Major League Baseball’s owners will vote next week to determine whether to keep Rob Manfred as commissioner, report Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. There’s little intrigue expected with the outcome, as one person told The Athletic it’s “a foregone conclusion” Manfred will be re-elected.
That’s no surprise. The last time Manfred’s job was up for debate — over the 2018-19 offseason — he was unanimously approved for a five-year extension. Manfred will only need to secure a simple majority for an extension, with 16 of the 30 ownership representatives approving. He’ll almost certainly get that and could have a chance at another unanimous vote.
The terms of a new extension aren’t clear. Manfred’s current deal runs through 2024. If he’s re-upped for another five years, that’d take him through the ’29 campaign.
Within the past few seasons, MLB and the Players Association were at odds both regarding the return-to-play measures during the 2020 pandemic peak and saw the first official work stoppage in more than two decades with the 2021-22 lockout. MLB revenues reportedly bounced back above pre-pandemic levels once the CBA was hammered out last spring, however. Manfred told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times towards the end of last season that league revenues were approaching a record $11 billion for 2022. Manfred first took over as commissioner in November 2014.
Of course he’ll be re-elected. The owners love him.
Shame, ain’t it?
Not really. I think he’s done a pretty good job overall.
He’s way way better comish than his predecessor also dont make the mistake of comparing him to the NFL’s comish that is just insulting
MLB needs a new direction and it could be even better but too many shortsighted owners. Gotta dispose of the old guard. Forget expansion until you do some house cleaning MLB.
You need owners that are also fans. Most are only business owners and an MLB team is a footnote in their portfolios.
I don’t like pre-pandemic vs post-pandemic revenue comparisons in just about any industry because of the rampant inflation. I’d think you need to add a correction factor for that alone to see if things bounced back fully to the extent they like to spin it or not
I think we’ll need to let the season play out as this is first season since 2020 with no advisories nor travel restrictions.
I agree with you to an extent in regards to inflation. But seeing as entertainment is low hanging fruit when families being hurt by inflation are cutting costs, the #s are semi encouraging.
Of course, they’re also another factor of skewed depending how you view them.
Additional WC teams, means a couple more games in the postseason. That’ll be some revenue.
Then, in theory, a couple extra teams may try to convince themselves they have a shot, and, existing fans think it’s more meaningful of a game, and thus, for some clubs attendance may not drop off.
So, in that regard we can give credit for ‘growing some revenue’ while simultaneously not ‘growing the fanbase’ – the latter being what mlb really needs.
They have been becoming a more profitable model under Manfred, I’ll give that, cutting the fat by slashing minor league affiliates etc etc etc. But it’s sort of a net loss as you’re not cultivating new fans.
Sort of a short term gain, long term loss they’re teeing up if you think about it
I was vehemently against implementing the pitch clock bc I felt it ruined the sanctity of the game by being the only pro team sports without one. However, I’m now enjoying the shorter game times. I have no idea what MLB needs to do better market players but they need to do so. Subway sandwich and video games can’t be their only unintended outlets for marketing.
Well that’s a shame.
We need a new commissioner.
I definitely nominate Anthony Franco.
Us fans and maybe even the players are always going to feel that way because the commissioner represents the owners interests.
Who is the “we” in this sentence?
BOOOOOOOOOOOO
You would think you wouldnt want to keep someone that hasnt gained new fans/grown the game, and drove away a significant amount of the ones you had, but I guess it makes sense, considering the modus operandi of hating baseball
You would think they would try to be promoting the game to kids, instead of continously talking about how bad it is or what is wrong with it from the moment this clown took over,
A bunch of extremely wealthy people who is directly represented by the commissioner believe differently. This is their money at risk so if they thought someone else would make them more money, they would vote for that person.
I don’t like Manfred as a person. I don’t think the commissioner affects interest in the game much at all. But if you’re going to go there, you’re arguing in favor of Manfred because baseball is getting very popular.
Please God No. Please no.
We need a fans union
Which is called showing solidarity and uniting.
You don’t need a union to do that.
You are right you do not. But Unions are what is called organized, which allows task to b executed more efficiently.
This is the only time a union has been accused of being efficient.
