So it is time for them to announce a reasonable plan to get on the field.

Nurses, doctors, dentists and their support staffs are all getting back to work. Along with ton's of other folks in a lot of other fields.

So come on baseball brass. Grow some balls and get it going. Would be great for everyone. Quit cowering in the corner and get rolling. For Tv at least then take it from there.

I have seen reports that Spring Training 2.0 is going to kick off in June and MLB regular season will kick off July 1st at the teams home ballparks. No fans at the games at least initially.

They should really pull up their big boy panties as they could and need to get it going sooner than 2 months from now. The 3rd week in June is more than enough time. C'mon MLB, show some metal and get with it. Commissioner Manfred needs to show some real leadership instead of being a yes boy.
They have been screwing around with it for weeks. Make it happen now!

There was an article out today with three different ideas.

Idea one was everyone goes to Arizona and is in isolation, back and forth from hotel to play games and that is it. Some of the sports biggest stars, Kershaw and Trout, whose wife is pregnant, said no thanks, we are not going to be away from our family for months at a time.

Idea two was three areas, both covered stadiums in FL, both covered stadiums in TX and a covered stadium in AZ. Two games per day at each stadium. But again, you run into the same issues as above.

Idea three was every team plays in their home park. But the divisions are split into 3 equal divisions based on geography. For example, CA has five teams, and they would include WA, TX and CO. Then there would be a midwest group, then an eastern group. That way each team would have to travel less, and they could still be at home while in their own town. This would also require realignment of the playoffs.

Though I'd personally love to see some games this year, I think its about time for the league to simply write off 2020 and start planning for 2021. Until the country gets back to some form of normality (which as we've already seen, government is going to prolong as long as possible), agreements between the owners and player's union are not likely to be forthcoming.

Sorry BD, but that thinking is complete and utter BS.

If MLB screws with this long enough. They will pay a heavy price down the road.

And Kershaw is done and what ever he says or thinks in terms of this subject is completely irrelevant imho. Just shut up.

Normalcy is Doing What We Love. Having Baseball and heckling the players as summertime as apple pie.

A Season in Flux Due to COVID-19: Major League Baseball Players and Owners Reach Agreement on Player Service-Time and Salary Terms.

Like every other professional sports league, Major League Baseball has been forced to postpone its games due to COVID-19. Rather than beginning the season as scheduled on March 26, MLB franchise owners and the MLB Players Association were busy negotiating player service-time and salary issues, as well as a framework for a hopeful return to play this year. The deal finalized on March 27 carries important implications for players, teams and fans alike.

On the service-time front, the players and owners agreed that even if the season were abbreviated or altogether cancelled because of the virus, the 2020 season will still count for purposes of calculating players’ service time. By way of background, service-time determines when players are eligible for salary arbitration and free agency. Basically, each day on an MLB roster earns a player one day of service time. A player on a roster (or a team’s injured list) for at least 172 days in a given year is entitled to a year of service time. After six years of Major League service, a player becomes eligible for free agency, which means that he can be signed by any team in the league for any amount of money. During the first six years, salaries are largely regulated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, subject to potential salary increases through arbitration after Year 3 or re-negotiation of player contracts at the discretion of the team and the player. In the case of young star players, the CBA minimum salaries based on seniority are well-below what they would make on the open market, so there is every incentive to hit free agency as soon as possible. As smaller market teams are frequently unable to afford a star player that hits free agency, they often keep a player in the minor leagues for a year or two longer just to postpone the triggering of the service-time clock.

The deal that was just reached means that players will not lose a year of service time, meaning they will still be eligible for free agency on the same timeline. While a lost or shortened season will impact all teams with young players who have yet to hit free agency, smaller market teams may be particularly impacted based on the economic realities outlined above.

As for the deal’s salary provisions, the players agreed to forego any potential suit against the league for full salaries in the event that the 2020 season does not take place. Instead, MLB will advance players $170 million over the next two months, which the Players Association will divide among its members. MLB salaries are paid on a per game basis, so to the extent that games are missed due to COVID-19, there is a legitimate argument that players would not be owed their contractually-agreed upon salaries. Perhaps recognizing the uncertain legal landscape at play here and the bad optics of litigating over millions in salaries at this time of mass unemployment, it would appear that both sides determined that a swift resolution to the matter was in everyone’s best interests.

