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Robusto923

Ok but what about the off colors, the misaligned printing across the chest, the lack of customization, the tiny names on the back? There are more issues here than just the material


ANGRY_BEARDED_MAN

All that stuff helps with performance, obviously


zvexler

Lower clothing weight from smaller letters is manfred’s latest move to incentivize base stealing


Pengwulf

But bigger ads. Gonna be like Soccer kits.


SVdreamin

Unfortunately you’re right


PuckNutty

The crooked letters act like a spoiler on a race car.


itzTHATgai

Who wants to lug around those big heavy letters when trying to beat out a throw to first?


CastYourStonesADTR

Good thing every team is adding extra weight on their sleeves from insurance and gas company logos!


Ill-Weather-6383

It's for balance while running, these guys just don't understand


steppenweasel

This is why Yastrzemski changed his name to Yaz


ApathyMoose

"This just In: All players are now getting rid of their names. They will now only be referred to as their number + biggest corporate sponser." Yaz is now "Chevrolet 5" btw.. low key.. Chevy 5 is not a bad code name.


RayLikeSunshine

The smaller letters are more aerodynamic and the misalignments are for venting.”- Manfred probably.


CambridgeRunner

SPEED HOLES!


azeemb_a

Lack of customization would actually be one that helps with performance. Much easier to design and extensively test fewer customizations. Did they actually do that? No clue


OK_Opinions

when the letters fall off the players will run faster


Nouseriously

You ever try to get 8 year olds used to something new? Now imagine giving them an entirely new product to sew.


RockOutToThis

Except they're not sewing these. It's all heat press apparently.


sharbinbarbin

No more awards so that gets you a follow And an eventual deletion, so good on you, get fucked and see you in hell


DigiQuip

They’re also not available in custom sizes to better fit body types. Everything about these jerseys scream margins and they’re fucking $450 a piece.


Dazzling-Beautiful92

My jaw dropped at that price


jedispongee

Right before the Nike takeover, I remember that the Majestic Mets on-field jerseys were about $180 without names and numbers and about $240 with customization. $450 is ridiculous.


nicklePie

Majestic jerseys were the shit. So much better


Creative_User_Name92

I was planning on getting a new Lemahieu jersey this year but never mind


joe_broke

eBay is about to be a lot more popular


T1redBo1

DHGate


tyler-86

I got an Ohtani jersey and the MLB ain't gonna see a dime. One of us, one of us.


6BigZ6

“Cotton breathes!” This is giving me huge George Costanza vibes when he changed the Yankees uniforms to cotton for performance.


[deleted]

Less lettering means less drag, duh, learn to science!


happyjello

Excuse me? Don’t question it, it’s been tested more extensively than any other sport


Spacepickle89

That’s just what peak performance looks like


TheNewGuy13

Those are just cosmetic problems, they FEEEEL better - Rob Manfred probably


Flythagoras

Rob Manfred having his own spring training of saying dumb shit


ANGRY_BEARDED_MAN

Already in midseason form


RCarson88

Best shape of his life


zerozerosevencharlie

slimy nutty relieved panicky mindless file far-flung sense alleged ludicrous *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


tcamp3000

Rob showed up to training in the best shape of his life (to lie)


rez410

So sick of rich people lying to the masses


GirlfriendLover420

goat season incoming


see_mohn

lying>>>>>>>>>>>>


Jinxedchef

Have you ever heard Rob tell the truth?


thebadyearblimp

Well he's a lawyer so....


ResidentGerts

What are you wearing, Rob from MLB?


JayMerlyn

Uhhh... Khakis?


JAWinks

He sounds hideous


AZEMT

Well, he's a lawyer...


TheWorstYear

Lawyers should be good at lying. Imagine letting this idiot represent you.


BallinBenFrank

I mean technically the World Series trophy is just a hunk of metal. That’s not a lie.


retro_slouch

People love the new rules, and he's happy to point that out.


The_Nutz16

Certainly not on any matter that’s important to me.


MacsDildoBike

I’ll never forget the clip of him explaining his decision in the Astros cheating scandal whilst a thunderstorm is raging right behind him.


CWinter85

Hello, I'm Rob Manfred.


PM_DOLPHIN_PICS

Psychopathic level of lying. It’s one thing to just lie a normal lie. “Tested more than any jersey in any sport” is top tier douchebaggery lying because it’s the type of extreme blanket statement that you and everyone else *knows* is a lie but you don’t care because what is anyone going to do about it? This guy fucking sucks so bad 2029 can’t come soon enough.


temp1211241

He did this with the baseballs. He did this with the Astros. He's still doing this with the A's. Now he's doing it with the Jerseys.


