MLB: “We regret that, without a collective bargaining agreement in place, we must postpone the start of Spring Training games until no earlier than Saturday, March 5. All 30 Clubs are unified in their strong desire to bring players back to the field and fans back to the stands.”
3/agreement that is fair to each side. On Monday, members of the owners’ bargaining committee will join an in-person meeting with the Players Association and remain every day next week to negotiate and work hard towards starting the season on time.”
MLB ownership and leadership has effectively abandoned any continued presence as “stewards of the game” in favor of chasing short-term gains through vulture capitalism. They’re making heaps of money, even the ones crying poverty and not even pretending to try to win, but they’re all angry that they’re not making even more money.
They won’t kill the whole season, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see 144 games like 1995, or maybe even a few less.
They’re all hoping they leave someone else holding the bag by the time fans get wise.
- Andersonville Right Winger - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:15 pm:
Pessimistic. Frankly, I’d rather attend a minor league game.
- The 5th Deputy Governor - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:18 pm:
Friendly reminder: the owners can end the lockout, keep negotiating, and bring back the players under the terms of the expired CBA - literally - whenever they want.
- The 5th Deputy Governor - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
Neither hopeful or pessimistic. More apathetic–I’m almost getting to the point where I don’t care. And I’m saying this a 50-year plus Cards fan. Rich athletes (mostly) arguing with obscenely rich owners just doesn’t interest me. After the last work stoppage, I gave up baseball for about 4-5 years. Maybe I won’t come back this time.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
Moderately hopeful for the start of the regular reason or a slightly shortened regular season. MLB Trade Rumors has a great summary of the current status of the negotiations. They are fairly far apart, but I think the issues are defined well, and they have a lot of room to find a compromise.
Pessimistic. Injuries are becoming worse and worse in professional sports. A late/shortened spring training is going to make that worse. Trying to squeeze extra games into a shortened season is going to make that worse. Result is going to be lower quality of games and competition.
Feel bad that this is happening during Yadi’s last season.
Pessimistic. I do think we’ll see baseball this year, but it will be a very shortened schedule.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
Pessimistic. Maybe there will be a season but like in 2020, it will be a greatly shortened season. Probably starting around July 4, no All Star game, and like in 2020 to try to restore interest it’s just going to be interleague, interdivisional games (NL & AL East together, NL & AL Central, NL & AL West). And the “postseason tournament” 8-team playoff again as in 2020–and there will be a push to make that playoff format permanent.
I’m optimistic that there will be a season. The question is of what duration. I’m also confident that neither side will achieve anything of consequence by going through this work stoppage and the game will suffer as a result.
They’ll play. The owners are not going to cook the goose that lays the golden egg. They’re just looking to squeeze every penny they can.
Every time there’s a stoppage I hear people gripe about the greedy players when I feel it’s more like greedy owners.
Pessimistic - Maybe with luck we get 120 games. The owners are determined to make as much money as possible and have little regard for the players and the fans.
Openers will be delayed. Fans will listen as both sides attempt to blame the other of being greedy. But since owners are initiating the battle, demanding change, they will be easier for the public to blame. Players will be united and will wait owners out. Owners will cave.
Professional baseball..? I might watch a couple innings every year of the last game or two of the World Series.
Actually have quit watching most professional sports - would much rather catch a high school sport (any sport) in person or a college football or basketball game in person.
- Bruce( no not him) - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:05 pm:
Not optimistic at all.
A bunch of billionaires trying to beat down a bunch of guys living the dream of making a good living playing a game.
What could possibly go wrong?
Will be heading to AZ in a week knowing they’ll be more time playing golf and at the pool, instead of paying crazy prices to see AA players the second half of the game.
Predicting season starts around Memorial Day. 100 game season.
Pessimistic ever since the players rejected using a federal mediator. I’ve always found that the people from the Federal Mediation Service were outstanding. They were able to eliminate the emotion and got negotiations moving in the right direction. This won’t go anywhere until they agree to bring in a mediator.
I would like to think neither side is foolish enough to not come to an agreement in time to play a full season but history teels me I would be foolish to believe that. They both should keep in mind that spring training was supposed to start yesterday and very few people noticed that it didn’t.
Pessimistic. I’m wagering on a compressed, 154-game schedule for 2022. I hope MLB is surprised by how underwhelmed the response will be when they reopen.
- Roadrager - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:14 pm:
MLB ownership and leadership has effectively abandoned any continued presence as “stewards of the game” in favor of chasing short-term gains through vulture capitalism. They’re making heaps of money, even the ones crying poverty and not even pretending to try to win, but they’re all angry that they’re not making even more money.
They won’t kill the whole season, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see 144 games like 1995, or maybe even a few less.
They’re all hoping they leave someone else holding the bag by the time fans get wise.
- Andersonville Right Winger - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:15 pm:
Pessimistic. Frankly, I’d rather attend a minor league game.
- The 5th Deputy Governor - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:18 pm:
Friendly reminder: the owners can end the lockout, keep negotiating, and bring back the players under the terms of the expired CBA - literally - whenever they want.
