P.R. is a part of work stoppages in sports and other places where a well-known company is involved. Rob Manfred was the first commissioner to get most of the public to support the players when the owners and players were trying to figure out what the 2020 season would look like. It seems odd that fans would side with billionaires over the labor force in the past, but I think it was because fans see the players every day and rarely the owners. Who knows?
The previous commissioners were able to stay out of the way until the new one showed up. He is a weasel and that is how unlikable and poorly presented he is.
He is going to do something about it in the same way that he has done his entire time as commissioner. Ken Rosenthal was let go by MLB Network. Rosenthal pointed out how bad negotiations were for the 2020 season.
No one thinks MLB Network will ever be a bastion of journalistic integrity or brilliance. It is a part of the league office. They have an official bullhorn. Rosenthal gave it some credibility that fans might get some actual reporting on. Leaving it to John Heyman, who carries a lot of water for the owners, erases all that.
The owners will try and win any P.R. battle by completely controlling all outlets. If this spreads to ESPN, be prepared for it. They have a lot of ground to make up, as fans have pinned the owners' greed, and not even bothering to negotiate, as the cause. Too many fans have seen their teams use the luxury tax as a salary cap, or not even try at all, or hold players they want to see in the minor league system to gain more control, and whatever other means they can use to hold salaries down. The fans have too much information to believe what the owners are selling. You can't villainize the players who make millions when fans want their team to win as much as possible. The players are not part of that equation.
The MLB Network is being controlled by the commissioner, who is trying to make sure that the information is from the mouth of a parrot. All talking points will be posted in the breakroom and office.
He has been a small, ignorant, and slimy commissioner. He seems to be trying to cement that reputation.
