SCORECARD
“One hundred percent,” he said.
“Resolved one way or another. I’m not
looking to make news here, but we’ve
been at it a long time in both places.
We’ve shown some great loyalties to the
existing cities. I hope that loyalty pays
off by getting something done.
But something needs to get done in
both places.”
CHOOSE A PREFERRED
EMERGING MARKET
MLB sponsors baseball in 450 schools
in India and China. “I think at some
point we’re going to have to make a
decision where we allocate more chips,”
he said.
In the meantime, Manfred plans more
regular season games in Europe, Mexico
and the Far East.
CONSIDER CHANGES TO REGULAR AND
POSTSEASON SCHEDULING
“I think I’m fortunate,” Manfred said,
“in that I have a group of owners
without exception that recognizes the
need to be open-minded to those kinds
of changes over the next five years.”
All of those issues leave Manfred
with a pretty full plate—and yet he
answered quickly with another problem
when asked to identify his biggest
challenge. “[It’s] the next generation—
in terms of consumption habits, both
live and in media.”
What is it about potential young
consumers that most worries the
commissioner? “Their attention span,”
he said. “My kids are actually older than
what I’m really worried about, because
they’re 26 to 34. But I watch even them.
The idea of sitting down and watching a
two-hour, 30-minute movie is different
for them than it is for me. The [younger
they are], the more of a challenge it is.”
Technology created the greatest
changes in baseball in Manfred’s first
five years. The next five will bring
far more. It’s up to Manfred to make
sure the sport doesn’t lose this hyper-
engaged generation. ±
Spring Fever
BASEBALL
OFFSEASON
RIGHTHANDER GERRIT
COLE, 29, will debut as
a Yankee after signing
the richest contract
for a pitcher: $
million over nine years.
With those megabucks
come expectations: to
become the first Yankee
in seven years to log
200 innings; to break
Ron Guidry’s 42-year-
old team strikeout
record (248); and to
deliver New York’s first
title in 11 seasons.
ANGELS centerfielder
Mike Trout has a
new wingman: third
baseman Anthony
Rendon, who left D.C.
to take a seven-year,
$245 million deal.
Trout has never played
with anyone who
posted a qualified
OPS better than .859.
past three years: .937,
.909 and 1.010.
UNTIL 2017, no
season ever featured
more than six rookies
with 20 homers. It has
happened every year
since (seven each in
2017 and ’19 and 10
in ’18). Who might join
the ranks of plug-and-
play stars such as Cody
Bellinger, Aaron Judge,
Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan
Soto, Pete Alonso
and Yordan Álvarez?
Start with White Sox
outfielder Luis Robert,
22; Angels outfielder
Jo Adell, 20; and
Rays infielder Wander
Franco, 19 in March.
BANK ON IT: A team
with a losing 2019
record will make the
playoffs. It’s happened
1995; last year’s Twins
were the latest such
turnaround team.
Best bets to continue
the run: White Sox,
Reds, Angels, Rangers
and Padres.
EIGHT NEW managers
are in place. Carlos
Beltran (Mets), David
Ross (Cubs), Derek
Shelton (Pirates) and
Jayce Tingler (Padres)
continue the trend
of new hires with
no experience. The
veterans: Joe Maddon
(Angels), Mike Matheny
(Royals), Joe Girardi
(Phillies) and Gabe
Kapler (Giants).
CONTINUING its
push to create regular
season “events,” MLB
will play games in
Puerto Rico (Mets-
Marlins), London
(Cubs-Cardinals),
Williamsport, Pa.
(Red Sox-Orioles),
and Dyersville, Iowa
FOR THE first time in 95 years, a season opens
with Washington as the defending champion.
If that alone doesn’t suggest a world of
possibilities for 2020, consider the following:
ERICK W
. RASCO (BO
DY); CARLO
S M
. SA
AVEDRA (H
EAD); PH
OTO ILLUSTRATIO
N BY DAN LARKIN
