Rob Manfred is Sending the Wrong Message With Latest Update on Extended Netting

A potential World Series matchup between the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs at Minute Maid Park came to a disheartening pause last week after an infant girl was struck by a foul ball hit by Albert Almora Jr.

After the game, Almora and teammate Kris Bryant pleaded for Major League Baseball to extend the netting further down the foul line in order to protect fans.

Commissioner Rob Manfred heard the pleas, but announced on Tuesday there are no plans from teams to extend the netting at any point this season.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred doesn't expect protective nets to change in season. @bytimbooth >> https://t.co/tggW4ujZd4
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) June 5, 2019

"Look, I think it is important that we continue to focus on fan safety," Manfred said via the Associated Press. "If that means that the netting has to go beyond the dugouts, so be it. Each ballpark is different.

"The reason I hesitate with 'beyond the dugout,' I mean, a lot of clubs are beyond the dugout already. But, there is a balance here. We do have fans that are vocal about the fact that they don't want to sit behind nets. I think that we have struck the balance in favor of fan safety so far, and I think we will continue to do that going forward."

The announcement from Manfred is a rather tone deaf one. The commish says he values the safety of the fans, but immediately contradicts himself by saying they've reached a balance with those who complain about sitting behind the netting.

Not to mention, he cites the structural differences among the 30 MLB ballparks as making it difficult to spread the netting from foul pole to foul pole

Rob Manfred and @MLB need to fix this immediately. It’s absurd that this happens at baseball games and nothing is done to address it. The NHL addressed the same issue years ago. As always baseball is the slowest sport to adapt any changes. https://t.co/BbwId2TVHl
— BlackJack Fletcher (@BlackjackFletch) May 30, 2019

But, don't worry yourselves, Manfred will "continue discussions" this offseason about a resolution, despite those pesky structural differences.

While yes, many will complain about "those millennials who can't get off their phones" for getting hit by a baseball. But, let's face it, a ball traveling at over 100 MPH leaves just couple of seconds for an individual to react. Young or old, it doesn't matter.

If Manfred truly cares about fan safety, he has to show little hesitancy in extending the netting across the entire league.