Posted on 12/02/2021 2:54:52 AM PST by NautiNurse
Major League Baseball team owners have locked out the players in a battle over the game’s future economic structure, initiating the sport’s first work stoppage since the strike that resulted in the cancelation of the 1994 World Series.
[snip]
A large point of contention is the competitive landscape, particularly the rise of “tanking”–a radical rebuilding strategy in which teams intentionally make their rosters worse to save money and acquire draft picks for the future. This approach, coupled with an increased reliance on data analytics, caused a squeeze on some veteran free agents, inspiring the players’ frustration.
[snip]
Management argues that the players receive a fair share of the game’s overall revenues and have balked at any proposal that involves increasing their take. Rather, the league sees the issue as one of wealth distribution: that a small number of highly rewarded superstars command a disproportionate amount of the money allocated to players...
[snip]
Clearly, baseball as a whole isn’t facing existential financial distress. Teams have already spent nearly $2 billion on free agents this offseason, with the looming lockout causing a frenzied spending spree over the past week. Scherzer signed a three-year contract with the New York Mets that will net him $43.3 million per season, an all-time record that far surpasses New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s $36 million annually. Shortstop Corey Seager’s 10-year, $325 million with the Texas Rangers was the ninth deal ever to guarantee a player $300 million or more.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Sigh...
Greed ruins everything. Fix this!!!
“This drastic and unnecessary measure will not affect the
Players’ resolve to reach a fair contract. We remain committed
to negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement that
enhances competition, improves the product for our fans, and
advances the rights and benefits of our membership.”
MLB Commish Robert Manfred wrote a big ol' letter to baseball fans.
Looks like the MLB players union was caught with their pants down on the lockout decision.
There was economics version 1.0 before Covid, and there is economics version 2.0 after Covid. If you look around, I’d say at least a dozen clubs are marginally making it (meaning they have five or six decent players only because of the TV contract). Count in the other fact that most all clubs are laughing at agents trying to talk up 7-year contracts.
Another thing you notice....virtually no thrills of signing up a 32-year old player or older....to a four-year contract these days. A lot of 35/36 year old guys are now finished....with no club willing to pay three-to-five million a year.
I think this strike will go through June, and the low-end players with no savings will be desperate to take anything. 2022 season will be a joke.
There are lots of us who would pay the owners to let us play Baseball. That would be a hoot.
Tanking. As a Reds fan, I’m very familiar with the process. I have only a passing interest these days in MLB since they sold their souls to wokeism. The Reds will be lucky if they survive after alienating over half their fan base. The team had a mildly exiting run midway through last season. While paying some attention, I did not spend one dime on the team, no trips to the stadium, no TV package to watch them, just a click to read now and then. The blue sh!thole city teams will be fine but those that depend on a fan base out in the hinterlands might not survive the politicalization of baseball.
Agree. Those of us who already purchased Spring Training tickets for 2022 are facing disappointment again.
We also follow minor league baseball. Impressive competition at the MiLB levels.
Long suffering Pirates fans have a deep understanding of tanking.
It’s not just a game. It’s Baseball.
My thoughts exactly.
Like the St Louis Cardinals whom I have followed for decades, the Reds tradition and baseball history has very deep roots. When I saw the blm stenciled into the pitcher’s mound in the first Cardinals-Pirates game of 2020, I changed the channel and never again have I even looked even at a box score or the standings. Money changing the sport was inevitable, and not necessarily for the good. Kowtowing to leftism ... very bad mistake.
While the current generation of players are members of the "ME" millennial generation.
Exactly
Beat ‘em, Bucs!
I haven’t cared for years.
I always thought “tanking” was what happened in Chicago bars AFTER the Cubs played.
What’s a baseball?
When they took the knee to BLM I took a hike, canceled my season tickets, stopped watching any games, don’t buy anything relating to the team.
If they go out of business it will be fine with me.
I fixed it. I stopped watching. I watched 90% of games ‘my team’ played up until around 3 years ago. Last year with the removal of the All Star game from Atlanta was the last straw. I was ecstatic when the braves took it (I am and will never be a braves fan).
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