Tuesday numbered among the darkest days in MLB history but you’d never know it from watching the league’s commissioner.
After careening toward a self-imposed deadline during an owner-imposed lockout, Rob Manfred strolled up to the dais in Jupiter, Florida to deliver the news he was canceling the first two series of the 2022 season in rather chipper fashion.
For anyone watching on mute, the commissioner looked more likely to announce the lockout was ending than explain he was dragging the sport further into a pit of despair. And it’s that image—the one of Manfred smiling at the lectern, attempting to fire off jokes with the assembled media—that may be impossible for him to overcome.
why is he smiling pic.twitter.com/BYHFTlF1wG
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 1, 2022
This is the same Rob Manfred who previously said canceling games would be “disastrous” for the league. His mood on Tuesday certainly didn’t seem to reflect that attitude.
More so than calling the World Series’ trophy—the Commissioner’s Trophy—”a piece of metal”, more so than not punishing any players involved in the Houston Astros cheating scandal and more so than explaining without any evidence that owning a baseball team is a bad investment, Manfred’s stewardship of baseball will be remembered for this: a jovial and unperturbed demeanor while ensuring baseball will not be played.
MLB Twitter was having absolutely none of it.
Reminder that Manfred and the owners locked out the players, then waited 43 days to even make contact with the union. They wanted this to happen https://t.co/iC3ByeHinC
— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) March 1, 2022
Not sure laughing and joking around — even if just in passing! — is the move when you're announcing what should be a deeply sad moment for the institution you run.
— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) March 1, 2022
“No Way To Prevent This,” Says Man With The Power To End The Lockout Anytime He Wants
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) March 1, 2022
Smh this 💩 Is ridiculous 🤦🏾♂️
— Shed Long Jr. (@SLONG895) March 1, 2022
The past 24 hours feel like nothing more than a master class by the league in trying to act like they cared about getting a deal done in time to save Opening Day.
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) March 1, 2022
This dude is lying to the public. They literally went quite on us for 43 days and say they “negotiated” in good faith.
— Dustin Garneau (@dusgar13) March 1, 2022
Manfred gotta go.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) March 1, 2022
the man who called the world series trophy “a piece of metal” smiling on a day when mlb cancels games pic.twitter.com/UpVgC74yyH
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) March 1, 2022
Manclown. https://t.co/EbnJx48LZl
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) March 1, 2022
Have no clue how he has the ability to laugh about anything right now. Mind is blown. pic.twitter.com/xxwHnF9cUW
— Michael Lorenzen (@Lorenzen55) March 1, 2022
Rob Manfred: "The last five years were difficult from a revenue perspective."
In 2019, the last season before the pandemic, MLB revenues jumped for a 17th straight year to a record $10.7 billion, per Forbes.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) March 1, 2022
Clinic in poor communication today.
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) March 1, 2022
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) March 1, 2022
The last 24hrs I’d say there was cautious optimism on the players side because the owners were actually at the table negotiating with us toward a deal. What we’re asking is more than fair. If there’s no deal the optimism from MLB was a PR illusion to make it look like they tried.
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) March 1, 2022
Cancel opening day a whole tradition thrown out the window today, one of the biggest and most exciting days of the season, 😢 A sad day for all of us who love baseball. #MLBPA #MLB
— Robinson Chirinos (@robinson28ch) March 1, 2022
WHY ARE YOU SMILING?!? 🤬 pic.twitter.com/mTNvgavNos
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 1, 2022
“The concerns of our fans are at the very top of our consideration list.” — Rob Manfred, on the day MLB canceled regular-season games, during a league-initiated lockout
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 1, 2022
Watching @MLBNetwork now…https://t.co/7hjRXp14QM. I’d just like one thing. If times are so tough for these clubs financially over the last 5 years…show us the financials. Be transparent. I guess we will see ya when we see ya fans. 😔😔
— Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) March 1, 2022
"It's Ken's last day so we'll give him the last question"
Sarcastic Manfred: "you've been so kind, sorry to see you go. We're really gonna miss you"
Ken: "Feeling is mutual" pic.twitter.com/QTsTSXRyxR— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) March 1, 2022
Manfred be like: https://t.co/eK8otxscLv pic.twitter.com/SWHPG4zD0X
— Troy Hermo (@TroyHermo) March 1, 2022
