6 January 2021
A modest {goal|objective} for 2021 is a healthy sense of optimism. Call it a resolution, if you will.
There is a sense of optimism around the 2021 baseball season. Schedules for the Cactus League, Grapefruit League, and {regular|routine} season {have|have actually} been out for months. {Major League|Big League} Baseball has a universal regular-season start date of April 1. That {means|implies|indicates|suggests} {pitchers and catchers|catchers and pitchers} can be {invited|welcomed} to spring training as early as Feb. 17 under the {terms of|regards to} the Collective Bargaining {Agreement|Contract|Arrangement}.
{Myriad {details|information} {remain|stay}– {health and safety|health and wellness} {protocols|procedures} {related to|associated with|connected to} the COVID-19 pandemic chief {among|amongst} them– {but|however} the {biggest|most significant|greatest} {detail|information} is when.|When, myriad {details|information} {remain|stay}– health and {safety|security} {protocols|procedures} related to the COVID-19 pandemic chief {among|amongst} them– {but|however} the {biggest|most significant|greatest} {detail|information} is.} The “when” isn’t {a question|a concern}, as far as {watching|viewing|enjoying|seeing} baseball {games|video games} is {concerned|worried}.
There are still {significant|considerable|substantial} {threats|risks|dangers|hazards} to playing 162-game seasons in 2021 and 2022. The {first|very first} is the pandemic.
MLB and the MLB Players’ Association {must|should|need to} {convene|assemble} on a set of {rules|guidelines} to {navigate|browse} the {new|brand-new} season {safely|securely}. {{Fortunately|Thankfully|Luckily}, they have the {benefit|advantage} of hindsight.|They have the {benefit|advantage} of hindsight.} That was {unavailable|not available} last spring when Commissioner Rob Manfred {implemented|executed|carried out} a 60-game schedule, calling it the longest season possible “{given|provided|offered} the {realities|truths} of the {virus|infection}.”
Plenty {has|has actually} {changed|altered} in the meantime. The NBA season is underway. The NHL season {begins|starts} {soon|quickly}. Their {protocols|procedures} will {serve as|function as|work as|act as} {useful|helpful|beneficial} {object lessons|practical demonstration}.
{{Meanwhile|On the other hand}, vaccinations are {ongoing|continuous}.|Vaccinations are {ongoing|continuous}.} I’m {not sure|uncertain|unsure|not exactly sure} when {players|gamers}, coaches, {team|group} {personnel|workers} and support {staff|personnel} will {be able to|have the ability to} {receive|get} their vaccinations. Neither are they, {based on|based upon} {conversations|discussions} I{‘ve| have actually} had with {people|individuals} closer to the {front lines|cutting edge}.
That’s {a concern|an issue}. We saw {last year|in 2015} how thin the margin for {error|mistake} {is in|remains in} an unvaccinated league. {An outbreak|A break out} {among|amongst} the St. Louis Cardinals left them {lucky|fortunate} to play 58 {games|video games}. When Justin Turner {tested|evaluated|checked} {positive|favorable} for COVID-19 in the middle of {Game|Video game} 6 of the World Series, the Dodgers were {fortunate|lucky} to end the {game|video game}, the series, and the season that night. The stakes for getting the {protocols|procedures} right, and {ensuring|guaranteeing|making sure} the {players|gamers} abide, are high.
The pandemic’s {effects|impacts|results} on the {game|video game} will be {temporary|short-term|momentary|short-lived}. Last season’s {protocols|procedures} were {unique|distinct|special} to last season. The 2021 {protocols|procedures} will be {confined|restricted} to 2021. Will {special|unique} {protocols|procedures} {need|require} to be in {place|location} for 2022? It’s {too soon|prematurely} to {say|state}, {but|however} it’s naïve to {assume|presume} society will {return to|go back to} “{normal|typical|regular}” on {a specific|a particular} date.
By the {same|exact same|very same} {measure|step|procedure}, it’s early to {say|state} how the {fundamentals|basics|principles} underpinning the next CBA will be {affected|impacted} by the pandemic. The {current|present|existing} CBA {expires|ends} at 8:59 Pacific Time on Dec. 1, which {means|implies|indicates|suggests} some {unusual|uncommon} forces will be at play {during|throughout} bargaining.
