Many believe the MLBPA would benefit from Clark’s intelligence and passion in another roleGETTY IMAGES
MLB players are "upset by the difficulties many free agents experienced in the open market" this offseason, and some are "agitating to remove" MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark, according to sources cited by Ken Rosenthal of THE ATHLETIC. Sources added that the thought among those players is that the union "needs to be led by an attorney and not a former player." Players and agents "generally like and respect Clark, and do not want to embarrass him." Many believe the union would "benefit from Clark’s intelligence, passion and playing background in another role even if he were removed" as Exec Dir. Clark is "aware some players are unhappy with his leadership." Sources said that a number of players "asked pointed questions of Clark" during his annual Spring Training tour. Some players "raised concerns about the CBA, which included relatively modest increases in the luxury-tax thresholds and failed to address what Clark recently called the 'race to the bottom' by rebuilding clubs." Some even "challenged Clark's qualifications for his current role." Clark said, "This is their union. This is the players' union. If there are concerns about what we have done, what we are doing and just as importantly where we are going, we’ve talked through and will continue to talk through all of that with the players." Rosenthal cited the sources as saying that the MLBPA's Exec Board has the "authority to remove Clark and choose a new executive director." However, sources added that if the players "decide to act, they will not make a change until they can find an interim or permanent replacement -- and they are not close to identifying such a person" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/27). SPORTSNET.ca's Shi Davidi noted the players' "level of discontent ... bears watching," as there have been "wide-ranging concerns" over the current CBA. Davidi: "Will Clark be their scapegoat?" (SPORTSNET.com 3/27).
TIME TO RETHINK THINGS: NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra wrote hiring former players in leadership positions is "not necessarily wise." Calcaterra: "When I see those sorts of guys in leadership roles, I can't help but wonder if they wouldn't be equally adept at serving in 'special assistant' roles, with clubs, as so many other players do, and I wonder if that isn't a problem." It is not that these men are "incapable of leading a union or disloyal or anything, but representing labor is not like a lot of other jobs." Organizations must "employ true believers and advocates who are not afraid to be bad guys and tough guys both with the opposition and with the rank and file to keep them in line." Calcaterra: "You gotta have guys who aren't afraid to go to war" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/27).
