MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke on Thursday night about MLB’s position on social justice issues, and gave an indirect response to Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen’s remarks that were caught on a loud microphone earlier in the day.
“In recent days, players at a number of clubs have decided not to play games,” Manfred said in a statement. “I have said publicly and privately that I respect those decisions and support the need to address social justice.
‘I have not in any way tried to prevent players from expressing themselves by not playing, nor have I proposed an alternative form of protest for club staff as a player. Any suggestion against the opposite is wrong. ”
The last sentence in the statement is probably a response to Van Wagenen who was unknowingly captured on video based on Manfred’s leadership, while stating that the MLB commissioner suggested that the players perform an orchestrated walkout for the first pitch, just to to play back an hour later.
Van Wagenen later apologized in a statement regarding the hot mic remarks, saying he was “misunderstood” and that the criticism of Manfred was “wrong and unfounded”. The GM also said the hourly delay was the suggestion of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, not that of Manfred.
.
