Just one week after saying he’s “100%” sure in a 2020 Major League Baseball season happening, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN’s Mike Greenberg on Monday’s The Return of Sports special that he’s now “not confident” in a 2020 season.
Rob Manfred did go forward with his interview with Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s The Return of Sports special. Said optics are “just a disaster for our game”. pic.twitter.com/2dBm74eOsk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 15, 2020
Via ESPN’s Jeff Passan:
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN on Monday he’s “not confident” there will be a 2020 baseball season and that “as long as there’s no dialogue” with the MLB Players Association, “that real risk is going to continue.”
“I’m not confident. I think there’s real risk; and as long as there’s no dialogue, that real risk is gonna continue,” Manfred said when asked if he was confident there would be a season.
“I had been hopeful that once we got to common ground on the idea that we were gonna pay the players’ full prorated salary, that we would get some cooperation in terms of proceeding under the agreement that we negotiated with the MLBPA on March 26,” Manfred told ESPN. “Unfortunately, over the weekend, while Tony Clark was declaring his desire to get back to work, the union’s top lawyer was out telling reporters, players and eventually getting back to owners that as soon as we issued a schedule — as they requested — they intended to file a grievance claiming they were entitled to an additional billion dollars. Obviously, that sort of bad-faith tactic makes it extremely difficult to move forward in these circumstances.”
Shortly after Manfred’s comments were made public, many MLB players took to Twitter to show their frustration.
First, we’ll start with the tweet from MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark, who said that the players are “disgusted” over Manfred’s comments.
Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ibyOqB93WC
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 15, 2020
And now some of the many tweets from players:
Dear Adam Silver,
… you up?
– MLB Players
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) June 15, 2020
Can we bring Bud Selig back?
— Steven Souza (@SouzaJr) June 15, 2020
Oh that’s weird cause a week ago you said there would be 100% chance of playing. Now the players tell you to implement the season you told/threatened us with it’s now our fault that there’s no dialogue? The players are ready and want to play. You made your bed now sleep in it Rob https://t.co/XLrMKHxsxG
— . (@dusgar13) June 15, 2020
So, Rob, explain to us how you can be 100% sure that there’s going to be baseball but not confident there will be baseball at the same time? hmmm. What changed between those statements 🤔🤔 Players told you to set the season, but it’s too early to set the season right now,
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) June 15, 2020
Every day somehow continues to get worse. MLB should be embarrassed… everyone involved. Im embarrassed. This is a joke
— Travis Shaw (@travis_shaw21) June 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/WContreras40/status/1272656685388136448
For the first time in my life, I’m embarrassed to be a professional baseball player. And I’ve made 7 outs in 4 at bats in 1 game before. This is worse.
— Joe Hudson (@joehud4) June 15, 2020
https://t.co/813hUYy5NF pic.twitter.com/Mt0wSFnn2K
— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) June 15, 2020
These so called “negotiations” (or lack there of) have been sooo slimy, tone deaf, greedy, lying, leaking, and overall out of touch. This is not even close to what you dream of as a kid! Sorry to everyone for this playing out through the media during a pandemic. Brutal.
— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon50) June 15, 2020
As my good friend @TheCUTCH22 would say…. lol.
— Rhys Hoskins (@rhyshoskins) June 15, 2020
Smdh
— Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) June 15, 2020
What percent chance is it right now? https://t.co/im1oWc4rXu
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) June 15, 2020
Well could someone make a decision? We all know what they are doing. Just make a decision.l already stop wasting time.. https://t.co/cZUAX1Tp27
— CountOnAG (@Amir_Garrett) June 15, 2020
“The return of sports” on @ESPN tonight should be great TV. 5/6 commissioners have their shit together.
— Jake Diekman (@JakeDiekman) June 15, 2020
Tell us when and where! We are ready!
— Anthony Rizzo (@ARizzo44) June 16, 2020
What’s good @Eagles?👋🏼
— Bryce Harper (@bryceharper3) June 15, 2020
Just a total mess for Manfred and MLB. Even if there’s actually a season played in 2020, the relationship between the players and the league figures to be in bad shape for a long while.
