Will the Players Strike Again?

Well, here we are approaching spring training again. And as has been the case over the last two years, there are some things that are still not settled between the players and ownership. The Universal DH has not been approved, but according to some sources it is still on the table.

Ownership, players, managers and coaches all like it. But what MLB wants as a trade off for implementation so far has been a deal breaker. What do they want? Expanded playoffs. And the players are not enamoured with that idea.

Right now it stands that 10 teams will make the playoffs. That would be the 6 division leaders, and 4 wild card teams. MLB would like to see 14. They proposed a 154 game season to the MLBPA, and that was turned down without a counter offer.

So far, they have agreed on protocols for playing with the Covid virus still a matter of concern. There will be strict monitoring and testing. The Cactus league wanted them to delay spring training since Maricopa county had seen an increase of Covis cases.

But the union went ahead and said no, they have been guaranteed a full season by MLB. Players are uneasy with the power Manfred has to cancel games and change the schedule. That was cited as one of the reasons the 154 game schedule was rejected.

Neither side at this point seems inclined to offer some sort of compromise. And in a way it has ham stringed some NL teams in assembling their teams since the DH has been up in the air.

The Dodgers had been in contact with Ozuna before he resigned with the Braves and even offered him a 2 year contract according to some baseball pundits. If they knew for sure there would be a DH, it would set it up so JT could be used as the DH on days he did not play 3rd. If he is resigned of course.

His options have dwindled a lot. The Mets are said to be in hot pursuit of a trade with the Cubs for Bryant. Milwaukee is supposedly still in the hunt, but almost everyone thinks Turner will be back in LA.

But the bigger problem is that the current CBA runs out after the season. There are some who feel the players feel they got hosed in the last one, and won’t go quietly this time. Hence the threat of a work stoppage on their half, and maybe even a lockout by the owners.

We have danced this dance before. The MLBPA is the strongest union in sports. But they also have a weak leader in Tony Clark. Manfred is not trusted much by the players. He is considered just the owner’s mouthpiece.

Compromise has not been the word of the day. But we can all hope that cooler heads will prevail. It does not help that the country is in the state it is in. Loss of jobs and income. No fans in the seats means no revenue. And most think that L.A. will be one of the last to allow fans at games.

That courtesy of L.A.’s city government. Bottom line is that we should all be prepared for what is most likely coming after the season. Rhetoric from both sides, and a lot of venom.

The vaccine is rolling out more and more every day. Ownership has encouraged players to be vaccinated. Most are saying masks should be worn until at least September.

We all want to see games, and at this point, I think the country NEEDS baseball to be back. We want to see the kids show their wares during spring training. We want to see what the loaded LA rotation can do. We are in dire need of some Belli Bombs, and Mad Max making pitchers go get it out of the ocean. We all want to see if David Price can be elite again.

If it is his last season in blue, we want to give Kersh the send-off he so richly deserves. Diving catches, spectacular defense. Who here does not want to see Mookie rob a few more homers?

It will be Kenley’s last hurrah also. I doubt they will bring him back after this season. The young guns will be looking to make their mark and solidify their place on the team.

 There will be a few surprises, some heartbreak, and no doubt a lot of angst come September. But hopefully, baseball will survive, the Dodgers will win the west and return to the series to get a shot at going back to back. Something they have not done since 77-78.

And maybe, just maybe, next winter by the time the winter meetings take place, the players and ownership will realize how damaging a strike would be. And the owners will realize that the already fragile baseball fan base is really tired of all the infighting between the two sides.

Kids are chomping at the bit to play little league again. Fans want to go to spring training and enjoy a day in the sun watching their favorites ply their trade.

The crack of the bat and the sights and sounds of a major league baseball game still resonate with fans. But too much animosity between the two sides could derail that very easily.

Fun Stuff!