Tag Archives: Rob Manfred

MLB’s latest startup proposal

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The league still wants to stick it to the players. Major League Baseball drew the ire of the players’ union Tuesday with an economic proposal that called for a significant cut in salaries that would affect all players and particularly … Continue reading →

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The NBA inches closer to a return

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll know more soon. NBA teams are expecting the league office will issue guidelines around June 1 that will allow franchises to start recalling players who’ve left their markets as a first step toward a formal ramp-up for the season’s … Continue reading →

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Here’s the MLB season-starter proposal

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Make of it what you will. Major League Baseball owners gave the go-ahead Monday to making a proposal to the players’ union that could lead to the coronavirus-delayed season starting around the Fourth of July weekend in ballparks without fans, … Continue reading →

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MLB’s restart plan is coming

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready. According to multiple reports, commissioner Rob Manfred will present a blueprint for the season’s resumption during a Monday conference call with league owners. From there, the first formal proposal for a return to play would be given to … Continue reading →

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How about an Arizona/Florida/Texas plan for MLB?

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Call it the MLB Plan 3.0 for having a season. With the spread of the novel coronavirus threatening Major League Baseball’s 2020 season, the league and the union continue to seek ways to salvage the year as best they can. … Continue reading →

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Manfred finally disciplines the Red Sox for their sign stealing

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the MLB press release, written as a letter from Commissioner Rob Manfred. Executive Summary Following an exhaustive investigation into allegations of improper use of the video replay room by the Boston Red Sox, I have come to the following … Continue reading →

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MLB begins to contemplate its return

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is interesting. Major League Baseball and its players are increasingly focused on a plan that could allow them to start the season as early as May and has the support of high-ranking federal public health officials who believe … Continue reading →

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DraftKings lawsuit tossed

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for the Astros. A federal judge in New York mixed technical points of law with humor and theatrical flourishes in delivering a rousing defeat Friday to a group of baseball daily fantasy players who sued the Astros, Red … Continue reading →

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The conditions under which baseball can return

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

If coronavirus cooperates. Cross your fingers and hope for the best. Major League Baseball owners have approved a plan to address salary and service-time issues amid the indefinite delay to the start of the regular season, according to ESPN and … Continue reading →

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Further delay for Opening Day

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Mid-May at the most optimistic, and that’s very likely too soon. Major League Baseball pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest on Monday because of the new coronavirus after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than … Continue reading →

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Let’s not play ball

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not just yet, anyway. Major League Baseball has cancelled the remainder of its Spring Training games, also announcing that the start of the 2020 regular season will be delayed by at least two weeks due to the national emergency created … Continue reading →

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MLB, Astros, Red Sox respond to DraftKings lawsuit over sign stealing

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s motion to dismiss time. As baseball’s electronic sign-stealing case joins the long list of sports-related court cases, attorneys for the the Astros, Red Sox and Major League Baseball all say that while fantasy sports bettors may be angered by … Continue reading →

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More Astros lawsuits

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This one was filed by a dissatisfied customer. An Astros season ticket holder has filed suit in Harris County District Court against the ballclub, accusing the team of negligence, breach of contract and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices … Continue reading →

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Astros offer an apology

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how it goes for them. Astros players issued their first public apology after being involved in a cheating scandal that rocked baseball in the offseason. “I am really sorry about the choices that were made by my team … Continue reading →

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“You guys Codebreaking?”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You thought the Astros sign stealing saga was over? It’s not over. Roughly four weeks ago, Major League Baseball disciplined the Houston Astros for what commissioner Rob Manfred called the “banging scheme.” The Astros were busted illegally stealing signs in 2017 and 2018. The … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over sign stealing effect on fantasy baseball

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Major League Baseball (MLB) teams secretly distorted player statistics and deprived fans of an “honest fantasy baseball competition,” a lawsuit filed by a fan alleges in the fallout to a sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston … Continue reading →

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We have an Astros apology

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From a former player, not a current player. It’s still something. Twelve days later, an apology appeared on the south side of Chicago, from a bearded face that was constant throughout the Astros’ now-ruined renaissance. “Was it against the rules? … Continue reading →

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Is there an Astros apology coming?

