if a city and its fans are going to throw money at you the way we did and get nothing in return then we are telling this pillar of a human being, go ahead keep insulting us and we will continue to make you richer (not the Dodgers or it`s treasury or operating expenses)and richer. I sometimes wonder if it is frankie and jamey and neddie that are insane or is it us? Are we insane? The life style that we have bestowed on this piece of "what the cat dragged in". It just seems to indicate that it is us, as frankie just keeps running his mouth and runs to the bank.
Posted by: Jim Mcveigh | 04/28/2011 at 11:51 AM
Hey grumpy3b,
"Seriously do not think for a single moment that Selig gives a flip about what is in the best interest of the fans"
You think McCourt does? I trust Selig more than I do McCourt.
"he seems to want a "poor" owner of the team to keep salaries down."
Selig already has that in McCourt. Bud wants someone that can manage the Fox influx of dollars. To make the team better, not to pay for his multiple homes and free-loading sons.
"Selig might well be not approving the deal to allow some less financially viable bidder"
Again, McCourt piad $9 million dollars for the Dodgers and still drove them into debt.
Honestly, I'm shocked that there is a single person supporting McCourt. He's a sue-happy lawyer who has leveraged everything to buy the Dodgers and bled it dry for himself. Now he wants access to the Fox money? No way. Selig stepped in at the perfect time.
Posted by: jim | 04/28/2011 at 01:11 PM
Please Mr Schieffer, do not give inn to this sorry excuse for an owner. McBroke should have never been allowed to purchase the Dodgers, he was never qualified from the beginning!! He has been using Dodger $ for his own personal, lavish lifestyle and it has finally backfired on him!! Do not let him off the hook, on behalf of all of us Dodger fans, force him to SELL to a qualified local owner!! Thank you
Posted by: santuri1 | 04/28/2011 at 11:45 PM