Let’s remember, baseball is not real life: they are a monopoly and operate within their own rules, not by the U.S. Constitution or local/regional laws that govern us (not directly anyway). If baseball wants to change their rules, they can do so with impunity whether we or the players like it or not. Not that it means players can assault or murder each other on or off the field, but they can fight and be suspended as long as baseball wants to, and be as hypocritical as they want to about it because it’s really a bottom-line business with anti-trust exemption.

I believe the only way real change in baseball that players and fans alike can get on board with can only happen if the fans stop spending money on baseball. If the owners got ticked off about the money they would suddenly be losing, a host of changes would be made asap starting with Manfred “stepping down”. But right now, as sports writers convince baseball fandom that this sort of bloodlust is good for baseball, the owners will breathe a sigh of relief and continue counting the gate tickets and merchandising revenue as always; maybe even more so because they expect an influx of train wreck-gawkers and justice-seekers hoping hoping to witness Houston getting crushed by every other team in existence.

As for the players, they’ll settle down after a few weeks of venting and headhunting and be about trying to win, which apparently it’s always been about with them. Sports media will continue to stir the pot, but more often than not it will be uneventful until the post-season, depending on whether or not Houston makes it there. A lot of teams are not going to risk making huge statements by allowing their prized players to risk injury fighting a team not worthy of their respect; even so, players will police themselves, seeing that the commissioner won’t do it.

In the back of my mind, I wonder how any player can take anything Manferd says seriously at this point, but when the season starts, they’ll include him in their order and hope that he maintains it along the lines of what they expect. If not, [3] there just may be a big push by the players and fans to see him removed, but that will only be addressed if the fans and advertisers stop buying into baseball (and I mean a precipitous drop in revenue similar to a strike). Manfred’s safe for now, as long as he can keep a better handle on his mouth.

I’m trying to square my view on this with adult, civil tendencies. If one of us punched the other on the street I’d agree it was a crime. But whatever it is about me — atavism, romance, projection? — that permits the inconsistency, I don’t see sports the same way. Whenever someone posts a link to the the Benitez-Tino fight for whatever reason, I watch. Yeah, Graeme Lloyd, you go dude.

You’re stepping into that arena not only to participate in The Game according to The Rules, but also a century and a half of established normative culture.

And in that culture, some guys gotta wear one every once in a while.

Manfred should know that. Should have known that. What happens next is on him.