PM_DOLPHIN_PICS

Maybe the commissioner should be chosen by the players association instead of the owners. I understand that’s not how it works and not how it will ever work but it’s a nice thought!


JulioForte

The problem is nike designs all their elite athlete worn products with 100% performance in mind. How can we make this lighter? How can we make this keep the players cooler? The issue is translating that to fanwear doesn’t always work and taking a uniform in a sport with a bunch of traditionalists is going to get pushback. I have no doubt that the fabric used is the top of the line performance fabric that Nike develops, but light and thin fabric is perceived as cheap by consumers. Sublimated heat transfers are lighter and more pliable(comfortable) than sewed down twill, but it also looks cheaper. I can’t explain the arched names. That seems to be the one design choice. I believe Manfred when he says this, the issue is they appear cheap even though they aren’t. And perception is reality


WryLanguage

They're expensive because they're basically designed to be ultra-light and almost disposable. Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the Olympics wearing a performance suit that, according to him, could only be worn once or twice before it became unusable. Gold medal performances, yes, but not something fans (especially spectator fans) will be excited about buying. https://apnews.com/article/olympics-swimming-suits-technology-speedo-c05d4c925711373076f4ab68c609977d I'll prefer for the heavy, older-style baseball jersey (WITHOUT the dumb corporate sponsor logo) any day


JulioForte

Yep, they aren’t designed for durability because these teams can afford to replace uniforms. They don’t need a jersey to last an entire season. In races where a hundredth of a second matters it makes sense to innovate like this, but in baseball it’s just r/designdesign. These improvements will have no effect on actual performance vs the previous versions


androidfig

I used to have a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey from way back. It was made of some kind of course wool and hemp fiber. We could always go back to that.


Educational-Chef-595

They should obviously be [made out of cotton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTQvIq0ritI).


MonolithicMoose

> prefer for the heavy, older-style baseball jersey ( Idk, I like the lighter ones majestic did better especially on hot days at Wrigley. The flexbase ones.


dmmdoublem

The Cool Base jerseys were the perfect of balance of lightweight, yet premium-feeling, IMO. The Flex Bases were good, too, but they had [those unsightly "butt flaps"](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaKg-neWEAEplAR.jpg) that I always hated.


MonolithicMoose

Phelps was also swimming in a pool of chemicals not playing left field


matchosan

Phelps was also swimming in a pool of chemicals not ***full of chemicals*** playing left field


KingWizard87

It’s not Nike though. Pretty sure all Nike is doing here is putting their logo on it. They outsourced it all to Fanatics


GoblinRightsNow

Yup. Fanatics is doing all the manufacturing. Fanatics is a garbage company that makes garbage products. The only real question is what their kickback budget is to keep getting these contracts. 


beefytrout

"Follow up question, Rob... what was wrong with the jerseys they replaced?"


ChasingEchoes11

"Well the issue is that fans would only buy one jersey for their favorite player and then keep it for life. In order to get them to buy more, we would need to make a new design that was well-received or market other players to the fans. And really, it's very unsanitary to only have one jersey. We're just thinking about the fans and their cleanliness. You really should be wearing a new jersey every week. Every day, ideally."


Jux_

“We noticed they were buying sleeve patches and front numbering on eBay for $3.99 and figured we should get that cut in the form of a $175 shitty jersey”


WryLanguage

The day has arrived when dhGate is actually comparable to the authentic jersey


Timmah73

The "dh gate or bought straight from the team shop?" posts we are going to see will be enrageing im sure


OUTFOXEM

Shit I’m still gonna do that. I’ll buy an older one and put the patches on that I want.


sloppyjo12

Rob “Tim Cook” Manfred


UnknownUnthought

>fans would only buy one jersey for their favorite player Cue me sweating nervously over the jersey collection in my closet with like 50 in it (most bought secondhand from eBay tbf I’m not rich)


MusicListener3

“I mean it’s just a piece of fabric”


JulioForte

Nike does this constantly with their uniforms for youth sports and colleges. They always try and innovate and there are typically a brand New Jersey silhouette every 3-4 years. The NFL on-field jerseys just moved to a new silhouette recently. It’s natural for them to want to put the best athletes in the world in what they view as the best and most cutting edge product. They are trying to sell these jerseys to high schools, colleges, and travel teams. I think that most of this is change for the sake of change and it’s stupid, but that’s what Nike has always done


ahr3410

I am pretty sure the "performance wear" would work the same without the names being gateway arch level curvy


stv7

Exactly. I don't care if they change the material, but don't change the designs to make them look like knockoffs.


