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Since this morning there has been a fair bit of news on the potential 2020 season front.
First, after saying he was 100% sure there would be a 2020 season, now Rob Manfred has told us he can’t guarantee there will be a 2020 season.
Last word from the players was ‘we aren’t making anymore counter offers, you can start the season when you want, tell us where and when to show up’. Which seemed to set up Manfred to do that he was threatening to do, use his power to impose a season.
Then this came out:
Source: In a letter today, MLB told the MLBPA there would be no 2020 season unless the players waived any legal claims against the league.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) June 15, 2020
The owners know that the players would never sign such a thing. And honestly, who would. Basically the owners have taken their ball and are stomping their feet, saying ‘we are going home.’
The owners have had years of record profits, topped last year by getting:
According to a report by Forbes, the MLB grossed a record $10.7 billion in revenue for the 2019 season, an increase from the $10.3 billion the prior year.
And yet they are still pleading poverty. I’m in the ‘I don’t mind if the owners take a bit of a lost this year’ group, find an industry that won’t take a loss this year. I truly doubt there is any chance they will lose money, but if they do I won’t cry for them. I get that they won’t make the money they are wanting, but then who among us will. If Rogers loses a bit of money on baseball they will just add to my cell bill next year.
Not a surprise when the players said this:
Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark today released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ibyOqB93WC
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) June 15, 2020
It is funny, early on I thought the owners had all the baseball writers on their side. Now, I haven’t seen one who still seems on their side.
This is likely right:
My take:
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowdenGM) June 15, 2020
MLB couldn't implement a 48-52 game schedule at this time in the calendar without losing a grievance to the players since a schedule between 64-72 games can easily be fit in between now and Sept. 27th. Therefore, another delay tactic until the calendar is more friendly
I do like this line:
Agent Joel Wolfe on @MLB owners crying poverty:
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) June 15, 2020
"The Marlins played without fans for 15 years, yet still managed to give a player the biggest contract in sports history (Stanton), and then sold the team for a Billion dollar profit, with 5 competing buyers."
I just saw this:
NEW YORK (AP) — MLB letter obtained by The Associated Press says several players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) June 15, 2020
Speaking as someone who had a COVID test today (my son works in the health industry and was feeling off all weekend. He seems better today, but since he was getting a test, we figured we should too. It was painless.), my question is ‘how many in a several’? Is several 5? Is it 20? 50?