It doesn’t really matter who gets the job. Paid by the owners so a toadie for the owners. The idea that the commissioner looks out for the best interest of the game and all parties including fans has always been empty rhetoric. It is structured such that he as an employee of the owners and his income and well being depends on the owners and the owners alone.
Bingo
Many fans have this fantasy that “the best interests of the game” means something other than “the best interests of the owners.” But in reality it never has. The commission serves the owners, first, last, always.
You’re right, Blue. I hate that you’re right because I hate a lot of the changes made to baseball, but you’re still right.
I dislike a lot of them too, but blaming them on the commissioner only gives ownership a pass, and I dislike that at least as much.
Who’s worse at their job? Manfred vs Silver vs Goddell? Cause I’m having a hard time deciding.
I’d say they are all equally worthless.
But Silver looks like a James Bond villain…
Gary betteman is gonna be mad at you
As terrible as Manfred is, somehow Bettman remains worse. All those games, including an entire season, lost to labor stoppages will do that.
Silver is the best easily, which says more about how terrible the others are, not an endorsement of him. Silver is just ok in a vacuum.
#anyonebutmanfraud
Reverse the Manfred man on second base in extra innings!!!
I hate that rule. Almost more than I hate the DH in the NL.
Of all the rule changes over the last few years, that’s the one I am not a fan of. I’m not sure I have a better solution to marathon games though.
CK – 2 options for marathon games: 1 – watch and enjoy 2 – turn it off and look up the score later. The ghost runner is a step above little league.
Prov – my biggest concern is the pitching workload.
Again, I don’t like the ghost runner.. but I also hate to see teams torch their bullpens and ultimately make roster moves because they had a long one.
Bingo
CK – That is a good point. However, in response, marathon games are very infrequent and these guys are professional athletes at the pinnacle of fitness. That’s where a good manager earns his money managing in-game decisions.
Coin flip?
@CKinSTL. I feel exactly the same about the extra innings base runner. I really hate it more than any of the rule changes but just like you, I don’t have a solution for the length of games either. Additionally, giving me more reservation is that the players voted for it as well. If they believe it’s better for them than I think that is more important than my viewing pleasure. I’ll either live with it or stop watching.
Reverse the Manfred Man? That would make an interesting idea – as a consequence of starting with a runner on 2nd base, that runner had to run backwards from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to home in order to count.
Can someone please explain to me what he actually does wrong and why they would want to replace him?
Are you being serious!?!
For me, two reasons are –
He let the Astros players slide with the cheating scandal. There was zero consequence to them.
The second and more egregious reason for me is he was too chicken to make a bigger stand against the racism Yuli Gurriel showed against Asians during the World Series. He should have had a more expedient punishment rather than one that started the following season. It was garbage,
That was a cultural problem within the Astros org. Manfred went to the root of it and spoke with all the players in return for their cooperation. Then he punished and fined the team and gave the entire league notice that further cheating wouldn’t be tolerated.
As for Gurriel, it was during the World Series and he didn’t want to make that a highlight of the match-up by immediately suspending a pivotal player. Darvish also gave his two cents about the incident. It was a PR decision to wait until the following season.
Right. Because the “pivotal player” and the game is more important than the denigration of an entire culture.
It is when your job is running the game of baseball, and not being a spokesperson for a particular ethnicity. His job was to minimize the damage to MLB. Player was punished. The show went on.
@neurogame, for me, it’s a history of alienating fans. I expect him to be the owner’s puppet, but the piece of metal comment and what he said about A’s fans, not to mention him coming across like a petulant child during CBA negotiations – the man has to be a puppet, but he doesn’t have to be a tone-deaf tool.
How many hours do you have free, kc38? I’m going to need at least 8 hours of your time for the cliff-notes version.
He should be fired for making baseball woke! He picked the wrong side over longtime baseball season ticket holders. Go woke, go broke Mr. Commissioner ….
@jplane
Please explain your definition of “woke” and why being so is a bad thing. Seriously, I don’t understand how it applies to baseball.
It’s a talisman word. It doesn’t mean anything, but chanting it like an incantation releases its magical powers.
This guy sucks
Nooooo!
Boooooo!
Putttttzzzz!
Award Galarraga his rightful 23d perfect game. Come on 45.
This would be great. The only reason not to do it is that it sets a bad precedent. Do you go back and look at other games and plays and try to correct mistakes of the past?
