Crisis lessons from MLB and the Astros
After a cheating scandal rocked Major League Baseball, a series of response gaffes has made a seismic reputational disaster even worse. Here’s what one communications pro says went awry.
It’s been a nightmarish offseason for Major League Baseball.
Over the winter break, allegations came out that players had been using electronic equipment to steal signs and gain an unfair advantage in the run-up to the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series win.
The league investigated, and many involved have been punished. (Other teams have fired or withdrawn job offers from former Astros coaches.)
However, the league did not revoke the 2017 title, a potential step that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred deemed “unprecedented.” However, his words sparked outrage from many MLB players and even from iconic athletes in other sports.
Listen I know I don’t play baseball but I am in Sports and I know if someone cheated me out of winning the title and I found out about it I would be F*^king irate! I mean like uncontrollable about what I would/could do! Listen here baseball commissioner listen to your…..
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 18, 2020
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