It’s been a wildcouple of days in sports. The Milwaukee Bucks created a snowball effect as they decided to boycott their NBA playoffs game vs. the Orlando Magic, a decision that led to WNBA, MLS, and MLB players to join them in their protest.
Several teams decided to not play on Wednesday and even though the NBA reached an agreement with team owners Thursday morning, others MLB Clubs decided to join in the protest for yesterday’s games as well, including the New York Mets.
That’s when things got ugly between the Mets and MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, as New York’s GM Brodie Van Wagenen publically called out Manfred and accused him of ‘not getting it’ as he allegedly proposed that the game was played an hour later instead of not played at all.
Robert Manfred Posted A Blunt Statement
Robert Manfred was quick to let everybody know that he hadn’t made that or any kind of suggestion, reaffirming that he fully supports the players’ decision to not play as a mean of protest:
“Over the past two days, players on a number of Clubs have decided to not play games. I said both publically and privately that I respect those decisions and support the need to address social injustice. I have not attempted in any way to prevent players from expressing themselves by not playing, nor have I suggested any alternative form of protest to any Club personnelor any player. Any suggestion to contrary is wrong,” the statement read.
Van Wagenen Apologized, Blamed Mets’ Owner Jeff Wilpon
Turns out that Manfred had never said anything like that and it was Mets’ majority owner Jeff Wilpon the one to make that suggestion, as he was reportedly ‘worried’ about the team’s schedule situation.
Brodie Van Wagenen then posted a statement apologizing to Robert Manfred and stating that he misunderstood that the suggestion had come from the commissioner, showing yet another example of how dysfunctional the Mets are as an organization right now.
Both Jeff and Fred Wilpon posted statements of their own showing their support and good relationship with Robert Manfred and throwing Van Wagenen under the bust for his hot-mic comments.
The New York Mets look lost as an organization right now and that’s why Álex Rodríguez and a group of investors areso eager to take the team away from the Wilpons. Hopefully, they’ll succeed.