SEAside Thoughts: Derby, Ohtani, the All-Star game, and a Week to Remember for Seattle

A fun MLB draft and a pouty commissioner 

The Mariners had a fantastic draft. They took 3 top 30 picks in a historically deep draft and drafted three extremely talented and athletic high school hitters in Colt Emerson, Jonny Farmelo, and Tai Peete. 

Drafting athletes who play up the middle early in the draft can be a very successful path to building a strong, sustainable winner, and is a philosophy that Seattle has zeroed in on. Since Logan Gilbert was drafted in 2018, the Mariners have drafted pitchers, a catcher, a center fielder, and three shortstops with their first round picks. I love it.

The fans let Houston and Rob Manfred hear it at the draft. As loud as fans cheered for Ken Griffey Jr and Raul Ibanez at the draft, they jeered the embattled commissioner and the cheaters with the trash cans.

The boo's to Rob Manfred were clearly affecting him (he didn't stay for the All-Star MVP trophy presentation which is weak), but speaks to a larger issue and realization. Rob Manfred will never be remembered for anything more than his failure in handling the Astros cheating scandal. From the lack of investigation resources, to the pathetic lack of punishment, and the disrespectful comments regarding the World Series trophy, Manfred has a black mark that will never fade. If he wasn't as rude, socially awkward and dismissive of the players as he is, he'd still never have that mark fade. 

It's been half a decade and you saw at the draft how much hate the duo of Manfred and Houston share. He literally changed the way baseball is played, and will still be remembered for his embarrassing performance at the most important moment of his career. At some point, the owners have to step in and let someone else become commissioner. Rob Manfred is a black eye on and disgrace to baseball.