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Question of the day

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* Oy…


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.”

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 18, 2022

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.”

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 18, 2022


* The Question: How hopeful or pessimistic are you about the prospects for this year’s baseball season? Please explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:09 pm

Comments

  1. 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.

    Comment by Roadrager Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:14 pm

  2. Pessimistic. Frankly, I’d rather attend a minor league game.

    Comment by Andersonville Right Winger Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:15 pm

  3. 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.

    Comment by The 5th Deputy Governor Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:18 pm

  4. ^ I think we see games get canceled.

    Comment by The 5th Deputy Governor Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:19 pm

  5. 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.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:20 pm

  6. It’s like the baseball owners think the newspaper business model works.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:21 pm

  7. 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.

    Comment by Steve Rogers Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:21 pm

  8. 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

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:23 pm

  9. 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.

    Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:24 pm

  10. 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.

    Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:25 pm

  11. 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.

    Comment by Downstate Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm

  12. Pessimistic. I do think we’ll see baseball this year, but it will be a very shortened schedule.

    Comment by Freecake Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm

  13. 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.

    Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm

  14. Oops. Didn’t answer the question. I’m not optimistic for the baseball season.

    Comment by Downstate Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:37 pm

  15. 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.

    Comment by Pundent Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:47 pm

  16. 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.

    Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:48 pm

  17. 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.

    Comment by OldSmoky2 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:50 pm

  18. Pessimistic. Although, it’s one way for me to avoid hearing anything about Cubs games.

    Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:50 pm

  19. Sigh.

    Time to drag up, call it a week, kick back, have an adult beverage, and come back on Tuesday.

    Comment by Huh? Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:51 pm

  20. 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.

    Comment by James Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:54 pm

  21. Pessimistic. Why? Owners.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:56 pm

  22. 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.

    Comment by Corn Country Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:58 pm

  23. 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?

    Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:05 pm

  24. 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.

    Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:11 pm

  25. 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.

    Comment by Occam Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:16 pm

  26. 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.

    Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:16 pm

  27. I’m pessimistic because of greed.

    Comment by Waffle Fries Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:22 pm

  28. Not very optimistic.

    Comment by OneMan Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:23 pm

  29. Not very optimistic.

    Comment by OneMan Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:23 pm

  30. 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.

    Comment by Vote Quimby Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:27 pm

  31. 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.

    Comment by New Day Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:38 pm

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