Part 7/10:
The speaker emphasizes that MLB's upper management operates with a calculated, almost conservative approach—many levels below the top decision-makers—ensuring that only cities with unwavering support, robust infrastructure plans, and verified ownership backing make the cut.
The Illusion of Credibility
Austin's efforts—going on CNBC, developing stadium blueprints, and courting wealthy investors—are portrayed as well-meaning but ultimately superficial. These moves serve more as a show of ambition than a reflection of serious chances. The speaker highlights that such campaigns appear to be a gambit to keep baseball on the city's radar and to pressure MLB into considering Austin as a future expansion city, but they lack substantive credibility in the league's decision-making process.