Rob Manfred Has to Go So Much Further to Repair Damage From Astros’ Scandal
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has not been a popular man since he took the job in 2015. The criticism has reached a whole new level this offseason with the way he has handled those associated with the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.
The players involved have gotten off with minimal punishment and other players around the league are left wondering why that's the case. Then, there was the news of just how sophisticated the operation was and how it started in the front office.
Why did Rob Manfred choose to leave the Astros' front office's deep involvement in the sign-stealing scandal -- indeed, it hatched the damn scheme -- out of his January report? Why did he cast it as a "player-led" thing?
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 8, 2020
Rob Manfred owes all of baseball answers.
People want accountability from those involved. Manfred seemed to think that banning AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow for one year would solve the problem. This all comes in the midst of the commissioner being ripped for proposed rule changes.
Fans and players alike are still up in arms over the scandal, and more and more players have begun to voice their frustration. Issuing a pair of year-long bans has not sufficed in the eyes of the public, and Manfred has a long way to go until the damages of the scandal are even partially repaired.
The fact that Rob Manfred hasn’t punished the players involved — or said that he’s at least planning on it — is one of the most indefensible sports commissioner moments ever. Since 1994 baseball has been steadfastly destroying itself. Abhorrent leadership.https://t.co/gtxaE4Vc37
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 12, 2020
This scandal is one of the worst in MLB history and Manfred dropped the ball by not punishing those actually involved. Doing that would help repair his own image in all of this, though it appears his investigation is over.