Commissioner Rob Manfred's top priorities entering office
The key issues facing commissioner-elect Rob Manfred, who is scheduled to replace Bud Selig on Jan. 25, 2015:
Credibility, inside and outside the game
The most remarkable accomplishment of Selig's tenure has been the accord among the owners. Selig seldom allowed a major decision to even be voted on unless he was certain the result would at least give off the appearance of unanimity. That's because he constantly worked the phones, cajoling owners with varying individual interests - often based on market size and revenue streams. Now, at the very end of Selig's time in charge, is the most open challenge of his authority - the dispute between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals over their TV network.
Is that a crack in what Selig has built? Now, will strong-willed owners attempt to wield more power and challenge the Park Avenue authority? Can Manfred maintain the balance and cooperation? He'll be tested and if the discord and disarray that was visible under previous commissioners bubbles up again, it will affect the view of baseball from the outside. The faction of owners who opposed Manfred wasn't enough to keep him out of the job, but will their reservations carry over into how they respond to his authority?
Early tests of their authority have been crucial to the perceptions of the NFL's Roger Goodell and the NBA's Adam Silver. The same will happen quickly in baseball. Selig didn't always give off the perfect PR-agency aura of commissioner but his clear control of his game helped him get by. Does Manfred project the requisite CEO-type style?
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Performance-enhancing drugs
Selig is correct that his game has the strongest drug program in pro team sports. That doesn't mean the problem has gone away. As long as someone is out there determining how to stay one step ahead of the posse, the need for vigilance continues.
Remember that MLB didn't discover Biogenesis on its own. It came upon the scandal only because of a disgruntled employee of the company and MLB needed to conduct a subsequent investigation that has been criticized for methods spearheaded by Manfred. And those punished from Biogenesis weren't caught in the testing program. It would be naïve to think there wasn't or aren't other similar suppliers of the methods to cheat out there.
A significant number of players are on board for stiffer penalties but plenty of challenges still remain in the detection of cheaters.
*** Labor
This is another area in which we shouldn't be fooled by improvements over the past decade or so. The next collective bargaining agreement doesn't come until after the 2016 season but some of the debate during the commissioner search should be instructive.
Some of the owners who raised objections to Manfred contended he had become too soft in his relationship with the players' union. During the early portion of his 15 years as MLB's top labor guy, Manfred was seen by the union as a take-no-prisoners pit bull.
New union executive director Tony Clark said after taking over last year that he fully expected his resolve to be tested during his first CBA negotiations. How stiffly he's tested and how the bargaining strategy is formulated in advance of the next talks could be a strong indicator of who's really calling the shots on the management side.
Part of the improved relationship that has led to three consecutive CBAs without a work stoppage comes from both sides learning they can profit from cooperation - starting with their partnership in the World Baseball Classic. Is that enough for all the owners?
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The dispute continues over territorial rights in the Bay Area that has hampered the Oakland Athletics' attempts to get a new stadium. Unlike the Baltimore-Washington TV dispute, Selig has kept this one under wraps while frustrating the public with his trademark vague references to ongoing talks.
The Tampa Bay situation only figures to become more pronounced. Little has changed there with the Rays and MLB aware that the Tampa side of the bay is the source of the most potential revenue while the St. Petersburg side clings to its ironclad stadium lease through 2027.
The Rays have been remarkably successful on the field despite attendance problems that just won't go way. Continuing that combination for another decade or more might not be realistic.
Selig was adept at shrugging off public criticism of these problems. Can Manfred ignore the outside pressure?
*** Growth
The bottom line for owners is, well, the bottom line.
And the owners remain the commissioner's boss. Manfred comes from the labor side so he'll have to prove he has the business acumen or surround himself with the requisite experts.
International growth sounds good, and will be a major part of MLB's future direction, but in the owners' view it's really about more revenue. Just as MLB.com has been. Just as the MLB Network has been.
Baseball revenues have steadily increased to record levels - projected to be in the $9 billion range this year. Teams are lining up record TV contracts.
But the pressure will continue to find more revenue streams, to keep attendance from leveling off, to find a strong spot in a TV ratings battle that faces all sports.
The competition for the entertainment dollar becomes stiffer every day and the key to staying ahead of the curve is keeping the next generation excited about the game.
All of that remains a battle for baseball, a sport that had to play catchup several decades ago when other sports seized the marketplace momentum.
Remaining as relevant as ever will require vision and a plan. Just the appearance that one is in place will be a long way for baseball.
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