Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 10, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Baseball is coming back and we’ll get a full season of games…
In a startling turnabout after more than three months of largely stagnant negotiations, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement Thursday on a new collective bargaining agreement that will significantly impact the game, capping a five-day stretch of lengthy bartering that resulted in the chance to salvage a full, 162-game season.
The proposed five-year agreement came 99 days after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred imposed a lockout following expiration of the last CBA, and one week after the clubs concluded eight days of bargaining in Florida with no deal, prompting MLB to cancel one week of games.
And it came one day after Manfred announced that “another two series are being removed from the schedule,” pushing Opening Day from March 31 to April 14, a potentially massive black eye for a sport that largely avoided labor fisticuffs since a strike and lockout canceled the 1994 World Series and the first 18 games of the 1995 season.
Instead, the delay will be one week: April 7 is expected to serve as most teams’ Opening Day, with the first week of games to be made up via doubleheaders throughout the course of the season.
* More…
A path to a deal seemed to be coming into focus on Thursday morning when the sides resolved how to navigate the question of what to do about direct draft-pick compensation, otherwise known as the qualifying offer. The parties will keep talking about the international amateur system and direct draft pick compensation until July 25. At that point, if the players want to get rid of the qualifying offer, they have to take the international draft. Otherwise, there’s no change to the qualifying offer, and the owners don’t get the international draft.
* The Question: Your favorite baseball memory?
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
“THE CHICAGO CUBS HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:03 pm:
2016, living and dying all throughout Game 7 with my best friends of 30 years, then celebrating in the streets of Lincoln Park with them and thousands of other deliriously joyful Chicagoans.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:05 pm:
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.
All Cardinals WS victories in my lifetime (’82, ‘06, ‘11).
- The Real Downstate - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:06 pm:
My favorite memory is Dick Durbin saving baseball today.
- Macoupin Manny - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:09 pm:
I know this is tainted by the steroids scandal, but the game McGuire hit his 70th home run is my favorite baseball memory. I was in the party room that he hit the 70th HR into - the WU lab I worked for had rented it out - and am friends with Phil Ozersky who caught home run ball. Surreal experience to say the least.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:10 pm:
Such great news.
So many great baseball memories and hard to pick just one. Favorite is the 2005 White Sox season (went to some games and had great seats) and championship run. Most emotional was the Cubs finally winning in 2016, with people holding photos of their late relatives who were Cubs fans, dedicating it to them (“Pop, this one’s for you”) and that sort of thing.
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:10 pm:
Albert Pujols’s home run against Brad Lidge in the NLCS against the Astros. Didn’t make it to the WS that year, but man, I’m sure that ball is beyond Neptune’s orbit by now.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
Watching Whitey Herzog take apart and rebuild the Cardinals in a three day span during the Winter Meetings. He crafted a World Series winner in a few days.
- SIUEalum - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
#1—Albert Pujols. Brad Lidge.
#2–tied for 2006 and 2011. Both were special in their own way but a WS championship in my lifetime has to make the list.
- City Zen - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:15 pm:
Chants of “Kittle, Kittle” at the 1983 All Star Game.
- fs - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:16 pm:
So many great ones, but the Cardinals unexpectedly winning the World Series in 2006 might be the tops. That was a pretty rough time in my life, and that run gave me a nice, needed escape. That’s something we all need right now, as well.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:17 pm:
Yikes, this is tough.
Golf is my core, it’s just about everything… but baseball, baseball is my heart, it’s all that gives joy, the pure joy of the game, all it means, really.
I’ve seen live… Glenallen Hill hit a ball on the roof across the street, Glavine’s 300th win, saw Maddux throw against Wood… in a playoff game, I saw Tuffy Rhodes be an Opening Day phenom, saw snow and tears on an Opening Day honoring Harry… seen greats throw live… saw Tony Gwynn hit… saw Griffey Jr in his prime… saw Mark Prior being masterful… saw Sandberg, saw Sandberg “comeback”…
My favorite?
The 1984 season.
Won’t age myself or give too much either, but those day baseball games, and watching that club, and the real joy, that’s my favorite.
Winning the World Series, like the Red Sox, it stole just a bit of the soul of the ball club, and the joy, at least for me, due in part of getting my wildest dream in something I love (a world championship for the ball club) it’s now not chasing a lifetime goal anymore, it’s now chasing that high, and it’s not a new high of hope but a high and a hope it feels as sweet.
Favorite?
The 1984 Cubs season, but it’s not bad seeing a World Championship pennant out in the bleachers
- Oxfordian - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:19 pm:
Other than the 2005 season? Summer of 1993, White Sox at Brewers in County Stadium, family rivalry game/tailgate. Sox scored 6 runs in the first inning, Tim Raines had a triple, and the Sox brought home a win.
