Pete Rose's Ghost Says Rob Manfred Should Piss Off

Everyone knows that Pete Rose was Major League Baseball's Hit Leader.

Everyone knows that he was banned from MLB for life for gambling.

Today, from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred: “In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served. Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game."

Oh, Mr. Manfred is so, so clever.

Over a hundred years after Baseball named Kenesaw Mountain Landis as its first commissioner, all of a sudden, Manfred is re-interpreting what a lifetime ban is.

Listen, I know Pete Rose was jagged around the edges, like a piece of broken glass, but this is from his last interview before he died: "I've come to the conclusion -- I hope I'm wrong -- that I'll make the Hall of Fame after I die,'' Rose said in the interview, which took place 10 days before his death. "Which I totally disagree with, because the Hall of Fame is for two reasons: your fans and your family. That's what the Hall of Fame is for. Your fans and your family. And it's for your family if you're here. It's for your fans if you're here. Not if you're 10 feet under. You understand what I'm saying? What good is it going to do me or my fans if they put me in the Hall of Fame couple years after I pass away? What's the point? What's the point? Because they'll make money over it?''

Rose was right.

Some argue Pete Rose was a jerk. Well guess what? Putting him in the Hall right after his death is a jerk-move.

Baseball was considered America's Pastime, probably up to the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. Did that have anything to do with Pete Rose? No. Another reason baseball has lost its popularity is because, 80% of the time, the teams with the highest payroll go to the playoffs. Again, nothing to do with Rose.

The # 1 reason baseball is declining in popularity is because most baseball games are rarely on free TV. The casual fan has been ignored and an entire generation has walked away from the sport. Some websites have reported that baseball has now fallen to third in a poll of America's most popular sports.

Rob Manfred installed the pitch clock to make baseball more popular. It did nothing.

You heard Rose's own words, it's almost like Manfred is putting him in the Hall after his death for spite. But I have to be clear, Manfred did this for ALL the players who had lifetime suspensions.

You want to talk to someone much angrier than I? From the USA Today's Bob Nightengale: "Apparently it’s OK to gamble on baseball now, even those involving your own team, while making a mockery out of the sport’s most sacred rule. You want to cheat, lie, go to prison for tax evasion and be accused of statutory rape, hey, all is forgiven. You learn in journalism school that you can’t libel the dead. Who knew that once you’re dead, all could be forgiven too?"

Reinstating Pete won't make baseball popular again either.

I hope that Pete Rose Jr. accepts an invitation to speak on behalf of his Father at the Hall of Fame and simply steps to the podium and says "my Dad said all of you should fuck off."

And walks away....

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Editor's Note: Peter Rose, a walking contradiction.