Selig may stick around when current term ends

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig appears to have changed his mind about leaving his job in 2006.

Selig has run baseball since September 1992 and repeatedly had said he intended to retire at the end of his current term. But during an appearance Tuesday before the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Selig said his time in office has “at least 2 1/2 (years) and maybe more to go.”

“As for my own personal situation, that’s something that the future will decide,” he said.

Selig first took the job on an interim basis following Fay Vincent’s forced resignation, and was elected by owners in July 1998. In November 2001, his term was extended through Dec. 31, 2006 — 12 days after baseball’s current labor contract expires.

Asked by the Associated Press Sports Editors in April 2003 whether he would leave at the end of 2006, Selig responded: “I think that will be enough. There’s no question, because there are other things I really would like to do.”

Selig said negotiations with the players’ association on changes to the sport’s drug-testing agreement are ongoing, calling them “constructive and intensive.” He called for a change to the way baseball treats first offenses. Currently, a player who tests positive for a banned steroid initially is sent to counseling.

“You certainly, I believe, need a penalty on the first offense. I don’t think there’s any question,” he said.

Gene Orza, the union’s chief operating officer, declined comment.

Selig said baseball was not conducting its own investigation into illegal steroid use but was monitoring the federal grand jury in California that indicted Barry Bonds’ personal trainer, who pleaded innocent. Bonds has denied using illegal steroids.

Weaver wins college award

Long Beach State pitcher Jered Weaver won the Golden Spikes Award as amateur baseball’s top player.

Weaver, the brother of Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver, was taken 12th overall by the Anaheim Angels in last month’s draft.

The right-hander led the nation in wins and strikeouts, compiling a 15-1 record and striking out 213, the sixth-best single-season total in NCAA history. He went 37-8 over three seasons with the 49ers.

Derby brings in high ratings

Miguel Tejada’s record performance in the Home Run Derby helped the event become the most-watched telecast on ESPN this year.

Monday night’s event drew a 5.8 overnight rating, topping the 5.0 for an Eastern Conference finals game between Detroit and Indiana. It was a 32 percent jump from last year’s Derby.

Nielsen Media Research reported that viewership was up in 43 of the 55 markets metered. The biggest jump was Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota (183 percent) followed by a 160-percent rise in Houston.

Third on that list was Austin (152 percent), which is where finalist Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros was born. Baltimore, where Tejada plays shortstop for the Orioles, had a 55 percent increase.

The homer contest has been on prime time on ESPN since 1998. This was the third-highest rating of the seven years.