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Tuesday's Daily Boil: Because Pete Rose is the fun sort of crazy

Pete Rose is talking reinstatement again. Who's crazier, Pete Rose for thinking it or Bud Selig if he actually does it?

By Terri Schlather

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Christopher Pasatieri

No, this has nothing to do with the Houston Astros, but who doesn't like a little bit of crazy first thing on a Tuesday morning? Pete Rose, who was banned for life from Major League Baseball in 1989 for gambling on the game while serving as the Manager for the Cincinnati Reds, is a point of contention every year when the Hall of Fame vote happens, but he found a way to weasel himself into the limelight via an alternate route last night.

Rose was the ceremonial manager for the Bridgeport Bluefish, an independent baseball team in the same league as the Sugarland Skeeters. While playing the Lancaster Barnstormers, Bridgeport's coach-for-a-night spent the game in the 3rd base coach's box so fans could lay their eyes on them. After all, what good is a publicity stunt if you can't see it.

So, no, Rose wasn't *really* managing the Bluefish. The people of Bridgeport all breathed a sigh of relief.

What's so fascinating about this ridiculous grab for publicity is that someone let Rose have a microphone and this is what he had to say-

"That's where I belong. Really, where I belong is back in baseball. I still believe it can happen.''

Yes, he's talking within seven months, before Commissioner Bud Selig leaves office Jan. 24, 2015.

"To be honest with you,'' Rose says, "I really haven't given up on Bud giving me a second chance."

I suppose it's possible that Bud Selig will want to reinstate Rose. It's also possible he'll don an Astros cap and start cheering for the Houston nine, but I think each are equally as realistic. In the meantime, let us all learn what happens when baseball players get old and desperate for attention.

I'll never doubt that Pete Rose was a legendary baseball player. He was Hall of Fame-worthy...right up until he broke the rules and got his ass tossed out of the game. But I'm not holding my breath that Bud Selig's heart grows two sizes as he's walking out the door and he grants some sort of clemency to Rose.

What do you think? Does Selig have it in him to forgive Rose? Should he?

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