Manfred said that the MLBPA pushed for player immunity at the outset of MLB's investigationGETTY IMAGES
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, in outlining his decision to grant players involved in the Astros' sign-stealing scheme blanket immunity, said that the league "immediately launched its investigation" once A's P Mike Fiers "went public" with the Astros' transgressions, according to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. TIMES. Manfred yesterday said that MLB "wasn't making progress" in its investigation, so it "decided to reach out to the players' association to request player cooperation." But the MLBPA "responded negatively when the league told the union that it could not rule out levying player discipline from its findings." Manfred said that the league then "gave the union a list of players they would give immunity." The union "responded by saying players would only cooperate if they were all given immunity." MLB, "believing it could not proceed without player cooperation, agreed to the parameters." Manfred said, "We would have not gotten where we got in terms of understanding the facts, learning the facts, disclosing the facts if we hadn't reached that agreement" (L.A. TIMES, 2/19). USA TODAY's Jorge Ortiz notes the "level of anger expressed" by players on others teams in response to the punishments handed down to the Astros "even surprised Manfred." Manfred: "One of the principal complaints seems to be that the Houston players were not disciplined, and that lack of discipline and immunity was negotiated with the union that represents the players" (USA TODAY, 2/19).
UNION FIRES BACK: The MLBPA in a statement last night confirmed that in the wake of The Athletic story in November that exposed the sign-stealing scandal, it "sought confirmation from the league that players connected to the allegations would not be disciplined." The union said that it "received that confirmation promptly, and player interviews in the league investigation began soon thereafter." The MLBPA in its statement said, "Any suggestion that the Association failed to cooperate with the Commissioner's investigation, obstructed the investigation or otherwise took positions which led to a stalemate in the investigation is completely untrue. We acted to protect the rights of our members, as is our obligation under the law" (ESPN.com, 2/18). NBCSPORTS.com's Bill Baer wrote the union was just "doing its job" regarding the investigation. Astros players are union members, so it is the union's "responsibility to protect them and prevent the league from creating a precedent to levy punishments in such a manner." If the union "didn't fight for immunity for players being interviewed in the investigation, something went wrong" (NBCSPORTS.com, 2/18).
DIDN'T DROP THE HAMMER: In DC, John Feinstein writes the "most ludicrous thing Manfred did during his mini-media tour Sunday was claim that one of the reasons for his decision not to punish any players was fear of the players' union." The MLBPA is the "most powerful" players' union in sports and has, in the past, "whipped the commissioner and the owners repeatedly during work stoppages." However, this situation is "different" because it "isn't about money." It is "difficult to believe that players on the other 29 teams would be eager to raise a ruckus about players on a team that cheated its way to a World Series championship being punished." The comments from players on other teams over the past week "sure didn't indicate that anyone would be up in arms if Manfred had had the guts to punish players" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/19). In Toronto, Doug Smith writes it is "embarrassing to hear" Manfred "waffle and refuse to even consider some kind of penalty for the players who actually perpetrated the crime and began the scandal that will dog the game for years" (TORONTO STAR, 2/19).
WHAT'S NEXT? ESPN's Jeff Passan said people across MLB believe there are "three different decisions" the league could make on the Astros. One is to "go after" Astros Owner Jim Crane, whether it is a "suspension or a bigger fine." But that is unlikely because Manfred's 30 bosses are the owners, and they "don't want to open themselves up to potential violations in the future." Another option is that Manfred "falls on the sword," but that is "not happening." What seems to be the "most popular play" would be stripping the Astros of their '17 title. That scenario is "under consideration" at this point. It might look "like a flip-flop" from Manfred, but "desperate times call for desperate measures, and these are desperate times" for MLB ("Get Up," ESPN, 2/19).
PLAYERS SOUND OFF: Braves RF Nick Markakis yesterday addressed the Astros' sign-stealing scandal, saying the incident is "damaging to baseball." Markakis: "It's anger. I feel every single guy over there (Houston) needs a beating. It's wrong." He added of Astros players not receiving punishments, "I know there is a lot of political stuff behind it, but it's wrong" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/19). In Atlanta, Steve Hummer writes the fact that Markakis "broke from his long-standing policy of saying nothing of interest to expound on this subject only accentuated just how much the Astros cheating offended him" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/19). Yankees RF Aaron Judge said of the punishments MLB handed down, "That was a little weak for a player-driven scheme, that no players involved got any punishments" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/19). In Columbus, Rob Oller writes the "fury among players is surprising, given that clubhouses operate like fraternities, where Animal House behavior is guarded like secret handshakes." Oller: "Seldom does brother turn against brother, but this time lines were crossed" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 2/19). In Dallas, Evan Grant writes since Spring Training camps opened last week, the "vitriol toward the Astros and the commissioner have only increased, and the events have become more farcical" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/19).
EVENTUALLY FADE AWAY: In San Antonio, Mike Finger writes by late April, the men "now viewed as unscrupulous cheats will be cast as sympathetic casualties of a flawed system." At some point, the "bad guys won't be the players who orchestrated one of the most notorious cheating scandals in" MLB history. Finger: "The bad guys will be the players who keep bringing it up." Even though Astros 2B Jose Altuve, 3B Alex Bregman and the rest of the team are "destined to be booed and greeted with trash-can lids in every stadium they visit this season, the vitriol will fade over time" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 2/19).
