How 2019-20 Ruined Rob Manfred as MLB Commissioner

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1904 days ago

With the MLB looking more than less likely to come back this season, there are more than enough people to blame for not returning. Maybe you blame the players for not taking the deals that were close enough to what they wanted. You can also blame the owners for not giving the players they’re 100% prorated salaries. But there is one person that everyone in the MLB agrees on doing the worst job, the commissioner Rob Manfred. Manfred this season has made some abysmal choices in the past year to a point where every fan wants him gone. But what are those choices you may ask? Well, let’s look back and find out.

The Astros Cheating Scandal Punishment

After the 2019 MLB season ended, people began to investigate the Houston Astros had cheated. How did the Astros cheat? By banging on trash cans and using cameras, they were able to find out what each pitcher was throwing. With that case of sign stealing, the Astros got caught and had to get punished for it. So if you’re Rob Manfred, you think there has to be a significant punishment for cheating in 2019 and 2017. Here was the sentence: GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch got suspended for one year. But thankfully, the Astros were able to fire both Luhnow and Hinch. But while the Astros did the right thing by firing them, there should’ve been a harsher punishment for the Astros.

The most significant idea was the 2017 World Series trophy should’ve been taken away and awarded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But while Manfred wasn’t able to do that, he could’ve done some other forms of punishment. Why grant the Astros immunity? Don’t get me wrong taking the manager and GM away from the Astros was good, but why would they be taken away while the players get away with nothing? Fining the players that took part in this like big names Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa would’ve been perfect. This punishment would give them the idea they should never do it again. This also would’ve kept the Astros fans from complaining if they got removed from the team. Why didn’t Rob Manfred do this shows that he’s not good at handing out significant punishments when they could affect baseball?

Calling the World Series Trophy a “piece of metal.”

Keeping with the theme of the Astros cheating scandal, Manfred was asked by ESPN to interview him about the punishment he gave to the Astros. Manfred wanted to defend his actions and why he thought the punishment was fair to them. During his interview with Karl Ravach, Ravach asked him the question of what he was considering if he should take away the 2017 Astros title. Manfred responded with this answer: “The idea of an asterisk or asking for a piece of metal back seems like a futile act. People will always know that something was different about the 2017 season, and whether we made that decision right or wrong, we undertook a thorough investigation and had the intestinal fortitude to share the results of that investigation, even when those results were not very pretty.”

This phrase angered fans and players, which is rightfully so. This “piece of metal” you’re talking about is essential to the MLB because it’s given to the team that is crowned a champion every year, a champion that’s in your league! Imagine if NBA commissioner Adam Silver, or NHL commissioner Gary Bettman or even NFL commissioner Rodger Godell says this! While Godell and Bettman have their reasons to be hated, they wouldn’t call the trophy they give out every year a “piece of metal.” While Manfred did end up apologizing, what’s done is done. But while people began losing their trust in Manfred after this quote, there is once more act that Manfred has done to cement himself as to be the worst commissioners in MLB history.

Promising the Fans A Season and Taking it Back

With COVID-19 ruining baseball’s chance to play, many fans began to assume there would be no baseball this season. But there were other issues as well. The MLBPA is having problems with owners on how the season would go. They went back and forth on negotiations, but nothing seemed to fit. They seemed to keep going back with each offer, but the players keep rejecting it. So, where does Rob Manfred fall under this? Well, it’s all started with the MLB Draft.

On Wednesday, June 10th, Manfred was featured on the MLB Draft. Manfred explained the latest offer from the MLBPA, which had the idea of play 89 games. Fans already knew the deal was going not to go through because, for the owners, 89 games is too much. Manfred then stated that would be baseball this season for the MLB. Cut to Monday, June 15th, a tweet comes out by Karl Ravach stating that Rob Manfred is now unsure at all there will be an MLB season. After this tweet came out, Twitter exploded with anger. How are we supposed to trust a commissioner who says something that should make fans happy only to deny it five days later? What kind of commissioner are you? You have completely lost the trust of every fan in the MLB. That is something that no commissioner ever wants to happen.

Conclusion

In 2014, we thought our problems with the MLB commissioners were over. But it seems the troubles with the commissioners have carried over to Manfred in this season alone. I understand that Manfred isn’t the exact reason we don’t have baseball back right now, but for the commissioner, you still have to be trusted by the fans. The number of mistakes he made shows that he shouldn’t be trusted at all. When the day of his firing finally arrives, I feel 100% confident that fans will be happy. We will then find a new commissioner that we can hope won’t make the same mistakes as Manfred.

Follow me on Twitter at @SonicHockeyFan for more of my content!

Come discuss this and much more at the Overtime Heroics forums!