As Atlanta Braves Start in 2017, What is MLB Doing?

Modern day baseball is a three-way partnership between team owners, the players, and the fans.  For some reason, the leader of the ownership group is trying to run roughshod over the other two groups.

I have to wonder if the Commissioner of Baseball isn’t confusing ‘Pace of Play’ for ‘Pace of Change.’

When we start watching Atlanta Braves‘ games this Spring, or the World Baseball Classic matchups, we are likely to start seeing some contests turn into a crucible of experimentation. Such has already been the case with the minor leagues and the Arizona Fall League.

Almost 2 weeks ago, newly proposed rule changes were in the news.  We discussed them in these pages.  It seemed that these were simply proposals – ones that the teams would vote on, and with the involvement of the Player’s Association, it appeared that all sides… except perhaps the fans… would get a say in what would transpire.

The Sheriff is in Town

That… might not quite be the plan that Rod Manfred is now contemplating.  In a news conference this afternoon, he pretty much laid down his version of the law.

Check this characterization from the USA Today:

"PHOENIX — Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, angered and frustrated that the players union will not accept any rule changes for the 2017 season, threatened Tuesday to unilaterally impose new rules in 2018 if an agreement can’t be reached."

Wow.

Think that might be a harsh characterization?  Okay, check Ken Rosenthal’s words from the same press conference:

"Manfred, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, threw a figurative 95-mph fastball under the chin of union chief Tony Clark, a man who experienced that sensation quite literally in his playing days."

We’ve had some combative Commissioners in the past, but this is … something.

I admit that in my own initial reaction, I’m not all together pleased with the attitude I’m seeing from Baseball’s highest office.  It kind of sounds like someone who wants to play Monopoly and got really ticked when his friends want to play checkers instead.

Manfred wants to play Monopoly anyway.  And since he runs a monopoly… he thinks he can do it, too.  Back to Rosenthal:

"The problem for Clark is that if the two sides cannot agree on proposed rules changes, the CBA gives Manfred the power to act with more than just words in year two of the deal. Manfred left no doubt he would exert that power…"

So whether the union – or even the fans – want Manfred’s Pace of Play changes… he left no doubt today:  they are happening.  Like it or not.

Don’t Forget

The fact that we just finished the negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement probably should not be ignored in this equation… with changes that the owners seem to have done very well with.

So for Manfred to try and force changes through early – apparently against the desires of the Players’ Union – could easily be a case of overplaying his hand and could seriously anger a union already not quite happy with what they just agreed to.

Today’s press conference, though… this would be doubling-down on the overplay.

So now the posturing starts…