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A “strong statement” of apology could be forthcoming from the Astros players involved in electronic sign-stealing during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, owner Jim Crane said Tuesday. In response to interviews given by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman on … Continue reading →

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You can’t move on from something you haven’t faced up to

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That’s not how it works. Neither Jose Altuve nor Alex Bregman, two principal players on a 2017 team that executed what Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred described as a “player-driven and player-executed” system to violate baseball’s rules and defraud … Continue reading →

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Luhnnow and Hinch suspended by MLB, then fired by Astros

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Astros owner Jim Crane fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow on Monday shortly after Major League Baseball announced the pair would be suspended for a year as part of the penalties for the investigation into alleged … Continue reading →

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It’s not just the Astros

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, boy. The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988. They have only appeared in the World Series twice since then, in 2017 and 2018. Both teams that beat them — the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox … Continue reading →

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The robo-umps are coming

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not right away, but you can see it from here. Computer plate umpires could be called up to the major leagues at some point during the next five seasons. Umpires agreed to cooperate with Major League Baseball in the development … Continue reading →

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A “most thorough” investigation

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an Astros update for you. The ongoing electronic sign-stealing investigation against the Astros is “probably the most thorough” ever conducted by the commissioner’s office, Rob Manfred said Wednesday. Addressing reporters during the final full day of the winter meetings, … Continue reading →

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Don’t shrink the minor leagues

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Bad idea, MLB. Last month, we learned that Major League Baseball proposed a radical reorganization of the minor leagues, involving slashing the number of teams by 25 percent — mostly short-season and rookie ball clubs. The New York Times has reported which … Continue reading →

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MLB investigating more than 2017 for Astros’ alleged sign stealing

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds ominous. Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Astros’ alleged sign-stealing will include the 2018 and 2019 seasons, commissioner Rob Manfred revealed Thursday, adding two more years to an inquiry already involving Houston’s World Series-winning 2017 team. “We are … Continue reading →

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MLB has had its eye on the Astros

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The story develops. Early in the 2019 season, Major League Baseball instructed video monitors working in Minute Maid Park to listen for banging sounds emanating from the Astros’ dugout, a person with knowledge of the directive said Monday. The Astros … Continue reading →

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Astros accused of stealing signs

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The post-season is off to a roaring start. Former Houston pitcher Mike Fiers told The Athletic that the Astros stole signs electronically at Minute Maid Park during their World Series-winning 2017 season, adding another inglorious instance to the franchise’s recent … Continue reading →

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Firing Taubman wasn’t enough

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Just putting down a marker. Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Astros will stretch beyond the World Series as the league looks into “aspects that go beyond” Brandon Taubman’s clubhouse incident. Taubman was fired on Thursday, five days after he … Continue reading →

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Is MLB expansion on the menu?

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Before I answer the question in the headline, let me say Congratulations to the Astros, the first team ever to win the pennant in both leagues. (The Brewers, who won the AL flag in 1982, is the only other team … Continue reading →

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More about the hack of the Astros

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating stuff. A federal judge has unsealed details about former St. Louis Cardinals executive Chris Correa’s hacking of the Astros’ email and player evaluation databases, clearing the way for Major League Baseball to impose sanctions against the Cardinals as soon … Continue reading →

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Astros hacker sentenced to 46 months

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Away he goes. Former St. Louis Cardinals executive Christopher Correa was sentenced Monday to 46 months in prison for illegal incursions into the Astros’ computer database, wrapping up a case of sports-related cybercrime that a federal judge and prosecutors summed … Continue reading →

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Are we finally headed towards a universal DH?

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Those in favor of the designated hitter becoming universal in Major League Baseball were given new reason for hope on Saturday. Speaking at the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warmup event on Saturday, general manager John Mozeliak says there’s increased … Continue reading →

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Astros-hacker pleads out

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

One chapter closes in of one of the stranger sagas I’ve seen in sports. The former scouting director of the St. Louis Cardinals pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to hacking into the player database and email system of the … Continue reading →

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Pete Rose remains banned from baseball

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

No argument from me. Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, has decided not to lift the permanent ban imposed on Pete Rose more than a quarter-century ago, meaning the player with more hits than anyone else in the … Continue reading →

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