A Complicated Manfred pt. 3: World War Manfred

42, it’s a number that’s symbolic to baseball. It invokes the memories of Jackie Robinson and the barriers he broke to lay his legendary footprint on our national pastime. It may soon become symbolic for something else. In October of 2019 it was leaked that Major League Baseball was going to cut 42 minor league teams across the country. If this proposal to cut these teams goes through more than three dozen cities with affiliated minor league teams will lose those teams a year from now and thousands of minor league players will be out of work as well.

From the fans, players, and even politicians  from across all levels have criticized this proposal for many reasons. It’s even gotten several members of the House of Representatives to introduce a resolution to try and talk the MLB out of the dissolution of the relationship. The commissioners office responded to these criticisms by saying:

“MLB is confident that we can modernize our minor league system, improve playing conditions for our players, and protect baseball in communities across America. However, doing so is best achieved with Minor League Baseball’s constructive participation, and a recognition that they need to be part of the solution.So far their approach has been neither constructive nor solutions-oriented. The most constructive role Congress can play to achieve these goals is to encourage Minor League Baseball to return to the bargaining table so we can work together to address the real issues impacting minor league players and communities all across the country.”

In an interview with Sports Illustrated Sen. Sanders says:

“They have got to understand that this is not just a bottom line business. This is the national pastime, and you don’t take away the rights of families and kids to see minor league baseball in order to just make a few bucks more.”

Senator Sanders frames this as a greedy corporation coming for the little guy. Rob Manfred on the other hand states this is ultimately about the well being of the players and what he feels is best for the future development of Major League talent. We have to remember this also isn’t a “take it or leave it” proposal.

Senator Sanders in that same interview was asked; “You recently met with Rob Manfred to address the potential contraction. Was that a productive conversation?”

His response was encouraging; “The commissioner indicated he is prepared to negotiate with the minor league teams, to do anything possible to maintain these 42 minor league teams. And if that is the mindset he has going into these negotiations, then that is a good, good thing.”

When you look at the four demands the MLB has for the MiLB they’re very cut and dry and only benefit the players going forward. MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem stated; “From the perspective of MLB clubs, our principal goals are upgrading the minor league facilities that we believe have inadequate standards for potential MLB players, improving the working conditions for MiLB players, including their compensation, improving transportation and hotel accommodations, providing better geographic affiliations between major league clubs and their affiliates, as well as better geographic lineups of leagues to reduce player travel.”

A war on the minor leagues? You can call it that, I call this taking care of your future talent. Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball have an obligation and duty to put the well being of the players above all else. Where is the error in this line of thought? When did we start looking at “change” like it was the end all be all to the world of baseball?

Minor league players should be getting payed more, they shouldn’t be traveling on school busses when they have road games, and they should be geographically closer to their MLB affiliate. These improvements are for the players, and fans need to come to terms with the fact that change isn’t always a bad thing.

J.J. Cooper wrote an amazing article over at Baseball America detailing the ins and outs of these proposals. I’ll have the link at the bottom of the article for anyone who wants to get a deeper look into what’s in the table. I encourage everyone to go read it and  come to their own conclusions.

The conclusion I came to is the MiLB leaked this information in order to gain public support in a battle they have no leverage in. I think they are hoping enough heartstrings are pulled and the outcry is so loud that the MLB has to back down on their demands. The crazy part about today’s world is that might actually work. Although it would mean more prospects getting stuck in cruddy facilities, making no money, and having some of the worst travel schedules in all of sports, but hey, at least you the fan will be happy right? 

I get the emotional ties and nostalgia that minor league baseball offers. I get that they offer communities a fun family friendly environment that’s super affordable, and I get that these organizations employ these communities. None of that is lost on me. All of that can be more or less the same, but the MiLB has to meet the MLB in the middle, instead of playing this game of “public relations”. Rob Manfred isn’t the bad guy here, he isn’t even close, his intentions are purely about benefiting the players lives by fixing what is broke in the minor leagues.

Our feelings as fans doesn’t supersede the future well-being of minor league ball players. With change we sometimes have to say goodbye to things we grew up with, sometimes they’re hard goodbyes. I empathize with fans but that’s no excuse to continue subjugating these humans who just so happen to be Pro-Baseball players to substandard conditions just for your viewing pleasure. It is my continuing hope that both the MLB and MiLB come to an agreement that benefits both sides. I fear though that if the MiLB continues on this path of hardball it will soon be something else entirely come 2021. 

follow me on twitter @UnicornKing138 for more lukewarm takes and Dodger talk!

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-floats-proposal-that-would-eliminate-42-minor-league-teams/

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/16/bernie-sanders-minor-league-baseball