- Drake Mallard - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
at first game of 05 WS. Back and forth and a real dog fight but Sox pulled it off
at first game of 05 playoffs against Bo Sox. Our Sox kept hammering homers and Comiskey Park was going CRAZY.
- Lurker - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
In July 1990 is saw the Yankees pitch a no-hitter …. and lose.
Lesson: even if you do everything right, you can still lose
That’s baseball/life
- Responsa - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
Last inning of last game at Old Comiskey. Everybody, and I mean everybody in the stands balling their eyes out.
- illini - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:30 pm:
I am an old guy now and I have seen my Cardinals play some amazing baseball, have seen all their superstars play at some time or another and have lived through some forgettable seasons.
But the game I will always remember was against the SF Giants in the old Sportsmans Park. This was the very first game my Dad took me to see. What made this additionally and especially memorable was watching Willie Mays foul off 13 straight pitches before he hit a home run.
- DEE - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:32 pm:
1969-Opening Day for Cubs-Walking up to the green on the 9th hole of my HS golf team practice round with a transistor radio at my ear when Willie Smith hit a 2 run walkoff. All four of us roared.
- Red Ketcher - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:33 pm:
Ernie Banks coming up as a Shortstop
Cubs were bad - But Ernie was Great
As a kid wanted to wear 14 & play like Ernie
Hey Hey
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:36 pm:
November 2, 2016.
- Saluki24 - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:37 pm:
The summer of 2015 was fantastic for this St. Louis Cardinals fan (sans playoffs that year, of course). Went to nine games and the Redbirds won eight.
The best moment was when my dad and I got to see the Braves at Busch. The Braves were still doing BP when we arrived, so we went down to the third base line in the outfield. I was up on the concourse and I challenged one of the Braves players to throw me a ball - and he did! Too bad I took my eyes off for a second because of the rail in front of me; it was a perfect throw!
I thought I had missed my chance to get a ball, but I went down to be by the line with my dad. I got the same player’s attention and another ball came our way. I would have had that one too - except in the scrum, another fan knocked my glove out of the way. But my dad was right behind me and gloved it. We got out of there and headed for our seats.
Came to find out that while down by the field, in the scrum for another ball, my dad had grabbed a handful of dirt off the field to sprinkle on the graves of his late father and brother (both big Cardinals fans as well).
Sorry for the long post. But what is baseball if not beautiful.
Came to find out, after his glove was knocked
- CentralIL Centrist - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:45 pm:
2011 Redbird Triumph.
Craziest year of my personal life. Cheered me up on my birthday month.
- Earnest - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
Sox game, 1970 or so, big deal because we lived on a farm and were going to the Big City. I got one of those small bats made of good wood with CHICAGO WHITE SOX burnt on it. I got pop in a paper cup and my dad got beer in a paper cup. I met Black people for the first time. My brother sneezed so loudly everyone in our section jumped. A ball was hit 15 rows over and people scrambled for it. Later, everyone was standing and really excited and I couldn’t see. My dad said it was a streaker. I asked what that was. He lifted me up and I saw my first naked man.
- iroquois county dem - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:51 pm:
I was at the White Sox game the day Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays July 23 2009 pretty awesome
- Justin - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:52 pm:
My favorite baseball moment: 2011 Cardinals season, especially Freese in Game 6 of the World Series.
Favorite non-Cardinals moment: Angels comeback to win from 5-0 down in Game 6 of the 2002 WS.
- Jeremy Rosen - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:52 pm:
2004 Red Sox defeat Yankees after being down 3-0 then sweep World Series for first win in 86 years.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:55 pm:
2005 White Sox season and WS Win. Best sports moment of my life.
Summer of 1976, last game of the little league season. We were leading by 1 in the last inning and the Indians were up to bat with runners on. A ball was hit between me and the third baseman, at the last instant I reached out with my bare hand and snagged the ball and beat the runner to third for the last out and the league championship.
That was pretty good too.
- Keyrock - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
July 30, 1986. Roger Clemens exploded after the first-base umpire ruled that Harold Barnes was safe because Clemens missed first base when covering the bag. Clemens charged the ump, was ejected, and really went nuts.
My favorite part was watching Jim Rice and Don Baylor each grab one side of the big baby and carry him off the field.
- Cook Street - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
Ozzie Smith’s playoff homerun against the Dodgers and Jack Buck’s call of it.
- West Side Best Side - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:01 pm:
Game 4 of the 2005 World Series aside, I would say going to my first White Sox game with my family to celebrate my grandpa’s birthday circa 2000. He passed in 2010 but the White Sox fandom is still alive and well in my family. I think about him during every game.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:05 pm:
Having lunch with Jack Brickhouse and Milt Rosenberg in the Cubs lunchroom. At the end of each home stand, Harley the cook/chef would serve mystery meatloaf which was a combo of all the leftovers from the home stand.
