You don’t get hired to protect the interests of powerful billionaires by being stupid.



Rob Manfred is not stupid.



It also seems unlikely that you get the job if you are particularly abstemious. Empires do not get built by counting one’s wealth and thinking “Okay, that’s probably enough”. Empires have big appetites, and they require labor, the cheaper the better. Major League Baseball’s $46.105 billion dollar1 empire is no different. Making sure the owners get maximized profits means feeding the beast with the cheapest fuel available. Furthermore, a Commissioner’s job entails smiling, looking the public in the face and telling them you are providing the workers with a unique opportunity to see what’s inside the beast.



Manfred is good at his job.



Speaking on Opening Day in Arlington, Texas last week, Manfred answered questions about the league’s justification for spending $1.32 million on...