Well after slogging through that article I still don't know when or if MLB will be playing. It's all about who gets paid, and how all sorts of administrative things are going to be handled. No real plan, yet, as to when things will start and what will be the circumstances.
It seems like a 1/2 season would be the best thing. They are going to have to have another Spring training, I don't care what great routine the pitchers have been following at home, they won't be ready to throw right away. I guess the question will be how long will it take for them to get back into shape for throwing in a game. The position players probably can be ready physically a lot sooner. JO'Co, Corey, how long do you think it'll take pitchers to get ready to play? It seems like any sooner than mid-July is out of question. I just hope they don't go to hokey 7 inning games and play a lot of double headers trying to squeeze in more games.
OK just after I posted they above there are reports that MLB is negotiating with the Players Union for a start around the July 4th, with a Spring Training starting early to mid-June.
Hopefully we get more information this week. Hope the players and owners can get together and we have a season.
At this point the #1 consideration is of course the situation with Covid-19, various local/state restrictions that they have to deal with, but mostly figuring out testing and stuff. #2 is the players and owners fighting over who's paying for what, players aren't going to take salary reductions easily and owners are not eager to pay full season salary for 1/2 season of work. Sure they do it all the time on players who are injured, but not the whole roster.
NCAA has extended the dead period, which was set to expire May 31st, to June 30th. I also saw that the NCAA prez said it will not mandate a uniform start time for college football.
Here's hoping for baseball starting in July and football returning in the fall. Is it possible that football returns but not all schools field a team? And if a school does not field a team what happens with their player?
That's a good question Bill. I guess those players would be taking a redshirt year if they still had one available. If in the unlikely event we don't have football in the fall, that will create a big problem for sure. Will kids who signed a NLI for 2020 all still come in 2021, that would mean in 2021, you would have your 2020 freshmen, then on top of that your 2021 freshmen, and what about players who were planning to play in 2020 and then either graduate and move on to business/nfl but now want to come back for another year? Star players who are likely to be 1st through 3rd round draft picks probably would just move on to the NFL. But what about the rest of them? If 2020 was their last year of eligibility would they get an extra year? Lots of problems when your team doesn't play, or worse problems if the whole country doesn't play.
I see where the Florida governor at yesterday’s press meeting said he’s inviting MLB to come to Florida and play their games, said we will find the stadiums needed to host the expected 81 game shortened season
For baseball it's going to be all about the money. Owners want to do a 50/50 revenue sharing, which means players take a paycut for a reduced season. Blake Snell and Trevor Bauer are amongst the many players who say ....NO WAY. "For me to take a pay cut is not happening," Snell said. "Because the risk is through the roof. It's a shorter season. ... No, I've got to get my money. I'm not playing unless I get my mine." Snell is hardly the first pitcher to voice that opinion. Cincinnati Reds hurler Trevor Bauer was just as incensed Wednesday over MLB's proposal, which Clark said amounted to a money grab under the cover of a global health crisis. Bauer vented in a video he posted to YouTube (
Baseball still mired in the battle over money. Scott Boras injected that he's recommending MLB players not give the owners a bailout and agree to salary cuts.
Lot of stories today in the Houston Chronicle on local HS players and the upcoming MLB draft. Since it's only going to be 5 rounds, there is a lot speculation that more HS players than usual will chose to go to college for 3 years. Also a note that the Astros have decided they are going to pay the minor league players through Aug 31st including benefits. They get 400$ a week. Not all teams are doing this, rough time to be a in the minor leagues
Well the players have made a counter offer of a 114 game season. Owners want 82 games. Players want the option to not play if they have corona virus concerns. Salary will still be a big issue.