Manfred doubled down on the claim that granting immunity to players was necessary to the caseGETTY IMAGES
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred defended his decision not to punish individual players involved in the Astros sign-stealing scheme, saying that the option to vacate the club's '17 World Series title was "on the table at one point," and that the league was "making plans to severely restrict players' access to in-game video feeds" this season, according to Dave Sheinin of the WASHINGTON POST. Manfred, during a press conference yesterday, said that the "stain on individual players from the scheme’s exposure was itself a form of punishment." Manfred: "One thing I do take issue with (is) the notion that anybody in the Houston organization escaped without punishment." Meanwhile, Manfred said that there have been "productive talks" with the MLBPA about "ensuring future transgressions by players would be dealt with more harshly." Manfred said the league is talking to the MLBPA about "what should be done about these sorts of issues on a go-forward basis" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/17).
DAMAGE DONE: In N.Y., Bradford Davis notes Manfred argued that the "people who cheated their way to and through" the '17 World Series title have "suffered enough." Manfred said, "If you look at the faces of the Houston players as they’ve been out there publicly addressing this issue, they have been hurt by this." Additionally, Davis notes Manfred "doubled down on the claim that granting immunity" to players in exchange for full cooperation was "necessary for getting as much information as possible about the Astros scandal" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/17). Manfred said, "I understand when people say, 'The players should have been punished.' I understand why people feel that way because they (the players) did not do the right thing. ... If I was in a world where I could have found all the facts without granting immunity, I would have done that" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 2/17).
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH? YAHOO SPORTS' Liz Roscher wrote it is "not clear which players’ faces Manfred has been looking at, but it’s certainly not" Astros SS Carlos Correa’s, as Correa "didn’t seem sorry at all when he ripped" Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger for sharing his opinion on the scandal (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/16). In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes, "Sad faces? Constant questions? Apparently it is up to the news media to do what Manfred could not: impose some kind of lasting toll on the Astros" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/17). USA TODAY's Gabe Lacques writes Manfred "wants fans to believe that a collective walk of shame" throughout this season will "suffice as punishment." Lacques: "Yet how tangible can that punishment be when remorse, particularly within the Astros clubhouse, is on a sliding scale?" (USA TODAY, 2/17). In Atlanta, Steve Hummer writes Manfred's dealing with the sign-stealing scandal "obviously has done little to heal it," as he has "forfeited all ability to punish those who benefited most from the big cheat." Hummer: "Maybe he’d do it differently the next time, who knows?" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/17). ESPN Radio's Jason Fitz said, "What's the most damning way that you can make a statement? You go after a superstar baseball player and tell him he's never going to get to play again." ESPN Radio's Mike Golic added, "I don't want to hear, 'They're going to be looked at differently.' Whatever." ESPN Radio's Mike Golic Jr. added of Manfred, "It's your job to deter this going forward, and that's not happening right now in any meaningful way" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 2/17).
CORNERED COMMISSIONER: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jared Diamond writes the scandal has "become the legacy-defining event" of Manfred's tenure, who spent yesterday's press conference "deflecting sharp questions about his governance." Criticism of how Manfred has handled the issue is "still escalating," as team execs and players "continue to criticize" him (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/17). ESPN's Jeff Passan said Manfred needs to be "projecting strength." Right now, MLB "needs a leader, because you have on one side players, on the other side, the Astros. ... Everyone is fighting right now." Passan: "Who is going to shepherd this game forward and past this?" ("SportsCenter," 2/16). But in Houston, Brian Smith writes Manfred's words yesterday were "passionate" and "clearly thought out." They were the "strongest symbol to date showing just how much Manfred and MLB struggled with the final decision in a sign-stealing investigation that continues to dominate baseball’s national headlines." Manfred said that MLB "seriously considered stripping the franchise of its only World Series trophy." He said, "We thought about it." Smith writes that "honest public statement from the commissioner of MLB has to hit you like a million bricks," as the league "thought long and hard about stripping the Astros of the world championship they won" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/17).
HERE TO STAY: ESPN.com's Passan wrote there is "no order" to the scandal, "just pure, distilled chaos." The scandal is "not going away any time soon," and this is a "reality every person involved should learn to understand sooner than later." Passan: "The tentacles of baseball's cheating scandal are long and abundant" (ESPN.com, 2/15). In Pittsburgh, Mark Madden wrote the scandal has "demolished MLB’s integrity," and it "hasn’t blown over" (TRIBLIVE.com, 2/14). In N.Y., Bill Madden wrote everyone involved "wants to move forward now and not look backward any more," but whether they "like it or not, that isn’t going to happen." The Astros cheating scandal is "unfortunately part of the fabric of baseball now -- the worst scandal in the game’s history" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/16). The CHRONICLE's Smith wrote this story "feels like it will never go away" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/16). In N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote he "cannot remember any other issue" in MLB history that "created this kind of on-the-record wrath, especially among players." Sherman: "Not steroid users. Not A-Rod on a variety of issues" (N.Y. POST, 2/15). ESPN's Passan said the situation has, "for the lack of a better term, gone on steroids, and it continues to get bigger and bigger by the day" ("Get Up," ESPN, 2/17).
