MLB players blast Rob Manfred over Ken Rosenthal firing from MLB Network
MLB stars are calling Rob Manfred out on Twitter after Ken Rosenthal’s firing from MLB Network
World Series champion Atlanta Braves pitcher Tyler Matzek cannot miss.
He posted a 1.69 ERA in the 2021 World Series, and now he’s throwing blazing heat on Twitter.
When Andrew Marchand of the New York Post broke the news broke that Ken Rosenthal would not be returning to MLB Network after criticizing commissioner Rob Manfred, Matzek threw one right down the middle:
@Ken_Rosenthal stands at 5’4 1/2” but still towers over Rob Manfred. Fire one of the premier reporters in baseball because he critiques you? That’s his job. #soft #rentfree #doinglaps
— Tyler “Nutsack” Matzek (@TylerMatzek) January 4, 2022
Former MLB All-Star Ken Singleton said the firing “reduces the credibility” of MLB Network’s “whole product.”
Newly minted Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman also weighed in, quote-tweeting former ballplayer Dallas Braden, and sharing some thoughts of his own.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) January 4, 2022
Ken, you’re a legend. We go wherever you go. Sometimes you outgrow those beneath you. Keep climbing and being one of the best in the game! 🗣 https://t.co/u3kuGavEzA
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) January 4, 2022
He also liked several tweets with the hashtag #FireManfred.
This is bold. Rosenthal might not work for Manfred anymore, but Matzek and Stroman certainly do. MLB players are league employees, which makes Manfred Matzek’s boss.
Then again, MLB did choose to lock out the players.
Major League Baseball desperately needs a new commissioner
With all the talk about athletes and media members having a contentious relationship, it speaks volumes about Manfred’s reputation that athletes in his own league are publicly siding with a media member.
But even without the lockout, it wouldn’t be hard to see why; Rosenthal has built his career on being knowledgable and kind, and his love of the game is palpable in his work.
Everything Manfred has done as the commissioner is the complete opposite; he called the World Series trophy “a piece of metal,” has made several confounding rule changes, and openly lied to the public about something that seriously impacted players’ careers.
Manfred will chip away at every facet of this game we love if it means making an extra buck for the owners. That he’s spending an unnecessary lockout driven by ownership greed having respected reporters fired because he’s sensitive to the lightest criticism shows what a terrible leader he is, and bravo to the players brave enough to say so.
Rosenthal deserves better. Baseball deserves better.
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