Red Sox News: MLB Commissioner says investigation of 2018 is complete

The Boston Red Sox have been waiting for months for the investigation into their championship season to be completed. Rob Mandred says it’s ready, sort of.

Hello again, friends! With the baseball season on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak there’s been a serious lack of fresh news to talk about. Well, there was a change to the quiet seas yesterday as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke on a number of topics, including the investigation into the 2018 Red Sox.

You know, the one that started in January and has yet to be officially completed even though it’s lasted longer that the investigation into the Houston Astros. I hate to sound salty here, but it’s pretty ridiculous that it’s taken the MLB longer to look into what may be hearsay allegations versus a multi-year well thought out cheating operation by Houston.

So, what exactly is the update in regards to what the MLB has found in the way of Boston’s possible cheating? Um, well, we have no idea. You see Red Sox Nation, the Commissioner says the investigation is completed, but he hasn’t had the time to write up the report yet.

I fully understand that he’s under pressure from the owners, fans, players, and MLBPA to create some solution while the coronavirus pandemic is still running rampant. However, this excuse just seems insanely unbelievable to me.

You’re telling me this investigation that’s taken TWO MONTHS is done but you can’t type up your findings quick? There are no interns or assistants that you can give a summary to that can type this thing up for ya?

Hell, you could just speak your findings into the universe and have someone transcribe them into a report for you. It just feels like another excuse from the MLB’s highest official in a long line of fumbles this offseason.

I’ll admit that I’ve been pretty harsh on Rob Manfred during this ordeal with the Red Sox, but he’s also brought most of the criticism upon himself. Between the terrible manner in which he handled the entire Houston saga and now the botched look into Boston, my guy isn’t looking too hot.

There was no way to predict what was coming in the way of the coronavirus and that should absolutely take priority, but this case should’ve been closed weeks ago.

Let’s think about it, the lid was blown off this thing because of alleged misuse of the MLB provided replay by the Red Sox during the 2018 regular season. These rooms were put into the ballpark by the MLB and were left unmonitored until the postseason.

“We are done with the investigation,” Manfred said. “There has been a delay in terms of producing a written report just because I, frankly, have not had time to turn to it with the other issues. But we will get a Boston report out before we resume play.”

So, the league left a plate of fresh cookies on the counter and told the players to not eat them, then left the room. And if you think it was just Boston using the room then I have news for you. Oh, let’s not forget that the Yankees were also mentioned in the piece by The Athletic, but supposedly stopped using the replay rooms because the Commish asked nicely. Right.

Manfred then claimed that he would have his reports completed by the end of January or the first week of February at the latest. That deadline came and went in the blink of an eye and he then claimed he’d be ready before players reported to camp. Welp missed that date too. Soon he’d claim he’d have his findings completed by the beginning of spring training, wrong again.

Eventually, his self-imposed deadlines would become: before spring training games, the last week of February, the first week of March, and before Opening Day. We would soon be hit with COVID-19 and the investigation became an afterthought until yesterday. Many, myself included, expected the pandemic to become the main focus of the Commissioner and that the hunt into 2018 would just fall by the wayside. I was wrong.

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Supposedly the investigation is complete and just needs to be typed up. If only there was enough time in the day! Again, I know I’m coming off incredibly harsh on the MLB’s head honcho but his excuse just sounds silly. Anyone can type a report, it doesn’t have to be Mandred himself, just give the notes to a trusted employee and have ’em work it out.

The Red Sox mutually parted ways with Alex Cora as the news of the Astros debacle came down the pipeline. Many will say he was fired, but rumors after the fact made it seem that FSG wanted to retain the skipper. Both sides have mutual respect for one another but it seemed like the only decision at the time.

Former bench coach Ron Roenicke is now the interim skipper and it felt like he may be keeping the seat warm until Cora served his punishment and could return. With the 2020 season in heavy doubt, it’s hard to know what AC’s fate will be. Manfred says his report will be made public before regular-season games are to be played, again, whenever that may be.

This investigation has been looming over the Red Sox since January and has played a role in their offseason dealings whether it’s admitted or not. With possible suspensions, fines, and draft implications, there’s no way it couldn’t have. The MLB’s search into the 2018 team has gone on long enough and it’s time that the Commissioner just knuckles-up and shares what he’s got, whatever that may be.