Rob Manfred - A's protest lags behind 'decade worth of inaction' - ESPN

LONDON — Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred says one big turnout by Oakland Athletics fans doesn't change «a decade worth of inaction» as he defended earlier comments about the «reverse boycott» held in protest of the team's proposed move to Las Vegas.

Manfred said he was taken out of context when he sarcastically praised the 27,759 fans for amounting to "almost an average Major League Baseball crowd" for a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13 at the Coliseum.

Speaking Friday at a news conference ahead of a weekend series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs in London, Manfred said the A's had not submitted a relocation application and there is no deadline for when he wants clubs to vote.

«My comment about Oakland was that I feel sorry for the fans, that it was my initial and — preference that we find a solution in Oakland,» Manfred said when asked if he had regrets about his remarks. «The comment that I made about the fans on a particular night was taken out of context of those two larger remarks: I feel sorry for the fans. We hate to move. We did everything we could possibly do to keep the club in Oakland. Unfortunately, one night doesn't change a decade worth of inaction.»

Following an owners meeting June 15, Manfred had said of the A's turnout: «I mean, it was great. It's great to see what is this year almost an average Major League Baseball crowd in the facility for one night. That's a great thing.»

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies will play a two-game series in London next season as MLB takes another rivalry abroad.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the June 8-9 games at London Stadium on Friday, ahead of this weekend's series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago