Latest news with #Manfred
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Rob Manfred Admits Donald Trump's Role In MLB Decision on Pete Rose Reinstatement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred surprised fans of the sport when he announced former star player and manager Pete Rose would once again be eligible for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame. Rose had received a lifetime ban, which carried over into his eligibility for induction after it was revealed that he had bet on games as a manager with the Cincinnati Reds. But his case for earning induction as a player was clear-cut, as he was one of the most prolific performers the game had ever seen. In May, Manfred removed Rose and several other deceased players from the ineligible list, explaining that a lifetime ban should not carry over after their deaths. At the time, speculation rose that President Donald Trump had played a large role in that decision, as Trump has long been a vocal supporter of Rose's case for the Hall of Fame. However, Manfred did not underscore any role the president might have played in the decision at the time. Now, however, Manfred has detailed Trump's influence during a news conference tied to an owners meeting on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump plays catch with Mariano Rivera (off frame), the MLB Hall of Fame closer from the Yankees, during a Major League Baseball Opening Day event at the White House in Washington, DC,... US President Donald Trump plays catch with Mariano Rivera (off frame), the MLB Hall of Fame closer from the Yankees, during a Major League Baseball Opening Day event at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2020. (Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) More Watson/Getty "The president was one of a number of voices that was supportive of the idea that this was the right decision," Manfred admitted, per Fox News. "Obviously, I have respect for the office and the advice that he gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot of other people that were weighing in on the topic as well." Now that Rose as well as Shoeless Joe Jackson have had their lifetime bans lifted, a committee will decide if the players should be inducted into the prestigious hall. Given the recent reversal from the commissioner and strong interest from the president, that induction might be a foregone conclusion. More MLB: This Cubs-Yankees Trade Scenario Sends Former Rival First Baseman to Chicago
Fox Sports
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
MLB could introduce Automated Ball-Strike System in 2026 season
Computer technology to appeal ball/strike calls could be in place for the 2026 regular season. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the use of the Automated Ball-Strike System was likely to be considered by the 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives. During a spring training experiment in 288 games, teams were successful on 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges using the Automated Ball-Strike System. "I do think that we're going to pursue the possibility of change in that process and we'll see what comes out at the end of that," Manfred said. "The teams are really positive about ABS. I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS." An experiment with a technology system to challenge checked-swing calls started in the Class A Florida State League on May 20. That is not under consideration for MLB use in 2026. "I think we've got to get over the hump in terms of either doing ABS or not doing it before you'd get into the complication of a separate kind of challenge," Manfred said. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Chicago Tribune
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
President Donald Trump's support of Pete Rose among the voices Rob Manfred listened to in lifting MLB ban
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump's support of Pete Rose was among the factors Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred weighed when he decided last month that permanent bans by the sport ended with death, which allows the career hits leader to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Manfred announced the new interpretation on May 13, a decision that allows Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson to be considered for a Hall committee vote in December 2027. 'The president was one of a number of voices that was supportive of the idea that this was the right decision,' Manfred said Wednesday during a news conference at an owners meeting. 'Obviously, I have respect for the office and the advice that he gave I paid attention to, but I had a lot of other people that were weighing in on the topic, as well.' Rose and then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti agreed to a permanent ban in August 1989 after an MLB-commissioned investigation concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Cincinnati Reds as a player and manager for the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule. The Hall of Fame in 1991 decided people on the permanent banned list were ineligible for consideration. 'Those who really think about the reasons that I did it think that it is the right decision, and other people I think largely get confused with whether he's going to be in the Hall of Fame or not and maybe don't think that was so good,' Manfred said. Computer technology to appeal ball/strike calls could be in place for the 2026 regular season. Manfred said use of the Automated Ball-Strike System was likely to be considered by the 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives. During a spring training experiment in 288 games, teams were successful on 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges using the ABS System. An experiment with a technology system to challenge checked-swing calls started in the Class A Florida State League on May 20. That is not under consideration for MLB use in 2026. 'I think we've got to get over the hump in terms of either doing ABS or not doing it before you'd get into the complication of a separate kind of challenge,' Manfred said. Baseball is returning to the Olympics in 2028 after being played from 1992-2008 and then in 2021. MLB is considering whether to allow big-league players to be used at the 2028 Games. It did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Olympics, and many teams discouraged top eligible prospects from playing. 'We made some progress with LA 2028 in terms of what it could look like,' Manfred said. 