MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that this generation of players will "determine its own unwritten rules on what emotion is acceptable to show on the field," according to Ronald Blum of the AP. Manfred, speaking at a meeting with the AP Sports Editors on Thursday, said, "To the extent that you believe, and I actually do, that (Nationals RF) Bryce Harper is a spokesman for this generation, I suspect that you will see more exuberance from our players on the field. I think it's a good thing. I think that to the extent that you're trying to market to a younger audience, our younger players taking control of the definition of those unwritten rules is a lot better than some guy who's 67 years [old] saying I did it that way and you do it the same way." Manfred, on comments Baseball HOFer Goose Gossage made last month about how he thinks baseball should be played, said, "He's entitled to have his opinion. I don't happen to agree with him on this particular topic. Goose and his peers developed a set of unwritten understandings about what was acceptable on the field when he played the game, and I think the generation of players that are on the field today are going to do the same thing" (AP, 4/21). Meanwhile, Manfred said that he "didn't love Harper" for "calling baseball a 'tired' sport." Manfred: "Do I wish I could edit some of Bryce's words? Yes. Tired is one of them. They're young. They see the world differently. If we want to see the young people take the game forward we have have to be tolerant" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/21).
EXPANDING YOUR REACH: Manfred said that he would "like to see the league expand not just its number of clubs but its borders," adding that a 32-team league with teams outside the U.S. "is possible in the future." In N.Y., Barrow & Augustine note Manfred "did not say that Montreal was a candidate for an expansion team," but rather "listed the former home of the Expos as one of a number of cities that would be considered in Canada" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/22). In DC, Matt Bonesteel noted Manfred has "been talking about expanding to 32 teams for a while now." But he has also said that the A's and Rays' ballpark situations "need to be resolved first, which means we're likely a good five to six years away from any expansion." Montreal "would be seen as a front-runner for any expansion team, given the city's previous experience with the Expos." Other cities that have been thrown out as possible expansion candidates include San Antonio, Charlotte, Austin, Mexico City, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Portland and San Juan (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/21).
BACK ON TRACK: Manfred said the Mets, who once were reeling from losses in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, "are financially stable." Manfred: "There is no ongoing concern from this office about the Mets' financial stability. They're actually performing very well now from a financial perspective. I understand why people ask the question, but I think we're past that." Manfred said that the Mets' finances "improved with last year's run to the World Series." Manfred: "This is sort of a baseball truism. You win, it shows up really more the next year than the prior year. I think the Mets' financial performance was much improved because of the way they played last year. And will be even more improved this year as a result of the glow associated with making it to the World Series" (NEWSDAY, 4/22).
