PLAYERS ‘DISGUSTED’ Manfred accused of playing games to buy more time
Trying to persuade MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners he represents to do the right thing has proven more difficult than herding cats.
MLB is further from announcing a 2020 season than it was five days ago, when Manfred said he was “100%” sure fans would see the sport they love, or used to, return to their television screens. When he backed away from that statement on Monday, he took whatever was left of his credibility with him.
“I’m not confident,” Manfred told ESPN on Monday, when asked if there would be a baseball season. “I think there’s real risk; and as long as there’s no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue.”
Manfred’s comments arrived after MLB sent a letter to the MLBPA, saying unless the players’ union waived its right to file a grievance against the league for violating a March 26 agreement, there would be no baseball season in 2020, according to a report by The Los Angeles Times.
MLBPA chief Tony Clark then released a statement, saying the players are “disgusted” with Manfred’s dishonesty and intimidation tactics to cancel the season.
“Any implication that the Players Association has somehow delayed progress on health and safety protocols is completely false, as Rob recently acknowledged that the parties are ‘very, very close,’ ” Clark said in the statement. “This latest threat is just one more indication that Major League Baseball has been negotiating in bad faith since the beginning.
“This has always been about extracting additional pay cuts from players and this is just another bad faith tactic in their ongoing campaign.”
Manfred said these backand-forth negotiations are “a disaster for our game,” and that they “shouldn’t be happening.” The MLBPA said Saturday: “Further dialogue with the league would be futile. It’s time to get back to work.” In doing so, the players union is urging the league to announce a 48-game schedule with full prorated salaries.
The commissioner believes the players union intends to file a grievance claiming the league did not fulfill its obligation to play the most games possible, which was outlined under the March 26 agreement.
“The owners are 100 percent committed to getting baseball back on the field,” Manfred told ESPN on Monday. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’m 100 percent certain that’s gonna happen.”
Several players took to Twitter to display their frustration with the commissioner’s office.
Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer alleged that Manfred is threatening to cancel the season to buy more time.
“It’s June 15, so how do you delay another 13 days?” Bauer tweeted. “Guess we all got that answer today. Threaten to cancel the season. Threaten arbitration. Threaten grievances. All the while, hold the fans for ransom. Hold the future of the game for ransom. No one believes your bluff, bud.”
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso retweeted the MLBPA statement and reused a Clarkauthored phrase: “Tell us when and where. WE ARE ALL READY.” Alonso’s teammate, Brandon Nimmo, also retweeted the statement and added, “Couldn’t be more true.”