'We have some other business partners that we need to talk to about, changes that would need to be made in order to accommodate the Olympics. I think we're going to go forward with that process.' Manfred said the players union appears to be supportive. A decision on MLB's bargaining positions with the players association, including whether to propose a salary cap, will be made after this season. Bargaining is likely to start in spring 2026 for a successor to the five-year agreement with the union that ended a 99-day lockout on March 10, 2022. The deal expires on Dec. 1, 2026. An ownership economic study committee was formed in early 2023, sparking speculation about a renewed push for a salary-cap system aimed at decreasing payroll disparity. 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not. Everybody kind of gets it,' Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us, but there has not been a lot of conversation about that particular topic.' When MLB proposed a cap in 1994, players struck for 7½ months in 1994 and '95, leading to the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904. 'Obviously over the winter we're going to have to decide what is going to be out there from our perspective, but no decisions on that topic so far,' Manfred said. MLB hopes to reach a deal before the All-Star break on a Sunday night national broadcast package and for the Home Run Derby to replace the agreement ESPN said in February it was ending after this season. Manfred said MLB is negotiating with three parties and is weighing traditional broadcasters and streaming services, which may pay more but have a smaller audience. Manfred regrets giving ESPN the right to opt out, which is causing a negotiation for rights lasting three seasons. MLB's contracts with Fox and Turner end after the 2028 season. 'If you're talking about what we're doing for the next three years, I would overweight reach,' Manfred said. 'The larger negotiation we'll have for the post-'28 period and we continue to believe that reach drives our live business.' The Tampa Bay Rays hope to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., next season after playing home games this year across the bay at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the New York Yankees' spring training home. The St. Petersburg City Council approved $22.5 million in April to repair the roof, destroyed by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9. A new roof is being built in Germany and will be shipped to Florida. 'Repair of the stadium is moving along. We remain optimistic that we will be ready either for opening day or very shortly thereafter,' Manfred said. 'Obviously, the big contingency is what happens with hurricane season.' A formal groundbreaking hasn't taken place for the Athletics' planned ballpark to open in 2028, though work is being done at the site and a ceremony could be held this month. 'My understanding is they believe they're going to make opening day '28,' Manfred said. Attendance averaged 28,081 through Tuesday and 900 dates, up 1.4% from 27,687 through the same point last year, when MLB finished with a 0.9% rise to 29,568 for its highest average since 30,042 in 2017. MLB could finish with an average increase in three straight years not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time since 2004-07. While MLB is not concerned about Trump administration tariffs raising the cost of big-league baseballs, which are manufactured in Costa Rica, the impact on minor-league balls is a concern. 'The minor-league baseball is made in China. That's more of an issue,' Manfred said.\
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
All signs point to MLB's automatic ball-strike challenge system coming in 2026
MLB appears ready to add another element of replay review to its game as early as next year. Rob Manfred said Tuesday he plans to propose a plan to bring the automatic ball-strike system to the majors for 2026, The Athletic reported from MLB headquarters. A proposal will go to the 11-person competition committee, and it appears likely that it'll have enough votes to get passed, with the league office having enough seats to make it happen, the outlet added. 3 The home plate umpire utilizes an automated ball-strike challenge system, or ABS, during the Dodgers-Cubs spring training game on Feb. 20, 2025. MLB Photos via Getty Images ABS has been tested since 2019, first in the independent Atlantic League before coming to the affiliated minor leagues in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, the Triple-A level used a mix of full ABS — meaning all of the pitches were called by an automatic strike zone — and a challenge system. This year's spring training had the system in place, allowing a batter, pitcher or catcher to challenge a given pitch, with each team given two challenges per game. The strike zone was determined by the Hawk-Eye tracking system and depended on a batter's height. 'I think that teams are really positive about ABS,' Manfred said, according to The Athletic. 'You know, I do have that unscientific system that I use — my email traffic — and my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain about balls and strike calls via email, to me, referencing the need for ABS. That is undoubtedly true, undoubtedly true.' 3 Detailed view of the Jumbotron during an automated ball-strike challenge aka ABS during the Dodgers-Reds spring training game. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Manfred added that he hopes to make a system that's 'acceptable' to the players and that a check-swing challenge was unlikely to be tested in spring training next year. MLB first added replay review late in the 2008 season to check home run calls before making significant additions in 2014 that included fair/foul, boundary calls and safe/out calls chief among them. The strike zone was always seen as the next frontier, and after a spring of testing, scores of fans and pundits have called for the change. 3 The video board displays the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during a challenge by the Dodgers in the second inning of a spring training game agains tthe Guardians on March 11, 2025. Getty Images There was even one contentious incident over that weekend that centered on a lack of ABS. On Sunday, Taylor Walls of the Rays was ejected after tapping his helmet — in an apparent nod to an ABS challenge — when he disagreed with a called strike from home plate umpire Nic Lentz, though Walls denied he was referencing the system. 'That's what [Lentz] told me. 'You're not going to do that. You're not going to tap your helmet.' And so at that point, like, I know that they think that's disrespectful,' Walls said after the game. 'I watched the video, and I could see where he may have thought that.'
