It is time for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to come down from his ivory tower and address the peasants. His decree that All Foreign Substances On Base Balls Shall Henceforth Be Banned In Perpetuity is on the verge of turning the hallowed pastime into an utter farce, a sideshow that only the finest of jesters could ever hope to topple.
We saw ample evidence of this on Monday and Tuesday. Max Scherzer grew more irate with every check, eventually throwing his cap and glove on the ground and undoing his belt. Opposing manager Joe Girardi kept calling for checks because Scherzer running his hands through his hair was “suspicious;” perhaps Girardi was simply jealous of the growth upon the Nationals’ pitcher’s head. Sergio Romo one-upped Scherzer, dropping his hat, glove, belt, and trousers for his own check. Some player may attempt to remove even more articles of clothing which, depending on the player, could improve ratings for the league for that moment.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred needs to address the mess he made
Throughout this debacle, Manfred has been completely silent. It may be that he is too preoccupied with creating another disastrous idea that he will unilaterally impose upon everyone despite any rational objection. He is, after all, seemingly the demented prince of Major League Baseball, ordering his subjects to dance as he plays the fiddle.
But the time for silence and inaction is over. It is time for Manfred to recognize that the league is facing an outright revolt from the pitchers, who are treating his decision to change the rules in the middle of the season with contempt. For the most part, the fans are on the side of the players in this battle, recognizing this nonsense as what it truly is.
Manfred certainly has his own justifications for imposing these rules and instituting the mandatory checks of every pitcher. His reasoning may even be rooted in logic as opposed to his desire to destroy everything that the fans love about the game. The problem is that he has yet to address the mess he has created.
Until that time comes, pitchers are going to take greater liberties at mocking Manfred and his latest rule. Equipment is just going to be thrown in the general direction of the umpires, pants may come down, and other assorted paraphernalia could be involved. The joke will not end.
Rob Manfred needs to address the mess he has left on the diamond. If he does not, the sideshow of checking pitchers will only get worse.