Rob Manfred refrains from criticizing Fox as a partner of Major League Baseball, leaving ESPN to speculate about the commissioner’s intentions. During an appearance on Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo’s SiriusXM Radio show before MLB’s Opening Day, Manfred expressed disappointment in ESPN’s treatment of the sport while simultaneously praising his relationship with Fox.
In the same interview, Russo called out Fox for remotely broadcasting the season-opening MLB Tokyo Series in Japan, which featured the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. He questioned, “Can Fox and FS1 show up live in Tokyo as a partner? Is that fair? They are your partner. They’re paying Brady $365 million. Can they do us all a favor…can they send a couple of broadcasters to Tokyo? I’ll pay it for Christ’s sake!” This raises a valid concern; it seems reasonable for Manfred to be disappointed that Fox didn’t prioritize the MLB Tokyo Series, especially with a star player like Shohei Ohtani in focus. However, Manfred refused to support Russo’s critique, stating, “It will be a cold day in hell before you hear me criticize Fox as a partner. I will tell you, they are heaven and they continue to be the best possible partner. Now, it’s like being married; do I agree with every single decision they make? No, I don’t. But on balance, Fox does right by our game.”
In contrast, Manfred expressed a different sentiment regarding ESPN, particularly after the network opted out of the last three seasons of their contract with MLB. He didn’t hesitate to address MLB’s fracturing relationship with ESPN, saying, “There was a level of dissatisfaction on our part. It started with the end of Baseball Tonight. I think if you watch ESPN, and I do, where we appear on SportsCenter in the morning, there were issues there, too. You know, there was a level of dissatisfaction.” However, one must wonder about Fox’s coverage; where is their version of Baseball Tonight? How much discussion on baseball is included in the shows of Emmanuel Acho, Colin Cowherd, and Nick Wright on FS1?
While Fox can be criticized for inadequate MLB coverage on their studio shows and for not sending a broadcast crew to Japan for the MLB Tokyo Series, they also faced criticism for moving the NLCS to FS1 in favor of The Masked Singer last season. Although Manfred doesn’t have to publicly denounce Fox, there are relevant criticisms to address. His steadfast support of Fox appears less about genuine appreciation and more like an effort to send a message to ESPN.
