Torre: MLB domestic violence policy working

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. — Commissioner Rob Manfred and chief baseball officer Joe Torre said Thursday that the league’s new domestic violence policy has been effective in its first year and stressed the importance of focusing on the educational component moreso than the actual discipline.

Manfred was among those who participated in the annual Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation Golf and Tennis Classic at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, where about $500,000 was raised to benefit the cause that Torre and his wife, Ali, began in 2002 to help children — more than 50,000 so far — who are profoundly affected by domestic violence.

The policy that MLB and the MLB Players Association negotiated dovetailed with the leadership position Torre already had a natural stake in this matter, so this was a focal point for overall evaluation.

“It’s a great cause,” Manfred said of the outing after hitting a ceremonial first tee shot along with former heavyweight boxer Gerry Cooney and D-backs chief baseball officer Tony La Russa. “Joe’s involvement in the domestic violence issue has been a tremendous asset to baseball and a big part of the education that had to go on in Major League Baseball before we negotiated our policy. I know the policy is better as a result of the process that Joe led us through.

“Having a policy that players buy into makes it much easier for us to deal with those infrequent situations where we have a player involved with an issue like this. … I think the feedback has generally been positive. I think that people appreciate the fact that we tried to get in front of the issue by negotiating a policy before we really needed it, and I think the players accepting their punishment under the collectively bargained policy is a real positive.”

Manfred called this “a society where people believe in second chances. I know that Jose …

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