MLB commissioner Rob Manfred regrets granting Houston Astros players anonymity in the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, per a quote in TIME Magazine.
Rob Manfred can't seem to get anything right lately, whether it's paying minor leaguers a livable wage or mocking the Oakland Athletics fanbase openly. You can add this commentary to his recent list of wrongdoings, as well.
Every time Manfred gets in front of a microphone, or in this case a recording device, something bad happens.
Manfred did not suspended any players for the sign-stealing scandal which aided the Houston Astros in their 2017 World Series run. This is how he got to the bottom of the mess altogether, as the players were open with him as a result.
Rob Manfred regrets Astros sign-stealing punishment
The likes of A.J. Hinch, Carlos Beltran, Alex Cora and Jeff Luhnow were punished, either officially or in the court of public opinion.
"I might have gone about the investigative process without that grant of immunity and see where it takes us. Starting with, I'm not going to punish anybody, maybe not my best decision ever," Manfred said. "There are some decisions that I would like to have back."
By not suspending the players, Manfred made it feel as though the Astros got away with stealing a World Series trophy, or as he put it, a "piece of metal".
"Some of the decisions surrounding the Houston situation, would like to have those back," Manfred doubled down. "I mean, if I could take back the rather flip comment I made about the World Series trophy at one time, I'd take that one back. There have been times, particularly in times of pressure, when I look back, taking a little more time might have led to a different outcome."
The problem with Manfred's punishment is that it wasn't enough. While, yes, the coaching staff and front office were the proponents of such a system, the players benefitted from it as well, and should have been treated as such.
Instead, they won a World Series which is forever tainted.
