I wonder if Manfred told Crane, instead of me banning them or giving them a long suspension(which would essentially force you to hire new people), you should fire them, even if you don't want to. By you firing them, to the public, it'll look like you don't tolerate this and you're ready to clean up the mess. By firing them, it'll help the team moving forward. Although I don't think it helped so what would have happened if Crane rehired those 2? Punishment was already handed out, it's not like Manfred be like actually, the 1 season suspension is now x amount of years. And also I've decided to take away more draft picks.
It may have been strongly suggested... but seeing how they've bungled every other issue since then, I wouldn't expect much resistance had the Astros decided not to go along with their suggestions, or chose to hire them back. Cora now in talks to re-join Red Sox... Manfred does not wield any power compared to commissioners in other sports.
The deal was the Astros level of punishment was in part dependent on the Astros letting them go. I agree with you that he could now hire them back and likely face no consequences other than PR
The louder the public roars, the more they want. In this case, the media so hyped the whole ordeal, players and ex-players whined and columnist and youtube sports guys threw gasoline on it. Yea, the roaring got loud and they wanted more alright.
Most people that believe that are most people in general in the sense that what passes for fact these days is what they hear the most often from the internet.
Bring back Hinch, oh wait. Cora who was with 2 different sign stealing teams and a known ring leader on one of them still won't get as much vitriol as Hinch.
