MLB Fans Express Outrage on Social Media After Rob Manfred Cancels Games

Baseball fans were not pleased with the commissioner after he announced he was canceling the first week of regular season games.

After MLB‘s owners and players could not come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the league‘s Tuesday afternoon deadline, commissioner Rob Manfred announced he would be canceling the first week of regular season games. Players from around the league were incensed—and so were the fans.

As big-name players took to social media to rip Manfred and the league for allowing the standoff to reach this point, fans did the same, creating a wave of social media content wrought with negativity at a sport that’s already done much to alienate its supporters.

"I am going to cancel some regular season games."

–– MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred pic.twitter.com/I15H1RBEHf

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 1, 2022

The MLBPA released a statement criticizing Manfred and the owners’ negotiating tactics, pledging that the union will outlast and overcome the obstacles to strike a fair deal for the players.

“What Rob Manfred characterized as a ‘defensive lockout’ is, in fact, the culmination of a decades-long attempt by owners to break out Player fraternity,” the union said, in part. “As in the past, this effort will fail. We are united and committed to negotiating a fair deal that will improve the sport for Players, fans and everyone who loves our game.”

Manfred’s comments, though—particularly his assertion that the concerns of the fans were “at the very top of our consideration list”—struck a chord with those who follow the game. Check out some of the standout reactions below:

MLB owners have threatened to cancel baseball in April because they know a month of missed games won't meaningfully impact their bottom line.

Meanwhile, 40,000 minimum wage stadium workers will start losing paychecks as soon as one day of baseball is canceled.

Just shameful.

— Tipping Pitches (@tipping_pitches) March 1, 2022

What happened today in baseball is a representation of how Rob Manfred and the owners in the MLB don’t care about baseball, it’s history, the players, the fans, and their respective communities. It is about profit, and the previously mentioned is just a way they drive more of it.

— Rob Bultman (@RobertBultman) March 2, 2022

If you missed Rob Manfred's press conference, here's a gist of it pic.twitter.com/oWhCgSeayz

— Justin Rouzier | BLM (@JRooz_) March 2, 2022

Rob Manfred pic.twitter.com/vRjz4xEftS

— Danny Saint (@CenterStageDS) March 2, 2022

RT if you’d be better as commissioner than Robby Manfred

— Big Red Machine (@BigRedTweeter) March 2, 2022

Reminder: MLB Network fired @Ken_Rosenthal because he made Rob Manfred angry. #FireManfred #BoycottMLB https://t.co/enIzz6g1DA

— SFGiantsGuy (@SFGiantsGuy_) March 2, 2022

Really disappointed that @mlb, rob manfred, and the owners (really all the same entity) are choosing to keep games from fans instead of making a fair deal with the players.

— Patrick Dowd (@jpdowd) March 2, 2022

Rob Manfred doesn't like baseball.

— Free Agent | Maximoose (@Maximoose31) March 2, 2022

@ Rob Manfred pic.twitter.com/jHk0ysVRhV

— Amy☀️ (@__amyS) March 2, 2022