{Begin|Start} with the {availability|accessibility|schedule} and {effectiveness|efficiency} of vaccines. Fans’ {willingness|determination|desire} and {ability|capability} to {attend|go to|participate in} {a game|a video game} {in person|personally|face to face} depend on it. That will in turn {impact|effect} {revenues|incomes|profits|earnings}– the centripetal force of every labor {negotiation|settlement}.
For {players|gamers}, it’s {easy|simple} to {use|utilize} the {pace|speed|rate} of {free|totally free|complimentary} {agency|company|firm} as {motivation|inspiration} to renegotiate their {means|ways|methods} of service time-based {payouts|payments}– either as {free|totally free|complimentary} {agents|representatives}, through {salary|income|wage} arbitration, or the discretion of their {teams|groups}. {{Right now|Today}, the {pace|speed|rate} is glacial.
| Now, the {pace|speed|rate} is glacial.
} Free {agency|company|firm} {began|started} more than {two|2} months {ago|back|earlier}, and {only|just} {two|2} {players|gamers} (James McCann and Ha-Seong Kim) {have|have actually} signed {guaranteed|ensured} {contracts|agreements} of longer than {two|2} years with {an average|a typical} {annual|yearly} {value|worth} of $10 million or more. That’s {a pathetic|an useless|a pitiful|a worthless} {way|method} of keeping fans {engaged in|participated in|taken part in} the offseason.
{{But|However} there’s {a danger|a risk|a threat} in {analyzing|evaluating|examining} any {winter|winter season} in a vacuum.|There’s {a danger|a risk|a threat} in {analyzing|evaluating|examining} any {winter|winter season} in a vacuum.} Free {agency|company|firm} looked broken in 2019 when Bryce Harper (13 years, $330 million) and Manny Machado ({10 years|ten years}, $300 million) {received|got} {long-term|long-lasting} {contracts|agreements} commensurate of the adjective “star.” {Yet {only|just} one other {player|gamer} (pitcher Patrick Corbin) {received|got} {a contract|an agreement} longer than {five|5} years or $70 million {guaranteed|ensured}, {signaling|indicating|signifying} non-star {players|gamers} were {wise to|a good idea to|smart to} sign {contract|agreement} extensions {before|prior to} {testing|evaluating|checking} their {value|worth} on the {open market|free market}.
| {Only|Just} one other {player|gamer} (pitcher Patrick Corbin) {received|got} {a contract|an agreement} longer than {five|5} years or $70 million {guaranteed|ensured}, {signaling|indicating|signifying} non-star {players|gamers} were {wise|smart|sensible} to sign {contract|agreement} extensions {before|prior to} {testing|evaluating|checking} their {value|worth} on the open market.
} The {trend|pattern} reversed in 2020.
Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Zack Wheeler and Madison Bumgarner all signed {contracts|agreements} of {five|5} years or longer prior to the season. Josh Donaldson signed for $92 million over {four|4} years, {an unusually|an uncommonly|an abnormally} {bold|strong|vibrant} gambit for the small-market Twins. The {lucrative|profitable|rewarding|financially rewarding} {contracts|agreements} {given to|offered to|provided to} Hyun-Jin Ryu, Yasmani Grandal and Nick Castellanos {suggested|recommended} {the Blue|heaven} Jays, White Sox and Reds were no longer content to {stay on|remain on} the sidelines. The Dodgers bestowed generational wealth on Mookie Betts. With {a few|a couple of} exceptions, {teams|groups} {seemed|appeared} {ready|prepared|all set} to engage with {the best|the very best} {available|offered|readily available} {players|gamers} {again|once again}.
Now, the {unique|distinct|special} {circumstances|situations|scenarios} of the pandemic are {suppressing|reducing} {almost|practically|nearly} every {team|group}’s {willingness|determination|desire} to {spend|invest}. Comparing this offseason to years {past|previous} is {simply|just|merely} {unfair|unjust|unreasonable}. The economics of baseball {have|have actually} {changed|altered}.
Club executives aren’t {just|simply} {crying|weeping|sobbing} {poor|bad} to {agents|representatives}. They{‘ve| have actually} been {forced|required} to {institute|set up} {widespread|extensive|prevalent} layoffs and furloughs behind the scenes. Why, then, would {{players|gamers} and owners|owners and {players|gamers}} {try|attempt} now to set the {parameters|specifications|criteria} of {a long-term|a long-lasting} CBA for 2022 and beyond?
