Baseball, Blame, And What Should Be Done

As I begin to write this, it is 6:23 AM Eastern time on June 17, 2020.  In any other year, the Major League Baseball season would be in full swing at this point.  Nevertheless, because of greed and stubbornness on both sides of the table, we're still waiting to see the year's first pitch. 

By now, most fans are aware that the MLB players' union has reached an impasse with owners, mostly over...you guessed it...money.  It breaks down like this; owners say that the coronavirus pandemic has cost them millions of dollars, and that they are unable to pay players their full salaries (the owners have offered to pay seventy-five percent of player salaries this season).  The players have balked at this, refusing to play unless they are paid in full. 

Although both sides are to blame for the current stalemate, I put most of this matter on the players.  You see, it's all about the money.  The players' union says that they want to play..."tell us when and where"...but unless they get paid, players have no interest in returning to the field (1) .  If they did, we'd actually have some games in the news, rather than the bickering between players and owners.  

Let's be real here; players are massively overpaid for their services already.  Most Americans would be overjoyed to make even ten percent of the average MLB player's yearly pay.  That amount alone would come to a six-figure salary (per year).  The fact that the union is moaning over twenty-five percent of their salaries is mind-boggling to me.  

And apparently, the players have learned nothing from the last major work stoppage, in 1994 (that year ended without a World Series).  Then, as now, fans were disgusted over the sheer greed of players, who insisted on ever increasing salaries.  As such, when baseball came back for the 1995 season, many of the game's most loyal fans tuned out.  It was only the McGwire/Sosa home run chase (and the exploits of one Cal Ripken, Jr.) that saved MLB from total ruin (2) .  

Now back to our story.  Last week, the union walked out of negotiations with team owners, refusing to engage in further discussions.  This week, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred declared his intent to unilaterally schedule games (this is one of the general powers given to the Commissioner by the owners).  It seems that the union's reply to this has been "not so fast", as they have threatened to file a labor grievance if/when this happens (3) .  As such, Major League Baseball is "between a rock and a hard place", so to speak.  

With the 2020 season in jeopardy, I believe it's time for Commissioner Manfred to make a tough decision, and hire replacement players.  This would send a clear message to the regular players; "you don't want to come back? Fine...the league will continue without you, and you may not have your job next season".  

Fans of Major League Baseball are tired of waiting for the resumption of league games.  If the players will not voluntarily return to work, it's time for the commissioner to have some guts, and call them on that.  Let's do what needs to be done; declare a schedule, get on the field, and "play ball"!

Sources:

1. Passan, Jeff. "Players 'Disgusted' As Manfred Cites Risk To Season". ESPN.Com, 2020, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29315408/mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-now-less-confident-2020-season. Accessed 17 June 2020.

2. Personal knowledge.  

3. Passan, Jeff. "MLB Players Said Tell Us 'When And Where' To Return. So Tell Them, Commissioner". ESPN.Com, 2020, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29316453/mlb-players-said-tell-us-where-return-tell-commissioner. Accessed 17 June 2020.