Earlier this week, Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman accused Commissioner Bud Selig of "extortion" in connection with the Houston Astros sale to Jim Crane.

As often happens when public figures open their mouths and insert their feet, Berkman has issued an apology. Joe Strauss:

The loquacious Berkman and Selig exchanged views for about 10 minutes. Berkman said the conversation ended amicably after he sensed the commissioner was "a little disappointed and maybe a little hurt" over his usage of a word suggesting a felony.

"A lot of things sound better in your head than they read in print," Berkman said. "It's certainly a situation in which I was trying to express a pretty strong emotion. For me, it's water under the bridge now. I'm more than happy to make amends. I don't carry any ill will or animosity. That's not me."

Berkman was a member of the Astros organization from 1997-2009 and also played college ball in Houston (at Rice University); he obviously had strong feelings about the situation, but probably should have used different words. Or, better, not said anything at all publicly.

All of this proves one thing: we really, truly need real baseball to start, the sooner the better.