Cubs' Souza 'embarrassed' by Manfred's handling of COVID-19 issues

Chicago Cubs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. is not pleased with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's handling of the league's COVID-19 issues.

"I'm probably going to be a little biased here, but I just don't think we've handled this since the beginning very well," Souza told CBS Sports Network's "Tiki and Tierney" on Monday. "I don't think what Manfred has done for the sport has been very good. I don't think the way that everything was publicly humiliated was good. I just don't think it's been good."

After COVID-19 outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals forced several game postponements, followed by several more players opting out of the 2020 campaign, Manfred threatened to shut down the season.

The commissioner then pointed his finger at players for the complications, telling them they needed to "be better" in following safety protocols.

"I'm embarrassed," Souza said. "I'm embarrassed as a player to watch this take place because when I leave this game, I want to leave it for the generations and we do this for the fans, and there's just been so much distraction and so much hidden agendas in all these discussions that it's almost been just embarrassing, like I said. I don't know any other way to put it."

Souza's comments about Manfred came a few days after the native of Everett, Washington, called for his fellow players to be more responsible for themselves off the field.

While executives from both organizations don't believe the claims to be true, the Marlins reportedly may have become infected after going out to a nightclub, while the Cardinals' outbreak may have stemmed from a visit to a casino.