It should have been an easy decision for Rob Manfred to let the New York Mets wear first responder hats for 9/11. But somehow, it was not.
Friday marked the 19th anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies to occur in the United States. We all have the enduring image of the Twin Towers being struck, and seeing the first responders in New York City rushing into the building to rescue survivors. That day changed everything.
It is understandable that the New York Mets would want to commemorate those who risked their lives to save others. They had asked the league for permission to wear first responder hats for Friday’s game, a simple enough request. In allowing these hats, Major League Baseball would generate a fair share of goodwill without needing to actually do anything.
But this had to go through Rob Manfred. And reportedly, this request led to constant conversations with Manfred and league officials. It got to the point where Jeff Wilpon needed to get involved in order for the Mets to be allowed to wear these hats.
The conversation never should have gotten to that point. The conversation should have involved the Mets asking for permission, and Manfred saying yes. That should have been all it took. The Mets could have even been involved in MLB’s tribute, wearing the first responder hats as they took the field.
The problem is, this is Manfred we are talking about. He seems to have an astonishing inability to see the big picture, instead focusing on doing the minimum possible to attempt to look good in his role. And really, he did not need to do anything here. As Brodie Van Wagenen said, he just doesn’t get it.
At times like this, one has to wonder what Manfred’s mindset is. The Mets provided him with a perfect way to honor those who lost their lives due to the tragedy, and he needed to be convinced to allow it to happen. Where was the disconnect? Why was this such a difficult decision?
In the end, Rob Manfred got it right by allowing the New York Mets to wear first responder hats on Friday. But it never should have taken as long as it did for him to make the correct decision.