Bud Selig headed to New York Wednesday to play a bigger part in the last ditch negotiations between baseball owners and players.

That could be good news or bad news, depending on your viewpoints about Selig and on what happens before Friday, a date set by the union for a strike. Selig could end up a hero or goat.

First, on the good news front, it could be a sign that the two sides are close, and Selig wants to be in New York for any announcement of an agreement. On the bad news front, it could be the sides are far apart and Selig feels he needs to be there to try to save the day. We'll find out which of these scenarios is closer to the truth in the next 24 or so hours.

Of course, Bud does not enjoy great PR these days. He has been blamed for everything from axing the 1994 World Series, to calling the 2002 All Star Game a tie, to the leaks in the Miller Park roof.

The truth is he was the messenger in 1994, was saddled with a decision in which he could not win in the All Star Game, and is a victim, along with the Brewers' organization, of the leaky roof. But, when you're at the top of any organization, the buck for just about everything eventually stops with you.

Selig is amazingly resilient. In fact, I often equate him with one of those dolls with the weighted bottoms. You can knock them down, but they always pop back up.

Some feel Selig's direct entry into the contract negotiations will be kiss of death. Certainly, if the negotiations fail, and the players take a hike on Friday, he will be looked at as a goat in the situation.

In fact, it is even rumored that some of the big market club owners, led by the Yankees' George Steinbrenner, will try to organize a coup and oust Selig as commissioner. Others on the opposite extreme, the smaller market club owners, will want Selig to hold out, even if the game isn't played in 2003. They are saying fix the problems this time.

But, if an agreement is reached, it will mean Selig has been at the top during a time when owners agreed to share revenue, and players actually went along with a plan that might slow down the escalation of salaries. Both would be truly revolutionary developments in the economics of baseball.

Something certainly needs to be done. To have labor problems every three years or so is killing the game slowly. One survey earlier this week showed that only 28% of the people participating considered themselves baseball fans. That was down from 44% just last March. People are sick of rich players and richer owners arguing about how to get richer.

Selig could be a goat if it all falls apart by Friday. He certainly will catch at least some of the blame. He could be a hero if it all comes together. It will be interesting to see if the public will give him credit if that happens.

Missing the third part

Making the Brewers competitive always has been based on a 3-part equation. First was get Miller Park built. Second was to make revisions in baseball overall, to level the economic playing field. Third was to use the additional revenue from Miller Park, and the revisions in baseball's economics, to get better players and improve the team.

No. 1 has happened. No. 2 might happen by Friday. Very little progress has been made on No. 3.

The Brewers have slipped backwards under GM Dean Taylor. Club president Wendy Selig-Prieb should seriously consider a change after this season, if there is no work stoppage.

Not only are the current players not very good, but they also are not very professional in how they conduct themselves on or off the field. Here are a couple examples.

Alex Sanchez and Izzy Alcantara decided last week to share a laugh in the outfield after Alcantara made a goof of himself, diving for a ball he had no chance to catch. The image sent a horrible message to fans, who booed loudly. It made the two players look like they didn't care about winning.

Management took some action by not starting Sanchez in the next game and sending Alcantara to the minors, although manager Jerry Royster said the latter move was not related to the incident.

The incident is not isolated. On Aug. 11, as this reporter left Miller Park from a game, he saw Sanchez and pitcher Ruben Quevedo fighting outside the parking lot, within easy view of a few straggler fans. Quevedo was sent to the minors four days later.

Royster denied knowing anything about it, and said he does not feel the Brewers have a dissension problem. But, upper level management said they knew about the fight. It apparently started with an argument between the wives or girlfriends of the two players. A member of the Brewers' organization also said the team has had seven or eight fights between players this season.

Some of that can be written off to the frustration of chronic losing, but overall it shows an immaturity, lack of cohesiveness and a void of professionalism that in turn can contribute to such losing.

Unless some better player personnel decisions are made, and the reigns on players are tightened, the Brewers will not make progress on the field, even if the first and second parts of the equation do fall into place.

Dusty or Melvin?

Baseball Weekly reported this week that the Brewers will make a run at the Giants' Dusty Baker as manager, but likely end up hiring Arizona coach Bob Melvin as their field manager, not GM.

Baker is a close friend with former Brewers' manager Davey Lopes, who very likely will tell him to steer away from Milwaukee. Melvin, along with his namesake, Doug Melvin, of Texas, have been mentioned in some circles as possible replacements for Taylor.

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Players of the Week

Ben Sheets gets a share of the honor for his 2-1 win over Mike Prior and the Cubs Monday. It was a matchup of young pitchers expected to do big things in the future.

Jose Hernandez deserves a share. He went into Wednesday's game hitting .387 on the home stand and had a hit in his first at-bat. Lenny Harris also gets a share after going 9 for 19 on the stand, including 3 for 3 off Kerry Wood Wednesday.

Play of the Week

Jeffrey Hammonds made a diving catch and doubled a runner off base in Sheets' win over Prior. Just the fact the often-injured Hammonds was in the game to make the play merits an honor.

Goats of the Week

Give the horns to Sanchez and Alcantara for their stupid laughter in the midst of a pathetic play.

If the players strike Friday, The Brew Crew Review will go on a hiatus until a settlement. If play continues, look for the column next Thursday.