VENICE, Fla. ā Rob Manfred made a startling admission while announcing the end of baseballās bitter labor battle last week: Heās failed in his role as a diplomat to players.
The acknowledgement was stunning enough that famously polite Atlanta Braves starter Charlie Morton nearly laughed when told about it.
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āThe commissioner said that?ā Morton asked.
Indeed, he did. And it prompts a thornier question: What can Manfred do to prove heās sincere about mending this rancorous marriage?
āOne of the things that Iām supposed to do is promote a good relationship with our players,ā Manfred said Thursday, after the end of baseball's 99-day lockout. āIāve tried to do that. I think that I have not been successful in that.ā
Itās perhaps the one point on which Manfred and players agree.
āTo just put it bluntly, he doesnāt do anything for us,ā St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said. āI know how thatās going to read, so Commissioner Manfred, donāt take it personal. Thatās just how it looks from a playersā standpoint.ā
It may be hard for fans scarred by labor strife to remember, but player relations was once Manfredās specialty. He was elected commissioner by Major League Baseballās 30 owners in 2014 partly because of his record of maintaining labor peace over more than a decade as the leagueās lead negotiator.
Cracks quickly emerged in that foundation. The sportās collective bargaining agreement negotiated in 2016 prompted a slowdown in free agency. A mysterious change to the baseballs spurred a spike in home runs. Astros players evaded punishment after stealing signs en route to a 2017 World Series title, and in defending his investigation, Manfred referred to the championship trophy as a āpiece of metal.ā He apologized days later.
A clash over the terms of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season fully fractured the relationship. A work stoppage became inevitable, and the sides agreed to end this winter's lockout just in time to preserve a 162-game regular season.
Players have some ideas on where Manfred can improve ā starting with the way he speaks publicly, especially about the game.
āMaybe just all the comments and stuff,ā Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow offered. āIād say there was a lot of anger towards, like, the 'piece of metal.ā There are small things like that."
āI donāt think the Lombardi Trophy is a joke to anyone, or whatever they call the NBA trophy, or the Stanley Cup,ā Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said. āThatās not a joke to those guys. I donāt hear their commissioners saying stuff like that."
Just two weeks ago, Manfred riled up players and fans by joking and laughing with reporters at a news conference to announce the cancellation of opening day due to the lockout.
āWe didnāt get a deal done two weeks ago, and heās like kind of laughing or smiling,ā Kiermaier said. āI didnāt think anything was funny or comical about what happened.ā
āI think for me itās just more positivity toward the game and players, and thatās really it,ā said New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton, a member of the playersā associationās executive subcommittee.
Some players were encouraged by Manfredās admission, which accompanied vow to prioritize strengthening the bond between management and players. Manfred said heād use small steps to begin the healing process, which began with a phone call to union leader Tony Clark shortly after a deal was reached Thursday. A day later, Clark said he āresponded accordingly and suggested to him that thereās a lot of work to do moving forward with respect to where our game is at and where it needs to head.ā
āFor him to come out and say something like that is definitely encouraging,ā Rays outfielder Austin Meadows said of Manfredās acknowledgement. āI think transparency for both sides, whether itās union, owners, Manfred, I think that thatās going to be a big step going forward.ā
Several players even expressed sympathy for Manfredās position. The commissioner is expected to present himself as a steward of the game, but Manfredās actual job is to represent the interests of 30 owners.
āIn fairness to him, being commissioner, heās got to make sure he watches out for those guys,ā Wainwright said.
Thereās an understanding that nobody always says the right thing.
āSome of the things he said, I think he probably regrets that, I would think,ā Kiermaier said. āBut Iām also sitting here feeling like Iām talking, walking on eggshells, right? That Iāll say something I donāt want to.ā
And even an appreciation that in the end, the lockout ended in time to preserve a full season.
āItās his job to go ahead and get a deal done,ā Braves reliever Tyler Matzek said. āA deal got done. We didnāt miss any games, so you kind of tip your cap to him.ā
āI do think his job is probably very hard,ā Glasnow said. āItās hard to put yourself in those shoes.ā
Morton echoed that sentiment. A former union team representative who has played for five clubs entering his 15th season, Morton noted that friction was inevitable amid the complicated dynamic between players, their union, Manfred and team owners.
He sees the latter as potentially pivotal to healing the sport's wounds. Morton has been with teams where owners are highly involved and readily available. He's also been on clubs where the boss is rarely seen. Face time between owners and players makes a difference.
āIt can normalize that relationship, right?" Morton said. "And then that leads to dialogue, hopefully productive dialogue, and you donāt have these situations.ā
The 38-year-old Morton was encouraged by Manfred's confession. He hopes there's a connection there to salvage. But he sees enough of the larger picture ā what he calls "a very dynamic relationship" with many sides ā to believe there's a straightforward solution.
āIf he feels that way, I mean, the idea that someone wants to be more communicative and open and have a better relationship with people, I donāt see how that how thatās a negative thing,ā Morton said. "But at the same time, I know itās tough. So, I donāt know.ā
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Freelancers Mark Didtler and Chuck King contributed.
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