- The 5th Deputy Governor - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
^ I think we see games get canceled.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:20 pm:
I’m pessimistically optimistic.
I’m looking forward to a 120 game season, the All-Star Game weekend still going ahead.
Not looking good for full season of games.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
It’s like the baseball owners think the newspaper business model works.
- Steve Rogers - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
Neither hopeful or pessimistic. More apathetic–I’m almost getting to the point where I don’t care. And I’m saying this a 50-year plus Cards fan. Rich athletes (mostly) arguing with obscenely rich owners just doesn’t interest me. After the last work stoppage, I gave up baseball for about 4-5 years. Maybe I won’t come back this time.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
Moderately hopeful for the start of the regular reason or a slightly shortened regular season. MLB Trade Rumors has a great summary of the current status of the negotiations. They are fairly far apart, but I think the issues are defined well, and they have a lot of room to find a compromise.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/latest-collective-bargaining-positions-for-mlb-players-association.html
- Arsenal - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:24 pm:
I’m still optimistic that the regular season will start on time, or maybe see only a minor delay, but will a full 162 game schedule played.
But the owners’ behavior remains obnoxious.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:25 pm:
Pessimistic. Injuries are becoming worse and worse in professional sports. A late/shortened spring training is going to make that worse. Trying to squeeze extra games into a shortened season is going to make that worse. Result is going to be lower quality of games and competition.
Feel bad that this is happening during Yadi’s last season.
- Downstate - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
I’ve not watched a full game of baseball on TV in more than a decade. In-person is more of a social event.
But, candidly, games on TV are too slow paced for my tastes.
- Freecake - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
Pessimistic. I do think we’ll see baseball this year, but it will be a very shortened schedule.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
Pessimistic. Maybe there will be a season but like in 2020, it will be a greatly shortened season. Probably starting around July 4, no All Star game, and like in 2020 to try to restore interest it’s just going to be interleague, interdivisional games (NL & AL East together, NL & AL Central, NL & AL West). And the “postseason tournament” 8-team playoff again as in 2020–and there will be a push to make that playoff format permanent.
- Downstate - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
Oops. Didn’t answer the question. I’m not optimistic for the baseball season.
- Pundent - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:47 pm:
I’m optimistic that there will be a season. The question is of what duration. I’m also confident that neither side will achieve anything of consequence by going through this work stoppage and the game will suffer as a result.
- Proud Papa Bear - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:48 pm:
They’ll play. The owners are not going to cook the goose that lays the golden egg. They’re just looking to squeeze every penny they can.
Every time there’s a stoppage I hear people gripe about the greedy players when I feel it’s more like greedy owners.
- OldSmoky2 - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:50 pm:
Pessimistic - Maybe with luck we get 120 games. The owners are determined to make as much money as possible and have little regard for the players and the fans.
- Amalia - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:50 pm:
Pessimistic. Although, it’s one way for me to avoid hearing anything about Cubs games.
- Huh? - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
Sigh.
Time to drag up, call it a week, kick back, have an adult beverage, and come back on Tuesday.
- James - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:54 pm:
Openers will be delayed. Fans will listen as both sides attempt to blame the other of being greedy. But since owners are initiating the battle, demanding change, they will be easier for the public to blame. Players will be united and will wait owners out. Owners will cave.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
Pessimistic. Why? Owners.
- Corn Country - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
Professional baseball..? I might watch a couple innings every year of the last game or two of the World Series.
Actually have quit watching most professional sports - would much rather catch a high school sport (any sport) in person or a college football or basketball game in person.
- Bruce( no not him) - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:05 pm:
Not optimistic at all.
A bunch of billionaires trying to beat down a bunch of guys living the dream of making a good living playing a game.
What could possibly go wrong?
- Bogey Golfer - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
Will be heading to AZ in a week knowing they’ll be more time playing golf and at the pool, instead of paying crazy prices to see AA players the second half of the game.
Predicting season starts around Memorial Day. 100 game season.
- Occam - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:16 pm:
Pessimistic ever since the players rejected using a federal mediator. I’ve always found that the people from the Federal Mediation Service were outstanding. They were able to eliminate the emotion and got negotiations moving in the right direction. This won’t go anywhere until they agree to bring in a mediator.
- Captain Obvious - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:16 pm:
I would like to think neither side is foolish enough to not come to an agreement in time to play a full season but history teels me I would be foolish to believe that. They both should keep in mind that spring training was supposed to start yesterday and very few people noticed that it didn’t.
- Waffle Fries - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
I’m pessimistic because of greed.
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
Not very optimistic.
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:23 pm:
Not very optimistic.
- Vote Quimby - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
Pessimistic. I’m wagering on a compressed, 154-game schedule for 2022. I hope MLB is surprised by how underwhelmed the response will be when they reopen.
- New Day - Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:38 pm:
I’m as pessimistic about this as I am about Russia invading Ukraine. It’s going to be a disaster there and a sad lack of a spring here.