We{‘ve| have actually} heard the {players|gamers}’ {concerns with|interest in|worry about} the {current|present|existing} CBA {for years|for many years|for several years}. It hasn’t done enough to {discourage|dissuade|prevent} some {teams|groups} from “tanking” their postseason hopes {rather than|instead of} signing {players|gamers} who will {help|assist} them win. It underpays {talented|skilled|gifted} stars who {haven’t|have not} {accrued|accumulated} {enough|sufficient|adequate} service time to {become|end up being} {free|totally free|complimentary} {agents|representatives}. More {recently|just recently}, it’s empowered {teams|groups} to flood the free-agent market with {good|great|excellent} arbitration-eligible {players|gamers} such as Kyle Schwarber, Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, Brad Hand and Archie Bradley.
{{Meanwhile|On the other hand}, a multi-year {contract|agreement} extension {between|in between} MLB and Turner Sports, which produces {games|video games} {broadcast|transmitted|relayed} on TBS, {reportedly|apparently|supposedly} will {add|include} $470 million {per year|annually|each year}|A multi-year {contract|agreement} extension {between|in between} MLB and Turner Sports, which produces {games|video games} {broadcast|transmitted|relayed} on TBS, {reportedly|apparently|supposedly} will {add|include} $470 million per year} to the league’s coffers.
Still, owners {might|may} have qualms with the {current|present|existing} CBA. The Atlanta Braves’ {revenues|incomes|profits|earnings} dropped to $110 million from $212 million in the {third|3rd} quarter of {last year|in 2015}. The Associated Press reportedthat the Phillies lost $145 million {during|throughout} {roughly|approximately} the {same|exact same|very same} {period|duration}. {Revenue|Income|Profits|Earnings} figures for the other 28 {teams|groups} {haven’t|have not} been reported or otherwise made {publicly|openly} {available|offered|readily available}, {but|however} the league-wide pattern of layoffs {suggests|recommends} the Phillies and Braves aren’t alone. Whatever {stipulations|terms|specifications} the {current|present|existing} CBA {contains|includes|consists of} to make it an owner-friendly {contract|agreement} {couldn’t|could not} {prevent|avoid} {massive|huge|enormous} losses in a season without fans.
Here’s my modest {proposal|proposition} for {an useful|a helpful|a beneficial} compromise: extend the {current|present|existing} CBA by one year. It isn’t {perfect|ideal|best} for both {parties|celebrations}, {but|however} the next CBA will {surely|certainly|definitely|undoubtedly} {fall short|fail} too. {Ordinarily|Normally|Generally}, the {current|present|existing} market conditions would {inform|notify} both sides’ {needs|requirements} in {collective|cumulative} bargaining. {Since|Because|Considering that|Given that} the pandemic {began|started}, {however|nevertheless}, market conditions {have|have actually} been anything {but|however} {ordinary|regular|common|normal}.
{Tacking on|Adding} {an extra|an additional} year {gives|provides|offers} both sides {a better|a much better} {chance|possibility|opportunity} to {assess|evaluate|examine} the state of the {game|video game} with a more “{normal|typical|regular}” season fresh in their minds. {For now|In the meantime}, the {prospect|possibility} of a work {stoppage|interruption|blockage} is a sword of Damocles hanging over the 2022 season. COVID-19 {has|has actually} done enough to cancel {games|video games} {already|currently}. It {doesn’t|does not} {need|require} any {help|assistance|aid} from the MLB and Players’ Association’s {attorneys|lawyers}.
They will {find|discover} their own {reasons|factors} for balking at this {idea|concept}, {but|however} I’m {thinking|believing} {{first and foremost|firstly|primarily|most importantly}|{foremost|primary} and {first|very first}} about fans. If we {learned|discovered|found out} anything from last season, it’s this: fans will {only|just} be {encouraged|motivated} if {{players|gamers} and owners|owners and {players|gamers}} can {agree on|settle on} something– anything– that {results in|leads to} {a new|a brand-new} season as {quickly|rapidly} as possible. {Agreeing to|Consenting to|Accepting} play in 2022 under the {current|present|existing} {economic|financial} {framework|structure} is {an easy|a simple} {way|method} to get there.Source: ocregister.com