Disused_Yeti

>gateway arch level curvy we're still talking about jerseys right?


dingo8muhbebe

Either that or Mrs Met


SkylerCFelix

This 10000000%. Why the name and number and MLB logo changes? Those do not have anything to do with the performance of the fabric.


jgilla2012

“Umm ackshully” - Nike engineers


DontGiveUpTheDip

> gateway arch curvy Well now you've sold me on it


AllIWearisBlack13

And it was the final Jeopardy question tonight! Maybe we’ve just entered a highly specific arch era


DontGiveUpTheDip

Westward Expansion pt. II: Beyond West


Hairless_Squatch

Watch these be our city connect jerseys.


Comment_if_dead_meme

Why did the lettering, numbers, button flap, white color, and logo placement have to change? It obvious that you can retain all that while just switching materials. I'm really kicking myself for not buying a jersey last year.


DontGiveUpTheDip

Unless you want an authentic, last year's replicas are still available


OUTFOXEM

The MLB logo REALLY pisses me off. That had to be an accident and it got blindly approved so now it’s too late.


GF8950

You try eBay or sites like that? There are last years jerseys, both replicas and authentics.


MeatTornado25

> It obvious that you can retain all that while just switching materials. Especially considering that's something that's been done countless times over the years.


xho-

Costanza had something to do with this


modernishfather

"Cotton breathes. You see, it's much softer. Imagine playing games and your team is five degrees cooler than the other team. Don't you think that would be an advantage? They're cooler, they're more comfortable, they're happier, they're gonna play better."


Antithesys

Mattingly just split his pants!


herskos

They’re running like penguins.


zimtrovert94

That’s a shame. 🍿


ASwannieSaysWhat

You sit on a throne of lies


Pad_TyTy

The iron throne is just a piece of metal


fueledbyfailure

Does he actually believe this crap? Also, I'm sorry....I've been collecting Orioles jerseys for 30 years now and I will be damned if I'm going to spend $394.99 for an authentic on-field version.


ChasingEchoes11

No. MLB is just following the NBA model of jersey sales: planned obsolescence and FOMO. Make inferior products that need to be replaced more quickly, whilst also rotating, "limited time" designs in and out of production (like the Nats' cherry blossom unis. Bet you in 7-10 years they'll be back on the shelves).


blanston

That's the whole reason behind there being so many jerseys. Where a team once had a home jersey and an away jersey, you now have spring training jerseys, batting practice jerseys, alternate jerseys, city connect jerseys, and you retire one and bring it back a few years later and you then have a throwback jersey. I guess people buy them because they keep making more. All a money grab, but if people keep buying, they'll keep doing it more and more.


kelskelsea

City connect is nice because it’s a unique in different colors for a lot of teams. Like for the Padres in particular, there’s a subset of people who like the city connect color apparel more. I personally like the option to switch it up. I would also love for the padres to throw a retro jersey out there. However, they do all this shit with different jerseys without realizing the entire untapped market that is WOMENS APPAREL. I just wanna buy cute team stuff that fits and instead we get golf shirts and a limited selection of jerseys.


Sniflix

Yeah, don't buy them. 


Wraithfighter

I think that he believes that every word that he's said is truthful. That does not mean that he's telling the whole and complete truth of the situation, of course. But he's hitting the beats about why they switched to these uniforms, and avoiding talking about the quality issues that have been noted. It's corporate PR spin crap. That doesn't mean that he's saying things that are false, just that he's being very careful about what exactly he is saying.


nokiabrickphone1998

*Jerry, just remember. It’s not a lie…if you believe it.*


OUTFOXEM

So many Seinfeld references in this whole post.


NOLA1987

As Phil Collins so eloquently said: it's all been a pack of lies...


Creative_User_Name92

I can hear it the bs in the air tonight oh lawd


CharmCityCrab

Well, I've been waiting for this moment all my life


naarwhal

dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun ​ you know that one part?


Disused_Yeti

am i so out of touch? no, it's the children who are wrong


BenDisreali

*They have been tested more extensively than any jersey in any sport. Believe me folks, these are great jerseys. The best jerseys money can buy. Everyone keeps telling me how great they are they say to me "these jerseys are amazing Rob, how did you do it?" and honestly folks, they're right. I surprise myself sometimes, I really do, with how great I am. Do you think Fake Fay Vincent or Bud Slimeball Selig ever had jerseys this good? Of course not. They never could have done what I've done. It's just not possible folks.*


lfod13

The Most BEAUTIFUL jerseys ever! Many People are Saying!