Made a point of watching Dave Parker and Willie Stargell when I knew they were up to bat. That was a piece of baseball history.
Of course, Lee Elia and Harry Carey.
- Bourbon Street - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:11 pm:
The first time I walked into Wrigley Field when I was a kid. I’ve had a lifetime of wonderful memories since then.
- RNUG - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:17 pm:
Two …
The one time I sat in Wrigley Corporate executive seats in row 6 immediately behind home plate
And the Cubs (finally) winning a World Series in my lifetime
- Gdubya - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
“The first time I walked into Wrigley Field when I was a kid.” I passed a guy smoking a joint in the stairway..
- Downstate Dad - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
Went to a random Sunday night game at Wrigley in August 2018 with my dad and my son.
The looks on their faces when Bote went yard in the bottom of the 9th with two outs: priceless.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:41 pm:
Favorite baseball memory - I coached a ragtag group of leftovers (including my kid) against a bunch of travel teams in fall ball last year. We were summarily blown out in our first couple of games but practice matters and by the end of the season we were winning on the regular and won our first round playoff. We dropped the championship 3 games to 2 but I’ve never seen a happier group of kids (including the year we won the house league).
Runner up: First time in Wrigley, in the bleachers, during the real bleacher bum era
Runner up 2: 2016 game 7
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:46 pm:
Not my favorite memory, but it is always the one that comes to mind when the question is posed. I was gifted Sox tickets at the last minute. I could find no one to go with me. So I road the train in from the western burbs, and took a cab to the Cell. It was May 3rd, 2011. I watched Francisco Liriano no-hit the Sox from 6 rows behind home plate. All the free food and White Russians in the world could not console me. Yet, for some reason, I am glad I was there.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 4:49 pm:
Oh yeah, runner up #3 - I always forget this one because I’m not a Sox fan, but my mom was, and we were in attendance at Comiskey Park on a rainy night in 1983 when the Sox clinched the division. We got to run out on the field. That was pretty cool
- obiter dictum - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 5:10 pm:
August of 1988. The first night game at Wrigley. Not sure how my dad got tickets. Sandberg hit a homerun, but then it rained and the game was called. So, not the official first night game, but the most memorable
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 5:15 pm:
Taking my dad to the last game at Comiskey Park.
- Enemy of the State - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 5:31 pm:
1964 World Series: Cards clinch on the last day of the season as Philly implodes. Went on to beat the Yankees 4 games to 3.Lou Brock blooms as a Redbird. Bob Gibson, Bill White, Curt Flood and Ken Boyer lead the team. Can not forget Mr. Baseball ruling the bull pen.
- SAP - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 5:51 pm:
July 13, 1973. Dad took me to Comiskey, where we met my uncle We watched the Sox beat Baltimore. I was 6. First game I ever went to. ( My uncle let me have a sip of
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 6:17 pm:
Took my 2 kids to their first Cub Convention-at first I thought I made a mistake when Kathy, Judy and Mark Grace talked about going commando-and my kids were tweens so off we went to find something else to do. We found a short line to meet and greet the up and coming Cubs-it was a pitcher and his catcher-we finally cajoled the kids to sit with them for a pic-that up and comer pitcher was Kerry Wood. Nice as nice could be-
- Stoney - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 7:21 pm:
My uncle is in the MLB HoF, had many friends and contacts. My son wanted to see a Cubs v Cards game as a HS graduation present. Called my Uncle and he got us tickets for a game at Busch stadium. My son is a Cardinals fan, I’m a Cubs fan. Not even thinking, I wore a Cubs jersey to the game. Our tickets were in the Cardinals family section a few rows up behind home plate.
- Captain Obvious - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:02 pm:
Lou Brock’s 3,000th hit. Happened to be the night my work had our annual ball game trip. Had box seats, great view.
- historic66 - Thursday, Mar 10, 22 @ 10:05 pm:
I have two. The Cubs winning the World Series is tops for me.
The top moment I have witnessed in person was Andy Hawkins throwing 8 no-hit innings while the Yankees lost to the White Sox 4-0 at old Comiskey.
- Oldtimer - Friday, Mar 11, 22 @ 6:21 am:
The Cubs winning in 2016 made up for a lot of pain endured over the years, particularly the collapses in 1984 and 2003.
Going to the 2014 AllStar game with my son. it was Derek Jeter’s last year and the crowd went crazy when he got a hit.
- Stones - Friday, Mar 11, 22 @ 6:59 am:
Watching the ‘05 Sox win the World Series with my Dad. We were so shocked that we didn’t really know how to celebrate.