2021 MLB Season Thread

[sleepingmoose]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Manfred is a POS. I'll never get over how he completely ####ed up the cheating scandal and divided fans and players alike. Now watching him navigate in to a work stoppage is infuriating.

You probably won't like this either then:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1498739860009594898

[flamingred89]

Haha what a knob. And he was laughing during the press conference announcing the cancellations of the first 2 series. Just clueless.

[KelVarnsen]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1498793611323977736

[GirlySports]

The owners want to cancel games, it cuts down on payroll. Then they will get the playoffs and make it all back. Manfred has done his job.

[KelVarnsen]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1498790572714348544

[GirlySports]

Why is the deadline today? The 5pm deadline is made by MLB and enforced by MLB. There is literally zero reason for a deadline to cancel games other than MLB to control the narrative and power

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The owners want to cancel games, it cuts down on payroll. Then they will get the playoffs and make it all back. Manfred has done his job.

Yeah, not buying that.

First, it only applies to the first year of the deal. And second, there is a cost with respect to fan support.

Manfred is a tool, but I doubt that was a goal

[Senator Clay Davis]

Yeah as much as we want to assume there is an ulterior motive, it's just straight up incompetence. Breaking the union is the only real "ulterior motive"

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Yeah, not buying that.

First, it only applies to the first year of the deal. And second, there is a cost with respect to fan support.

Manfred is a tool, but I doubt that was a goal

Maybe wanted is slightly strong wording - but the owners certainly wanted to cancel games vs give up anything in this negotiation

They make all their profit on playoff TV deals essentially

They won’t have any pressure until the playoffs are at risk - and at proved during covid they can just play a 60 game season and still get their playoff money

Are players willing to sit out until then ? Or realistically set their own deadline where they cancel the season so the owners can’t use playoffs as their fall back

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Why is the deadline today? The 5pm deadline is made by MLB and enforced by MLB. There is literally zero reason for a deadline to cancel games other than MLB to control the narrative and power

Um not true, Pitchers need a minimum amount of games to get ready for the season. For the season to start at end of March, training camp had to start in the next couple of days

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Maybe wanted is slightly strong wording - but the owners certainly wanted to cancel games vs give up anything in this negotiation

They make all their profit on playoff TV deals essentially

They won’t have any pressure until the playoffs are at risk - and at proved during covid they can just play a 60 game season and still get their playoff money

Are players willing to sit out until then ? Or realistically set their own deadline where they cancel the season so the owners can’t use playoffs as their fall back

Problem always with players unions is can you keep hundreds of players in line to sacrifice a season?

[Barnes]

Good news. My mlb tv 2021 subscription has been extended.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Maybe wanted is slightly strong wording - but the owners certainly wanted to cancel games vs give up anything in this negotiation

They make all their profit on playoff TV deals essentially

They won’t have any pressure until the playoffs are at risk - and at proved during covid they can just play a 60 game season and still get their playoff money

Are players willing to sit out until then ? Or realistically set their own deadline where they cancel the season so the owners can’t use playoffs as their fall back

National TV deals sure... but local TV deals are a big deal for baseball. Obviously with the Jays it doesn't particularly apply revenue wise, but Sportsnet is losing big viewership for every game that is cancelled.

[bluejays]

I'm not with any side on this one. Both are idiotic. But in this situation, Manfred will always be the biggest idiot running the show. How can so many buffoons be hired by MLB over the years? Selig, Manfred, La Russa, etc. Just seems like a cashcow that hires idiots.

[KelVarnsen]

The owners have already lost. Even if the players give in, the owners lost.

[Strange Brew]

People have short memories.

[jayswin]

Yep, I made comments during both work stoppages in the NHL in recent decades about being so upset that I'm losing my desire to be a fan and/or saying I'm done completely because their stupidity/greed.

Looking back, as soon as they come back I start watching again with some anger and annoyance, and then within that season I already didn't care that it happened and was back to following like normal.

[KelVarnsen]

The sheer arrogance especially the images of Manfred smiling and golfing are going to stick in minds for a long time.

Baseball was already struggling, this will just make it worse.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Baseball fans have already accepted being #### on a bunch over the years, what's one more thing? Things like this ensure there's virtually no long term hope for the sport, but in the interim things will basically be normal when they eventually come back.

[nfotiu]

This one feels a little different. A lot of people got used to not going to the games after a short fan-less season, and a partial attendance/lots of restrictions season. I know a lot of long time season ticket holders who gave up their tickets this year.

Nobody has patience for these millionaires and billionaires squabbling about percentages after dealing with the last couple years of COVID and now a tragic war on people's minds.

Add to that, that 40-50% don't have access to their local team on TV anymore, and baseball is going to start looking a lot Brockmire was predicting.