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A16 sports
Wednesday 16 March 2022
MLB players ponder how Manfred can mend icy relationship

By JAKE SEINER the right thing.
VENICE, Fla. (AP) — Rob "Some of the things he said,
Manfred made a startling I think he probably regrets
admission while announc- that, I would think," Kierma-
ing the end of baseball's ier said. "But I'm also sitting
bitter labor battle last here feeling like I'm talk-
week: He's failed in his role ing, walking on eggshells,
as a diplomat to players. right? That I'll say something
The acknowledgement I don't want to."
was stunning enough that And even an appreciation
famously polite Atlanta that in the end, the lockout
Braves starter Charlie Mor- ended in time to preserve a
ton nearly laughed when full season.
told about it. "It's his job to go ahead
"The commissioner said and get a deal done,"
that?" Morton asked. Braves reliever Tyler Matzek
Indeed, he did. And it said. "A deal got done. We
prompts a thornier ques- didn't miss any games, so
tion: What can Manfred do you kind of tip your cap to
to prove he's sincere about him."
mending this rancorous "I do think his job is probably
marriage? very hard," Glasnow said.
"One of the things that I'm "It's hard to put yourself in
supposed to do is promote those shoes."
a good relationship with Morton echoed that senti-
our players," Manfred said Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred leaves after speaking at a news conference, ment. A former union team
Thursday, after the end of Thursday March 10, 2022, in New York. representative who has
baseball's 99-day lockout. Associated Press played for five clubs enter-
"I've tried to do that. I think ing his 15th season, Morton
that I have not been suc- baseballs spurred a spike Trophy is a joke to anyone, vow to prioritize strength- noted that friction was in-
cessful in that." in home runs. Astros players or whatever they call the ening the bond between evitable amid the compli-
It's perhaps the one point evaded punishment after NBA trophy, or the Stanley management and players. cated dynamic between
on which Manfred and stealing signs en route to a Cup," Rays outfielder Kevin Manfred said he'd use small players, their union, Man-
players agree. 2017 World Series title, and Kiermaier said. "That's not a steps to begin the healing fred and team owners.
"To just put it bluntly, he in defending his investiga- joke to those guys. I don't process, which began with He sees the latter as po-
doesn't do anything for us," tion, Manfred referred to hear their commissioners a phone call to union lead- tentially pivotal to healing
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher the championship trophy saying stuff like that." er Tony Clark shortly after the sport's wounds. Morton
Adam Wainwright said. as a "piece of metal." He Just two weeks ago, Man- a deal was reached Thurs- has been with teams where
"I know how that's going apologized days later. fred riled up players and day. A day later, Clark said owners are highly involved
to read, so Commissioner A clash over the terms of fans by joking and laugh- he "responded accordingly and readily available. He's
Manfred, don't take it per- the pandemic-shortened ing with reporters at a news and suggested to him that also been on clubs where
sonal. That's just how it looks 2020 season fully fractured conference to announce there's a lot of work to do the boss is rarely seen. Face
from a players' standpoint." the relationship. A work the cancellation of open- moving forward with re- time between owners and
It may be hard for fans stoppage became inevita- ing day due to the lockout. spect to where our game players makes a difference.
scarred by labor strife to ble, and the sides agreed "We didn't get a deal done is at and where it needs to "It can normalize that re-
remember, but player rela- to end this winter's lockout two weeks ago, and he's head." lationship, right?" Morton
tions was once Manfred's just in time to preserve a like kind of laughing or smil- "For him to come out and said. "And then that leads
specialty. He was elected 162-game regular season. ing," Kiermaier said. "I didn't say something like that to dialogue, hopefully pro-
commissioner by Major Players have some ideas think anything was funny or is definitely encourag- ductive dialogue, and you
League Baseball's 30 own- on where Manfred can im- comical about what hap- ing," Rays outfielder Austin don't have these situations."
ers in 2014 partly because prove — starting with the pened." Meadows said of Manfred's The 38-year-old Morton
of his record of maintain- way he speaks publicly, es- "I think for me it's just more acknowledgement. "I think was encouraged by Man-
ing labor peace over more pecially about the game. positivity toward the game transparency for both sides, fred's confession. He hopes
than a decade as the "Maybe just all the com- and players, and that's re- whether it's union, owners, there's a connection there
league's lead negotiator. ments and stuff," Tampa ally it," said New York Yan- Manfred, I think that that's to salvage. But he sees
Cracks quickly emerged Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glas- kees reliever Zack Britton, a going to be a big step go- enough of the larger pic-
in that foundation. The now offered. "I'd say there member of the players' as- ing forward." ture — what he calls "a very
sport's collective bargain- was a lot of anger towards, sociation's executive sub- Several players even ex- dynamic relationship" with
ing agreement negotiated like, the 'piece of metal.' committee. pressed sympathy for Man- many sides — to believe
in 2016 prompted a slow- There are small things like Some players were encour- fred's position. The commis- there's a straightforward so-
down in free agency. A that." aged by Manfred's admis- sioner is expected to pres- lution.
mysterious change to the "I don't think the Lombardi sion, which accompanied ent himself as a steward of "If he feels that way, I
the game, but Manfred's mean, the idea that some-
LIKE US ON actual job is to represent one wants to be more
the interests of 30 owners.
communicative and open
"In fairness to him, being and have a better relation-
commissioner, he's got to ship with people, I don't
make sure he watches out see how that how that's
for those guys," Wainwright a negative thing," Morton
said. said. "But at the same time,
Facebook.com/arubatoday/ There's an understanding I know it's tough. So, I don't
that nobody always says know."q