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I really don't think it would change much in the way the fans see the game. In reality the MLB is the weakess ownership group in all of the major sports. It's the only one without a salary and where the players have guaranteed contracts. The cost control for the players is stronger in all of the other sports.

Successful?

To be honest it wasnt a knock on drafting athletes. More of a commentary on how the Sox draft athletes, people complain about busts. The Sox draft more baseball players and people complain about low ceiling. Both philosophies have good and bad. I just wish the Sox would get the right one a little more often regardless of philosphy.

Swinging back to the Jared Mitchell and Courtney Hawkins philosophy?

I thought it was a good compromise. Owners are protected a little if there are no playoffs. Players gain if there is. According to the report, if there are playoffs the players would get 70% of the revenue for the year.

I may have misunderstood the report. But I thought the playoff revenue would be split among all of them not just the playoff teams.

Depends on the amount of the additional playoff pool money. Its a reasonable deal where it protects the owners if there is no playoffs and the players benefit if there are playoffs. Decent compromise.

I think that would be the way to go.

The game is stronger than it ever has been. MLB had 10 billion in revenues last year. The value of the teams has never been higher. It took a few years after 1994 for the fans to come but they did. The golden goose will return eventually. Someone earlier said that owning a team is like owning a house, very little risk and the value will appreciate.

But there was still most of a season that year.

They played more games that year than they will this year if they go by by most plans.

Got it. I don't have access to that site.

Personally, I'll be stunned if they take a HS outfielder with their first pick. Pitcher or catcher I could buy more.

Yeah, they both have valid points for the stances. They both need to give a little more to make it happen. Unfortunately, I think both sides see this as an extension of the CBA talks and dont want to set a precedent.

I would have no issues watching video to assess him physically. I do agree with you if they haven't done their due diligence into his work ethic, temperament and personality. This cant be done through video.

Doesn't sound like Howard is an underslot pick that some perceive him to be.

NBA needs to be in much better cardiovascular condition than baseball. Those big heavy bodies take longer to get fit (or at least as fit as they are going to be)

No doubt. And it's TRUE except for very few outliers.

Agreed.

Again, until there is an agreement to explore a salary cap there is no reason to share the books. There is no advantage in negotiations to give the opposition more information than needed. The union obviously knows at least part of it otherwise Boras wouldnt have acknowledged it and commented on it.

I dont know the answer to that. Only what Boras said and he is the most anti-owner person out there. If the players agreed to a salary cap the owners would have to open their books. Until then there is no advantage for them to do it. Why give the opposition any more information than needed? It makes no sense to do that for negotiations.

Good questions. Hopefully, someone has answers.

The players know the owners operate on a very slim margin. Boras said in an interview that the owners dont have much net profit after paying all expenses including loans. The owners make their money in building asset value in the team and profit when they sell. Which he says isn't shared with the players, in which he is correct.

Sorry. These are injury concerns not control. I'm not sure about control issues. I believe Rondon did walk quite a few but that's purely a guess from memory.

Many clubs are talking about using the home parks for their spring training sites. This spring training will be more about getting physically ready for the season more than games.