FORT WORTH, Texas — Don't waste your time blaming MLB commissioner Ron Manfred for this lockout, and never side with the people he represents.
This lockout didn't start with Manfred telling the owners what to do. This started with a specific group of high-level baseball people telling Manfred it was time to restructure MLB's expense sheet.
According to people familiar with this situation, this started years ago when then Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and current owner Jim Crane looked at their books and decided things needed to change.