Chicago Cubs: What the heck is MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred doing?

The Chicago Cubs and 29 other teams are focused on improving their clubs.  Cue Rob Manfred to throw a hand grenade into the effort.

I have written several times about the perplexing actions during Rob Manfred’s reign as Baseball Commissioner. The first time was a year and a half ago and four other times since then.  The issues are many and critical to the future of baseball, ranging from wrong ideas about addressing length of play, blackout restrictions, teams tanking, and a host of other matters large and small.

On top of all this, MLB is facing the most consequential Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations since the 1994-95 players’ strike and an investigation into a high tech sign-stealing scandal.

So as the Cubs engage in the hustle and bustle of GM meetings, Owners’ Meetings, contact tender deadlines, Winter meetings, trades, and looming free agent signings to offer up more of their nonsense, is it any surprise that once again Manfred and MLB are making terrible headlines?

Chicago Cubs: Is MLB out to kill baseball?

There is no other place where the idealism of baseball meets the future of MLB talent than in the minor leagues.  From rural towns and cities to suburban ballparks, with names like the TV-made-famous Toledo Mud Hens, the Lansing Lugnuts, and the Amarillo Sod Poodles, these teams bring minor league baseball and all its wackiness to fans across the country.

Touchable, relatable, and still a bargain in most places, minor league baseball is a staple for fans who lack an MLB team or the income to afford to attend those games regularly,

And isn’t MLB trying to expand the reach of the game? While MLB teams are traveling to England, Mexico, and Japan, it’s trying to take the game away from fans here at home.

But the increasingly oligarchical Manfred has said off with your heads to 42 minor league teams.  Manfred’s proposal was explained this way in the New York Post:

"“1. Facilities are outdated in terms of capacity for expanded staff, workout equipment and even a space for players to eat. 2. Too many leagues are so widespread geographically that players suffer physically from long bus rides. 3. The affiliates feature too many players who face little to no chance of reaching the majors, and, 4. The players currently get paid too little, so if there are fewer players, then they can get paid more generously.”"