Quick Hits - MLB Stuffage

The Players Aren’t the Only Ones Getting Paid: Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned as much last year as some of the league's top players. Selig received $14.5 million in the 12 months ending Oct. 31, according to Major League Baseball's tax return, which was obtained by the Sports Business Journal.

Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, received $4,875,000, the publication reported in this week's issue. Pay for executive vice presidents included $1.92 million for Rob Manfred (labor relations), $1.3 million for John McHale Jr. (administration) and $1,245,000 for Jonathan Mariner (finance). Sandy Alderson, who quit as executive vice president of baseball operations in 2005 to become chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres, made $875,000. Jimmie Lee Solomon, who replaced Alderson in June 2005, made $543,583.

The publication, citing unidentified sources, said Selig received a $6 million base salary, an equal amount in a bonus and the remainder in expenses and personal fees. (CNNsi.com)

Wow. Okay…

The Cubs Being Sold… Tribune Co. made a stunning pitch to investors on baseball's opening day: The Cubs will be sold at season's end. Analysts have estimated the Cubs could fetch $600 million or more, a far cry from the $20.5 million Tribune paid in 1981. Mark Cuban is interested…

More on an Old Friend, Sammy Sosa: Back after taking a year off, Sammy Sosa, went 0-for-3 for the Rangers, struck out once and did not hit a ball out of the infield.

Gil Meche: A packed house in Kansas City saw Gil Meche pitch seven 7 plus innings of baseball, surrendering only a single run. Maybe the fortunes of the Royals have changed…

In Memorandum: Cory Lidle: In a packed house in the Bronx, Opening Day was emotional for those who atteneded. Yankee players donned black bands around their arms -- a tribute to the late Cory Lidle, who died in a plane crash Oct. 11, 2006, and Lidle’s widow, Melanie and her son, Christopher threw out the first pitch ay Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees won 9-5, as Pavano started, but Jason Giambi came through with a big hit to put the Yankees ahead.