lockout

Stop messing with Baseball.

/ Jo Redd / 1 Comment

As we continue slogging through this lockout, the players have gotten the bright idea that if the postseason is expanded to 14 teams, then at some point, a team (possibly multiple teams) should be able to start off 1-0 in their series. It’s been coined as a “ghost win,” and I think it is one of the stupidest proposals either side has come up with. I was on the player’s side, but I wonder if either side takes this seriously as time drags on. How does that do anything to help the game? Where is the excitement in a postseason that gives out “wins” that aren’t earned?

As a lifelong fan of baseball, I just want to see the game played like it was when I was a child. I’m not ancient, but I do remember a time when there were no seven-inning doubleheaders, and extra innings were seen as a treat, not a punishment. It was thrilling to watch a pitcher or a batter stall at the plate because of an aggressive at-bat; Bunting and base stealing were necessary to win a game.

I don’t care if a pitcher throws to check the runner twenty times in the first inning. If you don’t like the length of a baseball game, then you should not be watching baseball. I have watched football games that last just as long as baseball, and I don’t see nearly any complaints about that sport. The length of playtime is perfect and can add to the drama. MLB should not continue trying to implement a pitch clock. And, on a somewhat unrelated note, I’m still irritated that they now require relief pitchers to face a minimum of three batters. Again, some of the flashiest moments have come from seeing a pitcher specifically picked for one player. It is always thrilling to see if that pitcher can be successful in striking the batter out.

I don’t really care that owners spend a ton of money on the best players. If you own a team and you want it to be profitable, it is in your best interest to go out and spend the money to make that happen. Teams should not be in the business of tanking.

If there will be expanded playoffs, there need to be additional teams in the running for the postseason. There are a few places where a new professional team could really take off, and it’s about the only palatable option if the postseason is going to be manipulated even more.

Will Spring Training start on time?

/ Jo Redd / Leave a comment

Edited 2/10/2022

The owners are set to meet up today, and hopefully, they will change their tune and come to the table with a new offer once this group of meetings is completed. We have progressed to a spot where the owners want to turn to federal mediation, yet the players are not interested in that route. The players have come down from their initial numbers a couple different times, and now it is time for the owners to come up with their offer. This has been dragged on long enough, and it is beginning to look like the 2022 season will not be starting on time.

I watched an interesting video the other day from the guys over at Talkin’ Baseball and they explained in detail why the players rejected the call for federal mediation. I’ll never be able to do their segment justice, so head on over here and watch the video.

Photo by Rachel Xiao on Pexels.com

It’s been nearly a week since the meeting between the owners and the player’s union of the MLB. There seems to be no second meeting on the calendar, and the world of baseball remains silent. The fans are beginning to get restless. Again. While we all knew the talks that began last week weren’t going to come to an immediate conclusion, I think everyone expected there to be something happening. Trades aren’t being made, players aren’t able to work out and use the sports complex athletic trainers and other staff. This entire shutdown to the world of baseball is so detrimental to the sport itself. It felt like baseball was just gaining momentum again, and here we are, putting the emergency brake on.

Generally, at this time of year, talk is ramping up with the arrival of pitchers and catchers for spring training. Fans would be getting ready to make the trek to the various sites to get the first glimpses of their team in action. Sure the preseason games don’t matter, but it’s still fun to watch baseball. It is so gross to go look for the start date for baseball and see nothing but TBAs marked by all the teams.

The fans want baseball to come back. It’s already a long enough time from the last pitch of the world series to the first one the following season. Can we please just come to an agreement already? I don’t understand why the owners want a shortened season just so they can cram the postseason full of teams, and I don’t know why the two sides want to argue over numbers. Let’s be honest, if you have enough money to buy a baseball team, you have enough money to pay the taxes too.