Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred recently made a statement that has reignited criticism of his management and may not be to the liking of many fans, especially the Dodgers and those who expect a completely neutral stance from the leader of professional baseball in the United States.
During an interview on Monday, July 21, on the podcast Pardon My Take, Manfred was asked about how in touch he really is with baseball today. His answer was as sincere as it was controversial:
I watch a lot of baseball. I grew up a Yankees fan. I still watch a lot of Yankees games. I try to balance it out by watching the Mets as well, because I live in New York
MLB commissioner accused of bias
Although the commissioner explained that he also takes time to watch other games, his specific mention of the Yankees and Mets raised suspicions of possible bias, especially in a season in which both teams are in the fight for their divisions.
Who is the MLB commissioner?
Rob Manfred was born in Rome, New York, and attended universities in upstate New York.
His ties to the New York teams are not new, but as the leader of a league with 30 franchises, any hint of favoritism, even for personal or geographical reasons, is grounds for analysis and criticism.
Other commissioners of American sports leagues have been more careful in this regard. For example, Adam Silver (NBA) has stated that he does not support any team, and Roger Goodell (NFL), despite having had favorite teams in his childhood, has also avoided public expressions of affinity.
In addition, the timing of Manfred’s revelation is not ideal, as both the Yankees and the Mets are involved in tight divisional competitions.
The Yankees are three games behind the Blue Jays in the American League East, while the Mets are half a game behind the Phillies in the National League East. This closeness in the standings makes any comment about favoritism open to interpretation as undue or at least untimely influence.
On platforms such as X, the reaction was immediate. Fans and commentators expressed their annoyance with irony and direct criticism. Phrases such as “Go fix the World Series and win a championship for the Yankees” or “We don’t recognize him as ours” were some of the most shared.
Read the full article here