The case for Galarraga is such a special circumstance though because it was the last out of the game..
Eddie Plank perfecto when?
Its really too late for Galarraga, though. That call forever changed the trajectory of his career. It cratered after that.
Jim Joyce’s bigotry was on full display and can be replayed for all time.
Stymeedone – I’m curious why you say that. I don’t ever recall Galarraga being a well-regarded prospect, having good stuff, or really ever performing that well.. just a durable, low-velocity pitcher that a non-contending club would have at the back end of their rotation.
Ugh… great.
We are going to get Blernsball sooner than later.
The owners will give him a piece of metal upon re-election.
Manfred is faceless and fabulously mediocre. He smiles mindlessly,says the right things to the press. Owners love him because he’s easy to mold, ala Silver in the NBA and Goodell in the NFL.
Brooklyn
He’s not even mediocre. And he for SURE doesn’t say the right thing to the press. He is a tone deaf tool.
With unanimous support from the owners. The only possible explanation is you know something about him that they don’t. Will ceases never wonder?
Grand Union University? Really Mr. commish??
Ahhh, the marionette is getting a new set of strings.
Dance for them, dummy, keep dancing,
Ok ok I will run for commissioner.
My 1st act is end the local blackout rule and make it easier for people to ACTUALLY WATCH their local team.
2nd Act is to end that dumb extra innings rule
3rd act is to end the batter clock with 8 seconds left. If the batter isn’t set then let the pitcher throw a quick strike.
4. Revoke anyone who is a hall of fame ballot voter and decides to put absolutely no one in leaving their HOF ballot blank simply because they are still mad about steroids. If you don’t vote then you lose the privilege.
5. Anyone who is busted with a PED violation will immediately have their contact turned into a non-guarantee contract and if a team decides to move on they will not be on the hook.
6. Give Atlanta back the All-star game that was stolen over politics and hurt the people of Georgia.
@Braves Butt-Head.
#4. It might be logical some years to not vote for anyone. I’m not sure how to prove a steroid bias.
#5. This is a matter of collective bargaining with the MLBPA. It can’t be instituted by the commissioner.
I second the nomination. We need a new commish unless we are going to accept the perennial changes to our beloved game. Another Manfred term will most likely result in the Robo-Ump, the 10-run rule, a 3 ball walk and not only a pitch clock but a game clock. Braves Butt-Head for Commissioner!
Manfred has done well for the game. The Astros immunity debacle aside, the game is in a better place today than pre-Manfred.
@30parks
This is being cast against the previous commissioner who was step in line atrocious. Both have created mistrust and bad brand image for a product with a questionable long-term outlook. A commissioner in the news so repeatedly isn’t a good thing.
It’s an absolute joke that the owners would reelect Manfred. Given that they’re hiring a shill…they could do much better. A 100% absolute PR nightmare of a commissioner. So much short term gain at the expense of the longterm.
The game is trending in the wrong direction in terms of its demographic and who watches the product. There’s an entire generation who has never seen or very seldom seen a playoff game because it is hidden behind an archaic TV system which their household does not subscribe to.
We grew up with the game and will continue to enjoy it while it withers on the vine, but the youth of tomorrow has turned their attention to other forms of entertainment.
Manfred is unlikable and ticket prices are way too high. He helped kill several minor league teams that were a more affordable option. He hurt fair competition by letting the Trashtros off the hook. Fans hate him, owners love him
He knew that if he punished the Astros, it would open up a can of worms as all the other cheating teams would be investigated and found to have done similar things. The Astros organization was made an example of to keep from uncovering more teams that did the same thing, minus the trash cans. Obviously other teams were doing it.
Dock – “In the news” is more of a cultural shift in our world, the ever-present gossip hounds & social media nonsense – how does one in such a role as Manfred avoid the news? Impossible. Manfred is not without mistakes, but he’s done well for the game. MLB is a business. Manfred has improved the business of baseball in the eyes of those who operate the business of baseball.
Though bud Selig was worst we’d ever see. This guy blew past it in a heartbeat. Horrible! He can take every one of his lousy new rules and move to Siberia.
I moving all star game out of Atlanta was a coward move.
The true cowards here are you and the GA legislature for passing their racist ass voting policies. Go get your hood from the dry cleaner, Chad.