Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred must decide the fate of a pair of Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of gambling violations. This is an argument for mercy. Somebody please send it to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred. Among the most important decisions Commissioner Rob Manfred will make in the course of his career as baseball’s top cop — and the one for which he will be most remembered — is how he punishes Cleveland Guardian pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Commissioner Manfred: Don’t do the easy thing. Do the thing that teaches the most people about the best way to act. Teach justice and mercy. It’s a big moment. You can’t go wrong with justice and mercy.
As of today, the most memorable decision Manfred has made was an awful one — he pulled the All-Star Game from Atlanta in 2021. Manfred’s decision was taken in response to Georgia’s then-new voting law, which left-wing activists had labeled ‘voter suppression.’ (It was not, only absurdist ideologues still argue anymore that it was, and we have to assume that Manfred got truly awful advice as politics isn’t his world.) The All-Star game and MLB Draft were relocated to Denver that year. It was a truly dumb move, a capitulation to ‘woke,’ and one for which many serious people will never give him a pass. Team Manfred figured out that it had been a face plant and, in 2023, decided to award Atlanta the All-Star Game this past summer. Good. One mistake corrected.
Manfred has also overseen the introduction of a pitch clock and the implantation of the rule placing a runner on second base to start extra innings in MLB. Both changes are generally seen as major improvements to the game, but the decision to pull the All-Star game from Atlanta left a mark on Manfred’s reputation for judgment. Now Manfred has a chance to repair that scar by exercising excellent judgment.
Both Clase and Ortiz are accused of cheating by throwing purposefully bad single pitches in a game — pitches which are bet on by the world via what are called ‘prop bets.’ The propositions in these cases seems to have been that Clase or Ortiz would not throw a strike on a particular pitch. Even a casual fan knows that’s a pretty easy thing for a pitcher to guarantee.
So if a pitcher agrees beforehand that the first pitch he throws in a game (or an inning if he expects to pitch longer than one inning), bettors ‘in the know’ can place bets on the outcome. This practice undermines the integrity of the sport and could have serious consequences for both the players and the league’s reputation.
As the case unfolds, it has sparked a broader debate about the role of sports gambling in modern athletics, the responsibilities of league officials to ensure the integrity of the game, and the appropriate level of punishment for players who violate these principles. The article argues that while accountability is necessary, the response should be measured and not so severe as to completely ruin the lives of individuals who may have made a mistake in a high-pressure situation.
The article suggests that a more balanced approach could involve a combination of financial penalties and a temporary suspension from baseball, rather than a lifetime ban. This would allow the players to reflect on their actions, seek redemption, and contribute to the sport in a different capacity. Additionally, the piece critiques the broader implications of sports gambling, emphasizing the need for increased education and prevention efforts to minimize its impact on athletes and the integrity of the game.
In conclusion, the decision Manfred faces is not only about the fate of Clase and Ortiz but also about the future of the sport. By choosing a path of justice and mercy, he can restore confidence in the league and set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. This is an opportunity for Manfred to demonstrate that his leadership is not only about enforcing rules but also about upholding the values that make sports meaningful to fans around the world.