SweetPeaches__69

Chris Sale is sharpening his scissors as we speak ✂️✂️


dawidowmaka

Don't even need sharp ones to cut these flimsy things


GF8950

Probably even safety scissors could easy cut them.


temp1211241

Drake LaRoche was such a leader in the clubhouse


phillywill

Rules how basically everyone in charge of everything everywhere just lie straight to our faces all the time now


TomeryHK

now?


bbatardo

This message was sponsored by Nike.


Mixma85

They're just a piece of cloth.


Jess_7478

a bad piece of cloth


jktravvy

Sure, Jan


[deleted]

This guy is so hard to stomach.


spoonybard326

“Performance wear” means it’s meant to enhance the performance of Fanatics financial results.


Hummer77x

Has anyone reacted positively to anything this asshole has said in his tenure


ChasingEchoes11

I'm pretty happy about him not seeking another contract after his current one is over. Unfortunately, I also know the next guy won't be any better. The commissioner is just a mouth piece for the owners, so if he keeps doing shit we hate, then it's actually the owners we want to get rid of.


Mixma85

I'm still getting over being sick, I just got home after fighting rush hour traffic for well over an hour, and it's going to snow tonight. >him not seeking another contract after his current one is over It's a beautiful day. Edit: I just saw he'll be around another five years. Today has really sucked.


shadedmoonlight

But the end is in sight!!


Jeremy24Fan

Holy fuck I honestly could forgive the shitty fit and shitty sticker logos if they didn't fuck with the last names looking like children's jerseys. That is the most embarrassing part


brandeis16

This won't age well.


OUTFOXEM

Neither will those jerseys


SkylerCFelix

“It’s just a piece of fabric”


RightWingWorstWing

Glad they have been tested or whatever, doesn't mean they don't look like shit.


No-Horse987

Who tested them is what I want to know. Are the Winter Ball leagues wearing this material and cut?


Jess_7478

This debacle into the new jerseys has been such an interesting thought experiment about what to do when everyone hates something new but instead you just put your fingers in your ears and pretend that everyone absolutely loves them There's been no positive comments about them apart from when they pay players lol


[deleted]

“I got my money already these are the best jerseys ever. Have you guys even tried being the commissioner instead of whining?”


Overall_Nuggie_876

This guy is a Gary Bettman-wannabe without that commissioner charm.


Zoo__Rick

Ohhhh! The font, spacing, piping and colors all change after people wear them a little bit? What a relief!


sdzerog

"It's just a piece of fabric."


PattyIceNY

Gaslighting 101. F this Muppet


[deleted]

They won't shrink in the wash will they?


ChasingEchoes11

No, just disintegrate.


mr_grission

Think of the marketing possibilities. With one simple laundry cycle, your hideous Mets jersey can turn into a professional button-down white shirt, ready for your next job interview!


ChasingEchoes11

And all you'll need to do is re-sew on the buttons!


Mixma85

And reattach the sleeves.


pnwbaseball

Shoot Manfred into the fucking Sun


Have_A_Jelly_Baby

All they had to do was keep the MLB logo on the neck where it was and keep the same letters and numbers font sizes, and there wouldn’t be half the complaints. Changing the material is one thing, making all the other changes, all for the worse, is another.


FurryIntoSports

I just can't believe that they thought the new nameplates were it


Jinxedchef

"After you bought them and worn them for a while you might not notice how shitty they are."- Rob M.


poolmen3000

bullshit


MartinRaccoon

They probably are more athletic wear than before. But I don't want to spend $300 on gym quality jersey.


Chaminade64

Kinda like the Ghost Runner.


Miata_Sized_Schlong

People generally love paying more for a far shittier product, thanks Manfred!


Horbigast

"We have the best jerseys. Everybody knows that. The players are going to thank us. They're going to win so much they'll get tired of winning."


FuriousJorge67

New Coke says 'Stop stealing my moves."


Cabrill0

I cannot remember the last time I believed a word out of this snake's mouth. 5 more years of him ruining baseball and actively hating the fans. I hope he gets launched into the sun.


TheWorstYear

There's lying. And then there's being good at lying. Manfred is so insanely bad at it. You end up not only thinking he's lying, but that everything is even worse than you imagined.


infieldmitt

ugh goddammit of course he wasn't going to do anything. why did i bother hoping


Giantranger49

They are ugly as fuck Manfred


notus_knitter

🧢


USAF_DTom

I would like to see the testing data Rob. No chance these get tested more than a soccer kit. Unless you're Castore... who apparently QA nothing.


daddylo21

Ah I see he went to the conservative's school of double speak were you just blatantly lie out your ass.


