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New Hope? Pete Rose Reinstatement Lies with Rob Manfred

By Adam Hughes

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As the Cincinnati Reds put the finishing touches on their Spring Training trials and prepare to host he 2015 All-Star Game, one of the franchises legends began what he hopes will be a the last leg of his journey toward redemption.  On Monday, all-time hit king Pete Rose officially applied for reinstatement to the game that has defined his life, and from which he was banished in 1989.  The 73-year-old Rose’s Hall of Fame fate now lies with new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

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News of Rose’s latest attempt for reinstatement, his third under three different commissioners, broke in early afternoon after Manfred acknowledged the filing on his way out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Spring Training camp.  As Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted, Manfred, at least publicly, is keeping an open mind:

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    • While that may not seem like a reason for Rose supporters to sound the victory gong, it’s a huge leap forward from the days of Fay Vincent and Bud Selig, Manfred’s direct predecessor.  While Vincent shot down Rose’s first attempt for reinstatement like he was swatting a fly, Selig played his typical game of wishy-washy do-nothingness.  More than once, the Rose camp thought they were making progress with Commissioner Bud only to be told that the time wasn’t right or that some “t” was not crossed the correct way.

    While Manfred may well be yet another runaround artist, it’s encouraging that he is not shying away from the topic of Pete Rose in his public appearances.  Even if the situation does not turn out the way Rose hopes, some action or consideration would be better then the 25-year cold shoulder the should-be Hall of Famer has received to this point.

    We will have much more on Rose’s quest for reinstatement, but for now, Reds fans can at least savor the thought of more Charlie Hustle discussion in the coming months than you might have ever dreamed possible.

    Next: Cincinnati Reds Prospect Profile: RHP Nick Howard

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