During Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout, I made a conscious effort to not rip commissioner Rob Manfred in every article I wrote attempting to provide an update on the negotiations.
The fault did not land purely on the shoulders of Manfred; it was shared by all. The owners and the players were unable to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by the time the previous one expired, forcing the owners to lock out players until a new CBA could be agreed to.
But there are times when Manfred makes it so easy to poke fun, that I simply cannot help myself.
On Sunday, MLB writer for The Athletic Stephen J. Nesbitt reported that players coming to the ballpark for their Opening Day were greeted with Bose headphones, complete with a note from the commissioner.
“As we get ready to start a new season, I wanted to take a moment to send a note of appreciation,” Manfred said. “Being a Major Leaguer is an extraordinary accomplishment that beyond your remarkable talent shows your dedication to this great game. Along with our clubs, I’m committed to working together with all players to grow the sport. I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and by working together, I know we can bring the game to new heights.”
“Please accept this gift as a small gesture of my appreciation for the hard work that comes with being a Major Leaguer and your respect for our incredible fans,” Manfred continued. “Thank you for everything you do in a game that has such a rich history and deep meaning to our fans in the U.S. and around the world. Wishing you the best of luck for a successful season.”
Rob Manfred has said he needs to repair his relationship with MLB players following the lockout. Here’s a small gesture from Opening Day. Each player had a gift box waiting at their locker with Bose headphones and this “note of appreciation” from Manfred inside. pic.twitter.com/kxHnGcoaQT
— Stephen J. Nesbitt (@stephenjnesbitt) April 10, 2022
It’s the latest effort by Manfred to repair his relationship with players, an issue Manfred has tried to address since owners and players were able to end the lockout on March 11.
“One of the things I’m supposed to do is promote a good relationship with our players. I’ve tried to do that. I have not been successful in that,” Manfred said following news of the deal. “I think it begins with small steps. It’s why I picked the phone up after the ratification and called (union head) Tony (Clark) and expressed my desire to work with him. It will be a priority of mine moving forward to try to make good on the commitment that I made to him on the phone.”
According to The Athletic, Manfred has met with multiple teams in person over the past several weeks, including meeting with players from the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago White Sox.
“You need that relationship to be strong. It’s been strained over the last little bit. Both sides need to take steps to repair that,” White Sox closer Liam Hendriks said. “Getting a sit-down meeting is important just to build that relationship so that when something is brought up in future years, the immediate thought isn’t, ‘OK, what’s he trying to trick us with? Is there an ulterior motive?’”
“I did have the opportunity to ask about some of the past decisions Major League Baseball and Rob Manfred have made,” Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon said. “That was a good opportunity. There are a lot of decisions I don’t necessarily agree with that they’ve made. That meeting gave me a chance to ask about them.”
Maybe a pair of $350 headphones gifted to millionaires is a step in the right direction, but I doubt it.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].