Friendly suggestions for Bud

As the MLB season winds down, the playoffs have given a glimpse into what Bud Selig and the rest of the majors’ brass need to contemplate for next year and beyond.

With the PED/steroid era mostly behind the game and a slew of young stars that are ready to carry a clean-burning torch, here is a list of ideas for baseball to implement to promise a better game.

Cut the season

The Twins started the season on Apr. 6. Six months and 163 games later, they ended their regular season in dramatic fashion. A three-game seep by the Yankees finalized 2009, but it is what 2010 may have in store that worries me.

First of all, the schedule needs to be cut back to 154 games. Second, there needs to be scheduled double-headers between all division opponents, home and away.

This would cut eight games and eight days off of the schedule. That would mean the Twins, even with a tiebreaker game, could have ended the regular season around Sept. 20.

Finally, throw out the tiebreaker in favor of head-to-head record, and another day could be gone. The playoffs would start in September, and the World Series would never run into November like it does this season.

Review replay

I don’t mind the use of instant replay in baseball, as long as it knows its place in the game.

As of now, the cameras are only used on homeruns and fan interference.

Now there is a demand to use it on all plays with the exception of balls and strikes. This came after Joe Mauer was denied a ground-rule double on a foul ball call that was clearly wrong.

Some big time MLB writers and columnists, such as ESPN’s Buster Olney, are calling for more replay and even a challenge system similar to the NFL’s. This is wrong.

College football has the best system and all should adopt it. A guy in a booth will immediately watch the previous play and decide if something needs to be fixed. This would be simple and effective.

Draft a new draft

This may be the one that happens sooner rather than later.

Agents have undermined the ability of bad teams to select the best player in the current draft system. Throw in the inability to trade picks, and the Nationals are forced to pay No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg record money or forfeit their much-needed top choice.

A slotting system that is now advised needs to be mandatory. In one of the only redeeming qualities of the NBA, follow their lead and decide each year what picks can sign for.

Paying a 21-year old pitcher $15.1 million over 4 years is not good for the game or, possibly, the long-term interests of the player. Pressure to play a high-priced arm can lead to fatigue or injury, but the team must justify the money.

Washington is giving Strasburg money comparable to Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (2008 World Series MVP), Seattle’s Felix Hernandez (a 2009 AL Cy Young candidate) and the Royals’ Zack Greinke (the 2009 AL Cy Young favorite).

Does any of that make sense?

Keep the playoffs elite

This is not to say that I only want the moneyed teams in the playoffs. Rather, with 30 teams vying for eight spots, it is the most exclusive in all of professional sports.

Adding more wild card spots would dilute the drama. But, since I have a feeling this will happen in the near future, I have a suggestion.

Allow two wild card teams into the playoffs in each league. The team with the better record would host a three game series. The winner moves on to the playoffs.

As an added bonus, the team with the best record will get games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 at home. The two/three matchup would continue to use the 2-3-2 split.

This would let the Yankees, owner of the best record, play the wildcard winner at home a possible five times.

Also, get rid of the idea that two teams from the same division cannot play in the first round.

There are many other things that could change, but this gets 2010 off to a hot start, and maybe a warmer finish.

Wouldn’t that be nice for Target Field’s first ALCS?