Rozner: So far, new MLB boss nothing like old one

For 16 years, Rob Manfred walked in Bud Selig's shadow.

And for 16 years, Manfred matched his boss stride for stride, in lockstep with a commissioner who had his head in the sand when he wasn't pretending to be misunderstood, misinformed and misconstrued.

For 22 years, the "temporary" boss of baseball alternated between all three stooges, often representing more than one at a time.

Quite the show it was.

All the while, Manfred was there, supporting, defending and often propping up Selig, never worse than when Manfred testified before the House Government Reform Committee in Washington.

While Selig pretended he'd never heard of steroids - or even baseball for that matter - Manfred came off worse, not shy with his contempt for Congress or irritation with lawmakers.

At one point, congressman Christopher Shays fired at all the parties, saying, "It boggles the mind that you would send us a drug policy and that the document is wrong. It's just sloppy. You guys are the best lawyers around. It's a drafting error? That, to me, is unbelievable."

Manfred was MLB's chief labor lawyer and it was his biggest moment in the spotlight.

Until now.

He became the 10th commissioner of MLB in January and there was no indication that Manfred would be any better than Selig, any more aware that the calendar had flipped to a new millennium - 15 years ago.

So far, nothing could be further from the truth, and Manfred couldn't be any more different unless he openly announced, "I am not Bud Selig and I intend to show you every day that I will not be Bud Selig."

Manfred has an open mind, which is such a shocking change of posture for the top officer in the game that one had to first assume it was merely for show.

But it is - so far - nothing of the sort.

Manfred appears willing to listen to just about anyone on anything, taking ideas willingly and commenting on them frequently. He answers questions and pitches new concepts, sometimes crazy ones, throwing stuff against the wall with amazing rapidity.

And so what if he occasionally sounds goofy? He's willing to think out loud and - most crucial - outside the box.

First and foremost, Manfred knows baseball has a dangerous demographic problem, and he's looking for ways to address it.

His goal ought to be ensuring that no game is ever again blacked out, not in any city, in any state, in any country or on any continent.

If someone wants to pay for the MLB package, they should be able to watch those games at any time in any venue on any device, be it a television, a phone, a tablet or a laptop, even if the person who paid is also in the ballpark that night.

Anyplace, anytime, anywhere.

There's simply no excuse for blackouts and nothing turns off a young person faster than telling them they can't use their phones to watch something.

Manfred is working on this and there may be some limitations to his authority, but he shouldn't stop until he gets this done.

Anyplace, anytime, anywhere.

Manfred immediately started working on the many things Selig ignored for a decade, and he will certainly make some mistakes as he tries to fix problems, but at least he's trying and that's something his boss rarely did.

He's willing to embrace old ideas and new, while taking into consideration the implications and potential pitfalls, but it doesn't stop him from pondering the possibilities.

Manfred is even willing to consider Pete Rose's request for reinstatement, saying, "I'm prepared to deal with that request on its merits."

Selig never budged an inch on Rose and never considered it, so this is a major step forward and shows Manfred's willingness to keep an open mind to consider serious change.

Manfred has already said Rose can play a part in this year's All-Star Game in Cincinnati, which is as much a gift to Reds fans as it is a lifeline for Rose. It's a stunning move and one that was long overdue.

It appears Manfred is full of surprises and that's at worst a breath of fresh air and perhaps at best it's exactly what baseball needs, someone who understands change is necessary, adapting and evolving with the times or risk dying a slow sporting death.

I expected nothing of the sort and happily admit to being wrong, while offering humble apologies to the new commissioner.

Here's hoping, Mr. Manfred, that you do not stop with merely words.

brozner@dailyherald.com

•Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.