The ongoing federal lawsuit seeking minimum-wage protection and overtime pay for minor league players drew a sharp response from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred yesterday. The issue is the subject of recently introduced federal legislation that quickly lost one of its introducing sponsors. “This is not a dollars and cents issue,” he said. “It’s the irrationality of traditional workplace overtime rules to minor-league players. It just makes no sense. I want to take extra batting practice. Am I working or am I not working? ... We can figure out the economics. The administrative burden associated with the application of these laws to professional athletes that were never intended to apply for professional athletes is the real issue.” Manfred later warned that “excessive regulation could have a really dramatic impact on the size of Minor League Baseball" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE: Manfred said that the Red Sox "took responsibility for improperly signing amateur players from Venezuela last year." In Boston, Peter Abraham notes MLB "harshly penalized the Sox this month for improperly inflating the signing bonuses of five players" and the team was "banned from signing international amateur free agents for a year." It was the "first time MLB acknowledged the situation publicly." Manfred: “The investigation is closed, the penalties were imposed and life will in fact go on" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/13).
HACKING AWAY: In St. Louis, Derrick Goold reports MLB "remains in a holding pattern" in offering an in-house verdict on the Cardinals' hacking scandal. Manfred said that the league is "awaiting the end of the criminal trial" and the "help of the parties involved." The sentencing hearing for former Cardinals Scouting Dir Chris Correa is set for next Monday. Manfred suggested that MLB’s actions "could be better informed with help from both the federal government and, if at possible, Correa" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/13).
NO RUSH TO JUDGMENT: In Pittsburgh, Stephen Nesbitt noted MLB "will not rush to judgment regarding the sexual-assault allegations" against Pirates 3B Jung Ho Kang. The league "intends to allow law enforcement to further investigate and gather information before determining whether, or in what fashion, to punish Kang" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 7/12).
KEEPING PACE? MLB entered the All-Star break with an average game length of 3 hours, 13 seconds, more than seven minutes longer the comparable point last year. Manfred said, “Pace of play for me is like dandelions on your front lawn. I just can’t get rid of it" (Fisher).