Boston Globe
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
President Trump's support of Pete Rose, ball/strike challenge system, and Olympics among topics MLB commissioner Rob Manfred touches on at owners meeting
Advertisement Rose and then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti agreed to a permanent ban in August 1989 after an investigation commissioned by MLB concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager for the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule. The Hall of Fame in 1991 decided people on the permanent banned list were ineligible for consideration. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Those who really think about the reasons that I did it think that it is the right decision, and other people I think largely get confused with whether he's going to be in the Hall of Fame or not and maybe don't think that was so good,' Manfred said. Robot umpires Computer technology to appeal ball/strike calls could be in place for the 2026 regular season. Manfred said use of the Advertisement During a spring training experiment in 288 games, teams were successful on 52.2 percent of their ball/strike challenges using the Automated Ball-Strike System. 'I do think that we're going to pursue the possibility of change in that process and we'll see what comes out at the end of that,' he said. 'The teams are really positive about ABS. I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS.' Related : An experiment with a technology system to challenge checked-swing calls started in the Class A Florida State League on May 20. That is not under consideration for MLB use in 2026. 'I think we've got to get over the hump in terms of either doing ABS or not doing it before you'd get into the complication of a separate kind of challenge,' Manfred said. Baseball in 2028 Olympics Baseball is returning to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles after being played from 1992 to 2008 and then in 2021. MLB is considering whether to allow big league players to be used at the 2028 Games. It did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Olympics and many teams discouraged top eligible prospects from playing. 'We made some progress with LA 2028 in terms of what it could look like,' Manfred said. 'We have some other business partners that we need to talk to about, changes that would need to be made in order to accommodate the Olympics. I think we're going to go forward with that process.' Advertisement Manfred said the players' union appears to be supportive. Labor and possible salary cap proposal A decision on MLB's bargaining positions with the players' association, including whether to propose a salary cap, will be made after this season. Bargaining is likely to start in the spring of 2026 for a successor to the five-year agreement with the union that An ownership economic study committee was formed in early 2023, sparking speculation about a renewed 'Payroll disparity is such a fact of life among the ownership group that there's not a lot of need for talking about whether we have it or not. Everybody kind of gets it,' Manfred said. 'We understand that it has become a bigger problem for us, but there has not been a lot of conversation about that particular topic.' When MLB proposed a cap in 1994, players struck for 7½ months in 1994 and '95, leading to the first cancellation of the World Series since 1904. 'Obviously, over the winter we're going to have to decide what is going to be out there from our perspective, but no decisions on that topic so far,' Manfred said. Broadcasting MLB hopes to reach a deal before the All-Star break on a Sunday night national broadcast package and for the Home Run Derby to replace the agreement Advertisement Manfred regrets giving ESPN the right to opt out, which is causing a negotiation for rights lasting three seasons. MLB's contracts with Fox and Turner end after the 2028 season. 'If you're talking about what we're doing for the next three years, I would overweight reach,' Manfred said. 'The larger negotiation we'll have for the post-'28 period and we continue to believe that reach drives our live business.' Tropicana Field repair The Rays hope to return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., next season after playing home games this year across the bay at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Yankees' spring training home. The 'Repair of the stadium is moving along. We remain optimistic that we will be ready either for opening day or very shortly thereafter,' Manfred said. 'Obviously, the big contingency is what happens with hurricane season.' Athletics Las Vegas ballpark A formal groundbreaking hasn't taken place for the Athletics' planned ballpark to open in 2028, though work is being done at the site and a ceremony could be held this month. 'My understanding is they believe they're going to make opening day '28,' Manfred said. Attendance up slightly from 2024 Attendance averaged 28,081 through Tuesday and 900 dates, up 1.4 percent from 27,687 through the same point last year, when MLB finished with a Advertisement Tariffs on baseballs While MLB is not concerned about Trump administration tariffs raising the cost of big league baseballs, which are manufactured in Costa Rica, the impact on minor league balls is a concern. 'The minor league baseball is made in China. That's more of an issue,' Manfred said.