Finally, as far as actually getting back on the field, owners and players both want to play as many games as possible, subject to various conditions. These conditions include no travel restrictions throughout the U.S. and Canada, no bans on mass gatherings that would limit the ability to hold games, and medical experts’ determination that there would be no health risks for players, staff or fans. In the event that the season does go forward, it will be unlike any that has ever occurred. If games were to somehow start by mid-Summer, the regular season would need to be cut down to a much shorter amount of games than the standard 162-game schedule, and many doubleheaders will likely be played to fit in as many games as possible. Additionally, the Playoffs would likely occur in November instead of the traditional October. This could also entail playing some or all of the Playoffs at warm weather neutral-sites to avoid inclement conditions in East Coast and Midwest cities.

At this point though, with most of North America on lock-down, any baseball that can be played this year will undoubtedly be met with great enthusiasm by fans, players and franchises alike.

https://www.natlawreview.com/a...ners-reach-agreement

MLB depends on stadium and ticket sales - they don't have the TV revenue money making stream that the NFL or NBA has. MLB needs to play or they might not make it as a league - there certainly shouldn't be a bailout for MLB.

You think they are not anxious to get back on the field as soon as possible?

I listened to a radio interview of Bill DeWitt Jr., the managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals, yesterday. I can assure you that the St. Louis Cardinals are ready to get back on the field as soon as possible.
Of course, assuring the safety of both the fans and players comes first. At first, it's likely to be without fans in attendance.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
You think they are not anxious to get back on the field as soon as possible?

I think playing games as soon as possible is down the list a ways for those that could make it happen sooner than later. Including both the players and the ownership and those that represent them.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Sorry BD, but that thinking is complete and utter BS.

If MLB screws with this long enough. They will pay a heavy price down the road.

And Kershaw is done and what ever he says or thinks in terms of this subject is completely irrelevant imho. Just shut up.

Sorry we disagree, but after watching this sport for some 25 years, I just don't see anything being worked out by the owners and players for this season. As chellim posted, the most pertinent issues to the players were salary and service-time issues, and they've been addressed at this point.

Thanks for the update Chellim - good info. MLB needs to follow Nascar's lead.


Although I wouldn't mind seeing a snowblower on the ball field in November just to shake things up a bit !!!

quote:

Originally posted by Dzozer:
MLB depends on stadium and ticket sales - they don't have the TV revenue money making stream that the NFL or NBA has. MLB needs to play or they might not make it as a league - there certainly shouldn't be a bailout for MLB.

In a addition to the $1.6B in national TV contracts that is split by the league, all of the teams have their own regional TV contracts that range from tens of millions to 100s of millions per team. While they do more as a percentage of total revenue in tickets and concessions than the other two leagues, I think it's wrong to suggest that they would somehow be better off scrapping the entire season and forgoing an entire season of all revenue.

When you're a Mariners fan and the MLB isn't stepping up, you're just happy the Ms aren't losing.

quote:

While they do more as a percentage of total revenue in tickets and concessions than the other two leagues, I think it's wrong to suggest that they would somehow be better off scrapping the entire season and forgoing an entire season of all revenue.

No matter what happens as far as re-opening and playing some games, everyone knows the pie is going to be much smaller and that everyone is only going to get a much smaller piece this year. But, it's better than nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by Phantom229:
When you're a Mariners fan and the MLB isn't stepping up, you're just happy the Ms aren't losing.

We are still tied for first in the AL West! I guess we still are tied for the best record overall too, lol! Six months ago I wouldn’t have believed it

Surprisingly, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell actually showed some positive leadership, before the NFL Draft. Prior to the televised draft two weeks ago, NFL owners and executives had been openly and privately whining, bellyaching, and complaining about how difficult a digital, televised draft would be. After a month of worthless news, he gathered up all the owners, let them know what they were doing, how and when. The complaining stopped everyone fell in-line and the draft was a success.

MLB commissioner Manfred, already under criticism for his questionable decisions with regards to the Astros/BoSox cheating scandal, needs to do the same. Get a plan that is viable and workable, put good people onto task to flesh-out the details, get the owners to support it and commit their own resources, and communicate all of it to the MLBPA to reassure them that they're gonna get it done.

Times like this, albeit self-inflected, where leaders need to rise up, get everyone involved and work on a plan. We're certainly not seeing it politically from some of these governors, at least other segments can demonstrate some competence and gumption.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

While they do more as a percentage of total revenue in tickets and concessions than the other two leagues, I think it's wrong to suggest that they would somehow be better off scrapping the entire season and forgoing an entire season of all revenue.

No matter what happens as far as re-opening and playing some games, everyone knows the pie is going to be much smaller and that everyone is only going to get a much smaller piece this year. But, it's better than nothing.

The other leagues with salary caps are very much going to feel this in the next few seasons. NBA owners/GM's are already pearl clutching