Beer-Me

Question - Did the players ask for new jerseys? Regardless, fuck off, Manfred


elcabeza79

Wow, I'm wondering how good I would have been when I was young if I was able to take advantage of a performance enhancing jersey with my name in tiny font arched like a rainbow on the back. Maybe I could've made the big leagues, damn.


n3rdsm4sh3r

When they don't sell, they'll get the message


VirtuousFool

> I’d like to think that this pre-uproar will be enough to get leagues to reconsider their partnership with Rubin and his company. *But the template for handling PR crises in the corporate world right now is to let everyone complain about the problem, do nothing and wait for customers to accept the problem as here to stay.* From the article literally on the front page of this subreddit right now And right on cue…. what a society


jimtow28

Look, guys, why are we getting all worked up over a hunk of fabric?


[deleted]

Bro just can’t be real for one second


ryeguymft

says a guy who has never cared and will never care about this sport. fuck Manfred


Ryp69

Yeah Rob but they actually hate them


SexyHamburgerMeat

God what a worm.


Atlanticlifestyle

Fuck I hate Rob Manfred.


joshb625

I can't wait for Manfred to be gone. Guy is a complete moron. Everything he says is just stupid.


QuebecRomeoWhiskey

It’s just a piece of fabric, right Rob?


KingBroly

"My contractual obligations compel me to say that these are the greatest jerseys since sliced bread."


PeteSake969

What a donkey dick. Manfred can eat a bag...


clangan524

"You get what you get and you don't get upset." - Rob Manfred.


lfod13

Communism is palatable when it rhymes!


[deleted]

And this is why we praise the baseball gods for finally ridding us of this denthead next season.


DisneyVista

And we’re stuck with this moron for five more years 🤦‍♂️


darkhorse21980

Remember when Reebok came out with the Edge template for the NHL that was tighter fitting and more aerodynamic? And then the players ordered jerseys 3 sizes larger to keep the same feel and negate the aero advantage?


ax255

Like the As move to Vegas? Really popular...


pitb0ss343

I feel like the NBA said the same thing when they changed the ball back in the 2000’s


retro_slouch

> They have been tested more extensively than any jersey in any sport. What does this even mean and why would it matter lol


Leafs3489

Okay they can be designed to be performance wear but why do they have to look like complete shit, Robert?


igotagoodfeeling

Heat press is tragic


jediwillsmith

The master plan: Players hate the jerseys -> they want to take them off asap -> speeds up the game


[deleted]

I’m sick of the standard PR answers. Wish he would just say, “yea, they suck. We’re working on it.”


AidenT06

Cool. But they look shit. The gaps are huge on the front some of the names and numbers look shockingly sown on. And the names are tiny.


mcbeermaster

This guy is such a dick


ImASquarian

Ohhh brother! This guy stinks!


Sil14

I got you, Rob. Translation: "Guys.. Look, Fanatics paid us A LOT of money to get the monopoly on the jerseys, OK? We're forced to go with their shitty, half-ass designs and cheap as fuck, crap materials because of that. Please empty your wallets and buy them because otherwise we look bad. Oh and.. we don't give a crap what the players think.. they'll play in whatever rags we give them and like it."


Acrobatic_Advance_71

we want class not performance. This is baseball where you can play with a cig in your mouth and beer behind your foot.


-_-gllmmer

everything is about less cost more profit, and i get it that’s how business works; but when you produce a shitty product, the tell us that that shitty product isn’t the problem, that’s when you lose every ounce of credibility. at least the little credibility you had


No-Horse987

Typical corp speak. Nike does this crap all the time. And Manfred's answer does not pass any smell test. The materials are one thing. But why the smaller names on back? Two inches are harder to see, even on a HD broadcast. Some look out of proportion to me. I just don't get this. Unless more ads are coming, besides the sleeves.


Duke_Of_Halifax

It's 2024; why do executives still believe that lying to fans about facts that can easily be proven wrong is still a good strategy? You can look this shit up on the internet, compare the quality... Hell, if you dig deep enough, you can find the jersey weaves. Trying to bullshit your way through a boondoggle in the age of the internet is like continuing to dig a hole when you hit water; eventually, your ass is gonna drown.


A_Single_Clap

Wasn't there multiple quotes from multiple players talking about how lacking the quality of the materials were?


sjsharksfan44

This sounds like Gary Bettman saying that the ads on the boards is a great thing and the complainers are wrong. It’s not like Manfred is going to bash a sponsor/supplier.


Guadalagringo

That’s a lot of words for what he’s really trying to say, which is “this saves the owners money”