BOSTON — Observations and opinions — informed and otherwise — as the baseball season officially enters the final third of the schedule:

•Bud Selig’s decision to (belatedly) attend Barry Bonds’ games this week in San Francisco is tough to figure.

Last weekend, Selig seemed to be sending the message that he wasn’t going to legitimize Bonds’ chase by being on hand. In an eight-minute interview with reporters in Milwaukee last Friday, Selig couldn’t even bring himself to mention the controversial slugger by name.

Then, all of a sudden, Selig yesterday abruptly changed course and announced plans to be at AT&T Park.

In some ways, Selig was in a classic no-win situation. If he attended the games, some would charge that he was validating Bonds; if he didn’t, some would say that he wasn’t present for a history-making event.

But by sending mixed signals, then finally agreeing to go, Selig only reinforced the notion that he is indecisive.

Selig is a good man, a genuine fan, a true student of the game, and in many ways has been a great commissioner. But he also brings on much of his own image problems.

Then again, it could have been worse for Selig. As commissioners go, he’s had a pretty easy week. After all, he could be David Stern. Or Roger Goodell.

•It seems highly unlikely that Wily Mo Pena will be a member of the Red Sox next Tuesday night, after the non-waiver trade deadline has passed. The Sox are offering him around and might be able to move him to Pittsburgh for reliever Salomon Torres. If that falls through, they’ll try to find another taker, then grab another experienced outfielder (Bobby Kielty?) somewhere else.

•Now might be the perfect time for the Red Sox to deal Kason Gabbard. Gabbard is undefeated as a fill-in starter and has done everything the Sox have asked and more. But his stuff is marginal and he projects as little more than a No. 5 starter.

His value will never be higher than it is now, and the Sox’ inventory of promising arms — most with more potential than Gabbard — allows them to deal from a position of strength. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Sox could capitalize on the desperation of some pitching-starved clubs and get a decent return for the lefty.

•If you’d like to know the difference between the NFL and MLB, consider the following: When the Patriots bowed out from their scheduled exhibition trip to China, it was because Bill Belichick was unhappy with the potential for distractions and practice time that would be lost.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox are now unlikely to open next season in Japan, as had been rumored, because principal owner John Henry heard too many complaints from inside his own clubhouse.

And there you have it: coaches run the NFL, while baseball is controlled by the players.

•Said one veteran general manager yesterday: “I can’t ever remember it being this quiet a week before the (trading) deadline.”

Which brings us to two points: In this era of expanded playoffs, MLB would be better served by pushing the deadline back, allowing more time for teams to determine whether they’re buyers or sellers.

Also, the media’s obsession with the deadline has reached the tipping point. We spend too much time, too early in the season, reporting on and speculating about potential trades.

In point of fact, the era of the blockbuster deadline deal seems past. Sad, but true.

•No, it’s not your imagination. The quality of umpiring has been off significantly in recent weeks, and don’t think it’s gone unnoticed.

Sources say that a number of influential owners have complained directly to Selig, who, in turn, has relayed their unhappiness to Mike Port, umpiring supervisor.

One explanation being given: the high number of fill-in Triple-A umpires — as many as 11 — getting regular work while the major-league umpires take their vacation time.

•With the exception of Jason Varitek, it’s been a long time since a Red Sox player won a Gold Glove, an award too often awarded based on reputation and status. But how can Coco Crisp be denied this season?

Crisp has played errorless ball, but that doesn’t begin to demonstrate the fabulous range he’s displayed in center. Thanks to some work with bench coach Brad Mills, who has worked with Crisp on his throwing mechanics, even his arm has improved to the point where it’s not the liability it once was.

Figure that Ichiro Suzuki will be one of the outfielders chosen, with Torii Hunter a likely choice, too. It will be a great injustice if the managers and coaches who conduct the voting overlook Crisp as one of their choices.

Ellis Burks (1990) was the last Red Sox outfielder to win a Gold Glove.

smcadam@projo.com