SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — His world has gone somewhat mad, and some of it is self-inflicted, and every couple days now Rob Manfred gets to stand up in front of everyone and defend his world as being somewhat less mad than it looks.
By Tuesday late afternoon here the commissioner appeared winded. His voice lacked its usual crackle. His tone was muted, starting with an apology for recently calling the Commissioner’s Trophy a “piece of metal,” which he explained as a misguided and regrettable “rhetorical point.” He also revealed his belief, based on player interviews, that the Houston Astros did indeed employ their system of live feeds and trash cans through the 2017 postseason, presumably straight through their World Series championship.