Tnetennba

A cap and floor would also help competitive balance and might help smaller market teams be more attractive to stars and other free agents. Not sure how that math would work though. It would also probably cut too deeply into the profits of lower payroll teams for the owners to agree to.

Re-opening “negotiations” with this proposal really reveals the level to which ownership has had no intention of negotiating in good faith from the start. Locking players out was never necessary if they actually had intentions of hashing out anything fair. It was clear from the beginning that ownership wanted to use the threat of lost games as leverage to pressure players into capitulating into a regressive deal. Thursday’s proposal was laughable and the optics of them going through the motions of negotiating makes them look so much worse. It couldn’t be more clear which side is trying to do the other dirty.

Cool. So how do we aid/incentivize small market teams so they are better able to keep their own stars?

Can't say I'm familiar.

Yes. The replay did not look good. No structural damage is huge.

Yes, yes it does. Even more so as this BS drags out.

Curious if he were on AK's radar at all. The PF hole is becoming all the more glaring every game.

I am all for a salary cap, and floor, and even NBA style max contracts in MLB - but not so owners can rake in unlimited profits at the same time. I want those profits invested in the organization to take care of the regular employees as we've discussed. I don't foresee either side ever agreeing to such drastic changes, so give me a universal DH, some concession on service time to help arb guys get paid sooner, and something to incentivize teams from perpetually tanking for profit. Baseball people much smarter about this stuff than me can hash something out, and the sooner the better. The owners need to come to the table with legit offers soon and quit burning days counting down to a delayed season and lost games.

100%. I know I've argued for the players side against ownership repeatedly, but I honestly care the most about the "little guys" of the orgs, and poorly minor leaguers are compensated. Every employee from the top down deserves a livable wage and benefits, and prioritizing profit over the people that make the game happen is an injustice. And I am just fine with both sides seeing a reduction in their share to make it happen. Unfortunately that isn't the world we live in.

A PR announcement for bobblehead giveaways but they can't put player's names out. That is both a hilarious and sad commentary on the state of affairs.

Yeah, that's the best anyone can really hope for from him this season. I just don't want the FO banking on that happening in any meaningful way and not addressing the hole between now and the trade deadline. Or whatever deadline playoff roster eligibility ends.

And I personally believe more of those profits should go to the employees that make the game happen, (beyond player salaries) as opposed to lining shareholder's pockets or being syphoned off elsewhere. I'm really curious to know quantifiably what contributions owners make to the game day to day, year to year, beyond their initial dollars spent acquiring the franchise.

I have a really hard time envisioning Pat being a worthwhile contributor at all if he does make it back this season. Conditioning, timing, knowing the system and his teammates, it's a tall order. The sooner they can acquire some athletic size at the defensive end the better. I don't know who that is, but it is the biggest issue holding this team back IMO.

EW. 🤣😂🤣😂😆

Yes, which in simpler terms, is that ownership cares about profit first, and winning is far down the list of priorities. Which is the very crux of my critique.

MiLB transactions can still happen. MiLB isn't locked out, so I don't see why it would be an issue.

This thread title makes my skin crawl for some reason 😆🤣.

Is the lockout really about the longterm business prospects of the league though? Maybe its my cynicism talking but that seems specious to me. No ulterior motives to protect profit, drive down labor costs, and or do damage to the MLBPA?

This is a valid point. But of those failed sports leagues, how many of them had to compete with an already existing and flourishing league in the same sport? And are any MLB teams really financially insolvent or at risk of failing in the current landscape?