MLB News & Notes (other than Cubs or Sox)

[Butcher]

I've given up any hope for a 2020 baseball season.

[1060Ivy]

Havent given up on the season yet. Not expecting that fans will be able to attend games. Learned that Googles CEO informed staff to expect that employees likely will not be returning to US offices till December but thats not baseball

[rok]

I haven't lost ALL hope yet for 2020, but if this drags on for weeks and turns into an ugly public pissing contest, it could permanently damage the game. I'm especially concerned about the spillover effects going into the next CBA negotiations. What a mess.

[1060Ivy]

My understanding of the positions of the players and owners is that players don’t want to accept a salary cap in any form and ownership wants to cap the share of revenues associated with compensation at 50% of revenues as a means to better ensure solvency during an unprecedented economic and social time. Owners are concerned that without revenues associated with fans attending ballgames their business model may not work. Players are concerned that as soon as they accept any type of cap they will not be able to dismantle caps in future contract negotiations.



There are numerous issues associated with both parties positions. Some questions: Other leagues, e.g. NBA, NFL, NHL, have revenue splits but also minimums and maximums for team spending, how to implement such a system for a single season with player contracts already signed? How to define revenues consistently across teams while most owners do not allow financial transparency to their operations? Players have already agreed to significant reductions in salaries based on games played, why didn’t ownership focus on revenue sharing in earlier negotiation? As TV revenue is expected to be primary means for solvency, how will differing team TV contracts affect revenue sharing? As TV ratings are expected to significantly rise if baseball season commences, how will this rise affect current and future TV revenue?



Any additional thoughts, questions, or answers to these questions?

[rok]

Sean Doolittle, who I really wanted to be a Cub, pretty much covers all the questions from a player perspective that need to be addressed. Read the entire thread (not posted here). Very thoughtful.



https://twitter.com/whatwoulddoodo/statu...10626?s=21



https://twitter.com/whatwoulddoodo/statu...81632?s=21

[rok]

https://twitter.com/whatwoulddoodo/statu...83300?s=21

[Butcher]

I've always liked Doolittle. He's definitely a good one to follow on Twitter.

[Butcher]

South Korea is playing baseball, but look at the measures their country took to get them to where they are. We've done a small fraction of what they've done. And Americans, as a whole, are just too reckless (and frankly too selfish and stupid) to do what South Korean has done. Plus, we have the dumbest man in the world running the country. So...maybe 2021 will look better.

[1060Ivy]

Rays' Blake Snell says he's not willing to take the risk to play for a reduced salary.  Appears that he's more concerned with reduction in compensation than his health or public's health risk. 

 

"If I'm gonna play, I should be getting the money I signed to be getting paid. I should not be getting half of what I'm getting paid because the season's cut in half, on top of a 33% cut of the half that's already there -- so I'm really getting, like, 25%. On top of of that, it's getting taxed. So, imagine how much I'm actually making to play, you know what I'm saying?"

 

Unemployment may be running near 1/3 of country in next year and the guy who recently signed a $50 MM contract isn't willing take the risk.  He's entitled to his opinion and may take a stand despite his union's agreement with owners.  Doubtful that his opinion will gain much public support. 

[jstraw]

Nobody with a financial stake in MLB will make the money they would have, but the players should...just the players? Not the owners, not the people trying to market beer and razor blades, not the ushers and peanut vendors. But the players should. Right.

[funkster]

Not going to lie, I'm having a very hard time giving a shit about baseball right now.

[rok]

Same, but I need a distraction, anything positive to help get me through this. It's hard to be optimistic about much these days, and I'm really tired of political theater. Baseball has 4 billion reasons to get its act together, and I'm hopeful that all parties can work something out.

[Butcher]

A distraction would be nice, for sure. But it's really hard to invest in any of the owners/players problems right now. Billionaires fighting with millionaires? Who gives a fuck. How about the beer vendors and the people who serve hot dogs and everyone else who is out of work right now living paycheck to paycheck?

 

I know I'm simplifying the issues, but one thing this pandemic has really highlighted is the massive income inequality gap in this country. Jeff Bezos is about to become a fucking TRILLIONAIRE soon. That number is literally impossible to imagine. I don't know where I'm going with this. I'm just tired and depressed.

[rok]

I totally hear you, and share your concerns and disappointment, but many of those vendors and small businesses who depend on sports for their livelihoods may not even have a source of income if baseball deep-sixes the 2020 season. It's all intertwined.

[rok]

This process seems to be going well.



https://twitter.com/max_scherzer/status/...91010?s=21