MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has been enigmatic throughout the long and arduous lockout that continues to keep the sport of baseball in limbo.
Yesterday, Manfred announced that because an agreement was not reached, more games would be taken off the schedule.
Now, the earliest possible Opening Day is April 14.
But it has been a confusing process.
Manfred has made it look as if games are going to be cancelled, but he isn’t actually using the word “cancelled.”
In fact, he’s only really said that games will be removed from the schedule.
Jayson Stark of The Athletic notes that Manfred has supposedly not cancelled the games yet, and that there is still a shot at a full 162-game season.
Keep seeing/reading that Rob Manfred "canceled" another week of games last night. Wait. He didn't say that
The phrase he used was "removed from the schedule."
MLB says there's no significance to that. But I'm hearing they think they can still play 162 if they agree today
"If!" pic.twitter.com/xnD8Rnq2fY
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 10, 2022
Confusing Rhetoric
While it’s good to hear that a full 162-game season is still possible, could Manfred be less clear?
He and the owners have constantly put in deadlines to reach a deal and when they are not met, he takes games off of the 2022 schedule and acts as if the games will not be made up, but then says that there’s still a chance to keep a full schedule.
It’s essentially a case of, “Tell me you’re cancelling games without telling me you’re cancelling games.”
Manfred’s language and rhetoric have been confusing to say the least, and the way he continues to threaten players and fans with a shortened season is simply baffling.
The good news is the two sides appear to be inching closer to reaching a deal on a new CBA that will effectively put an end to the lockout.
That is all fans and players want.
It’s time to get baseball up and running again.
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