The new Batman film starring Robert Pattinson hit theaters this week, but perhaps the next one will include a new archnemesis for the caped crusader: Rob Manfred.
Longtime Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said on the Murph & Mac Show Thursday that time’s up on the MLB commissioner. As the lockout imposed by Manfred and the owners continues, Krukow is fed up.
“I say replace him,” Krukow said. “He’s got to go. Like (Marcus) Stroman said, ‘Manfred gotta go.’ I’m on board with that. If that happens, he’s going to fall out of this job and land on his feet. He will be the next villain in the Batman movie. And he’d be a good one.”
Manfred smiled during his press conference announcing the cancelation of the regular season’s first two series. He’d previously likened the World Series trophy to a “piece of metal.” And he incorrectly claimed owning a baseball team is less profitable than investing in the stock market.
But what Krukow is most frustrated with, he said, is Manfred’s negotiating style. The league reportedly tried to push things like a pitch clock, bigger bases and banning infield shifts in the last minute of negotiations.
“I just felt so misled when this whole thing went down, especially when in the 11th hour, they come up with, ‘Oh, by the way, we want a (pitch) clock and it’s going to be 2023, and we’re going to use bigger bags.’ What? You’re talking about this now? Ninety-two days ago when this lockout began, you didn’t start talking about that stuff then? It’s the same stuff that Manfred did in 2016. He bull-rushed the issues in the last minute and things got pushed through.”
Krukow said this pattern of negotiating has invigorated the union. The MLBPA remains strong — “they’re not going anywhere,” Krukow said — just like it was in 1981 and 1994 when the union fought for more rights.
“These guys aren’t going to break,” Krukow said. “And I just think that the leadership by the commissioner is really in question.”
Throughout the lockout, Krukow has remained optimistic. He’s avoided blaming either side for stagnant negotiations. But now he’s comfortable labeling Manfred as the “bad guy.”
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