BASEBALL IS BACk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[saskjayfan]

To the greedy owners and players, I would just like to say....f*** you! A sliding scale for player salaries makes the most sense. Just tweak the numbers and percentages to be more fair. Build in contingencies for a return of fans. Get the deal done and start the game.

[Spanky__99]

[TheHurl]

I truly believe that the issues in getting this signed has just as much to do with December 1, 2021 as it does with potential losses this season. They were supposedly so many PA asks for 2021 and owners likely want some assurance that the PA will back off. Pure speculation of course.

[BTS]

I hate that literally every prominent reporter and blogger is so consistently pro-MLBPA that it's hard to get a second perspective on what's going on.

[Beans]

I hate that literally every prominent reporter and blogger is so consistently pro-MLBPA that it's hard to get a second perspective on what's going on.

 

I wonder how much of that has to do with how many of their sources are players/agents versus FO types...

[Beans]

I truly believe that the issues in getting this signed has just as much to do with December 1, 2021 as it does with potential losses this season. They were supposedly so many PA asks for 2021 and owners likely want some assurance that the PA will back off. Pure speculation of course.

 

Yah, me too. I think the precedent set in the agreement this year (assuming there is one) will be huge during next year's CBA negotiations.

[Spanky__99]

Nick came back, WooHoo!!!

[Beans]

I think MLB will eventually cave and have a season, but if I could picture any league not coming back in 2020 when it was feasible to do so, it would be MLB. Tone deafness is the calling card for both Manfred and Clark.

 

If MLB does not have a 2020 season because of finances, then they are in for a shock when a lot of fans find something else to do now and moving forward. As I mentioned before the 2020-2021 NBA season is likely going to run head to head with MLB's 2021 season until September, which is when the NFL starts. If that becomes a long term change for the NBA, and MLB decides to cut bait on 2020 (alienating a s*** ton of people in the process), then it might be a hole they can never climb out of.

 

I knew this post was coming for the 50th time.

 

lol... savage

[Spanky__99]

Love me some cool beans.

[glory]

 

I think the beauty, if there is any, of this whole thing is that both sides care almost entirely about money and nothing else. One narrative after the league's 82 game proposal was "the players are risking their lives for this", but then the PA comes back with a proposal where they'd play 114 games over 124 days + an expanded playoff format which would fall right into a projected second wave of the virus. I'm sure they made that proposal expecting it to be rejected, but still. Just greed versus greed, and both sides don't care about the optics. I can almost respect that.

[P2F]

I wrote about the possibility of a season at Radio Scouts earlier today and thought it was relevant to the ongoing discussion enough to share here:

 

https://t.ly/wRrK

[glory]

 

 

A 50 game schedule sounds like absolute trash.

[Carlos Danger]

 

 

A 50 game schedule sounds like absolute trash.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, to not even reach 81 or half is BS!!!

[Beans]

Beggars can’t be choosers, but 50 games is some ********.

[Bobthe4th]

 

A 50 game schedule sounds like absolute trash.

 

The various pundits seem pessimistic about any chance of the players accepting that anyway.

[Slade]

We'll see what the MLBPA counters with, I feel like the MLB has them on the road to exactly what they wanted which is 82 games prorated.

 

 

[BlueBaller]

I'm not totally hating the idea of a season of 50 games... But only this one time obviously.

 

Think about how much each game will matter. Could be intense

[glory]

We'll see what the MLBPA counters with, I feel like the MLB has them on the road to exactly what they wanted which is 82 games prorated.

 

Yeah, the MLBPA wants 100+ games and the owners want 50ish. A middle ground of 80ish is probably where they will end up meeting, but maybe MLB will squeeze another perk out of it.

[Abomination]

Yeah, the MLBPA wants 100+ games and the owners want 50ish. A middle ground of 80ish is probably where they will end up meeting, but maybe MLB will squeeze another perk out of it.

 

What would people's thoughts be on playing two 5 inning games a day for 100 total games?

[Carlos Danger]

What would people's thoughts be on playing two 5 inning games a day for 100 total games?

 

Hate it! Totally changes the fabric of the game with relievers, SP, PH, PR, etc... Do it and do it right. 82 (9 inning plus Extra inning) games!!!

[Abomination]

Hate it! Totally changes the fabric of the game with relievers, SP, PH, PR, etc... Do it and do it right. 82 (9 inning plus Extra inning) games!!!

 

No matter what they do, it's going to be different. If they're using extended rosters, the reliever run will be real anyway. Doubling the games at least helps reduce the luck factor a bit.

[Slade]

What would people's thoughts be on playing two 5 inning games a day for 100 total games?

 

That seems too drastic of a change and would feel like the quality of baseball you are watching has lessened. I don't think you mess around with the length of the game just the amount of games.

[glory]

Half the season and normal 9 inning games, except the "runner on 2nd to start the inning" for extra innings, seems like the most reasonable scenario. The diehards will be livid with the extra innings rule but no one is going to want to play a 19 inning game right now, much less watch one.

[Abomination]

Half the season and normal 9 inning games, except the "runner on 2nd to start the inning" for extra innings, seems like the most reasonable scenario. The diehards will be livid with the extra innings rule but no one is going to want to play a 19 inning game right now, much less watch one.

 

I'm guessing if baseball is proposing 50 games, they probably want to start the playoffs at the start of September (maybe even a week or two earlier) and try to get through most of it before a second wave of the virus. I'm just looking at ways of reducing the luck factor in a drastically shortened season. Maybe it's not necessary. Maybe the luck will make it more exciting.

[glory]

I'm guessing if baseball is proposing 50 games, they probably want to start the playoffs at the start of September (maybe even a week or two earlier) and try to get through most of it before a second wave of the virus. I'm just looking at ways of reducing the luck factor in a drastically shortened season. Maybe it's not necessary. Maybe the luck will make it more exciting.

 

The owners are proposing 50 games because that would mean paying the players 30% of their salaries (rather than 50%). You might be right though, they may want to get through the playoffs as early as possible since playoff TV money is going to be huge for them and the 2nd wave might cause a disruption right around the time the playoffs would normally begin. Maybe a little bit of both.

 

A 50 game season would be good in one sense, as mentioned the games would mean more. If you start the season off terribly, even if you're the Yankees, then you're f***ed. If you start the season on a hot streak, then maybe an average team sneaks into an expanded playoff round. It does sound more exciting in that sense, and TV ratings might increase if each game means more. But for a game like baseball to have only 50 games, it goes against everything the sport is. I'm not a purist by any sense, the game has to change in order to attract new fans, so I'm open to practically anything, but 50 seems way too small, even in times like this.

[Brownie19]

This is getting really interesting. Owner caved to the players and agreed to pay a full pro-rated salary right?

 

Either they are just low balling it (while giving up the full pro-rated salary) so they can meet in the middle around 82 games (which is what they originally wanted) - or they are trying to 'miss' the 2nd wave.

 

I still think this has to be viewed as a step in the right direction.

[Carlos Danger]

A second wave that might not even come. If they are putting the measures they are proposing now, what difference will it make?

[glory]

[Beans]

The Yomiuri Giants of Japan's NPB has just called off a preseason game hours ago after two players tested positive for the coronavirus. All Giants players, coaches, and staff will be tested for the virus in the morning (it's currently nighttime there).

 

The NPB was trying to open its delayed season on June 19 (in empty stadiums), but that might all change now.

 

The MLB will be following this news closely.

Edited June 3, 2020 by Beans

[glory]