Instead, its reflex has always been to protect the wrongdoers in its ranks from discipline, routinely pushing back against all kinds of fines and suspensions pursuant to their collectively bargained rights.
This, though, is something entirely different. We hear it in the simmering anger directed against all of those known to be involved in the scheme and those who encouraged and enabled it. It strikes at something seemingly fundamental to the aggrieved, and there's recourse right in front of them. They can act to protect their members who don't cheat from those who do.
You want justice, players? Then come up with your own new rules and regulations regarding such things, including specific punishments. You want individual awards stripped or All-Star bonuses paid back, playoff shares docked and open naming of names? Write it all down, and drop it on Manfred's desk. If there's one thing we can say for certain about him, it's that he loves nothing more than for others to do his job for him. There's something close to a rubber stamp waiting for whatever you might propose.
There does appear to be some movement in this regard, if we take the MLBPA at its word. In a statement Tuesday that denied Manfred's claims that the union actively impeded baseball's investigation of the Astros, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark weighed in.
"Over the last two weeks, the Association and MLB have had regular dialogue on potential rule changes affecting sign stealing, in-game technology and video, data access and usage, club audits and disclosures, player education, and enforcement – including the potential for player discipline," Clark said. "Written proposals have been exchanged, and we have made it clear to MLB that no issue is off the table, including player discipline."
Even if the two adverse parties can reach some kind of substantive deal, there's no way of knowing how far along these discussions may be or how rapidly new regulations could be enacted and then enforced. What complicates matters is the larger negotiation of the next CBA after the current one expires at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Any cooperation here can't be taken as concession, and it's possible the union will want to present whatever anti-cheating platform it has as a good-faith deposit to be redeemed down the road.
The union can implement internal measures even without MLB. It can make it easier for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing and create awareness initiatives that begin from the moment a player joins their ranks. Build a culture that avoids the unfortunate arms race of rule-breaking, the one in which baseball has found itself that causes otherwise ethical competitors to feel there's no choice but to do bad business and then use that atmosphere to justify it.
They can catalyze real change that matters far more than all the words. If Manfred won't lead, the players themselves should.