MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was on FS1's Breakfast Ball and he was asked about the Sox's future in Chicago.
He envisions the Sox staying in Chicago. It is hard to breathe a sigh of relief as his brief answer alludes to him possibly parroting a Jerry Reinsforf talking point.
Analyzing his comments about the park's location means he could be on the side of Jerry instead of the fans.
Reinsdorf has used Bridgeport as a reason for wanting to move to the South Loop. He does not feel that the Bridgeport neighborhood is posh enough to financially support the Sox long-term. Even though the Sox have been in that neighborhood for 124 years.
The location has also fought stereotypes of the area being unsafe for decades, even though the neighborhood, especially around the ballpark, in reality, is relatively safe. There are plenty of empty parking lots that can be developed around a still useful Guaranteed Rate Field after it was renovated two decades ago.
Hey, the Rate faces the Dan Ryan when the new park could face the famous Chicago Skyline--like what New Comiskey Park should have had in the first place.
However, Jerry was reportedly against Manfred becoming the commissioner back in 2014.
Manfred could see this as the perfect way to get back at Reinsdorf for trying to get in the way of Rob moving up into the big seat--even if Manfred might not like baseball.
Jerry was one of the owners who led the charge against Manfred in the 2014 commissioner vote and I could see him awarding the expansion team to Nashville out of spite. https://t.co/39MaYQJoVT
— Rob Hart (@RobHartWBBM) October 23, 2024