Will there be a 2022 season?

[Deja Doh]

With 3 months until opening day, the lockout continues.

[notin]

With 3 months until opening day, the lockout continues.

 

Yes, Virginia, there will be an MLB season.

 

The lockout is likely to continue well into January and possibly even February, but both sides stand to realize that a missed season is the worst possible outcome for everyone…

[moonslav59]

Close to 99% there will be games by May 1st.

[Hugh2]

The only real leverage the players have is to threaten the season, I think no one wants a repeat of 1994 but it's not going to be real enough to get the owners to the bargaining table until that becomes a reality.

 

I think we hear nothing for 8-10 more weeks and then talks heat up and a deal gets done. Be prepared for a LONG winter.

[a700hitter]

It’s amazing how the people who profit lucratively from a sport that sells itself can manage to ruin the business end of things.

[mvp 78]

With 3 months until opening day, the lockout continues.

 

Yes, lockout will end in Feb/March. Opening Day won't be impacted.

[mvp 78]

It’s amazing how the people who profit lucratively from a sport that sells itself can manage to ruin the business end of things.

 

It's an ego thing. Most of the owners are financially independent from the MLB team and don't have to worry about that income. It's just a plaything.

[mvp 78]

The only real leverage the players have is to threaten the season, I think no one wants a repeat of 1994 but it's not going to be real enough to get the owners to the bargaining table until that becomes a reality.

 

I think we hear nothing for 8-10 more weeks and then talks heat up and a deal gets done. Be prepared for a LONG winter.

 

Players have not threatened the season though. The owners initiated the lockout. There was no reason for doing so. They could have written up a one page amendment that would have MLB continuing under the old CBA for a certain time until the new CBA is agreed upon.

[oldtimer]

The only real leverage the players have is to threaten the season, I think no one wants a repeat of 1994 but it's not going to be real enough to get the owners to the bargaining table until that becomes a reality.

 

I think we hear nothing for 8-10 more weeks and then talks heat up and a deal gets done. Be prepared for a LONG winter.

 

The owners are in a position to take the long view over the entire period of the CBA, where the players begin to hurt when their pay checks are not forthcoming. I doubt if the season begins on time with more of a May or June start after a protracted dispute period.

 

The top end players are doing incredibly well financially these days, its the new and marginal players that should be looking for concessions. Boosting the minimum salaries, finding ways around holding ready players back to delay arbitration eligibility are two things the union should pursue. Usually, when you bargain for something, you should be willing to cede some other point. The question will be how flexible will each side be in the negotiations.

 

Some on the site are blatantly anti-owner, but both sides are capable of helping to settle this for the good of the fans and the sport.

[dgalehouse]

All I know is if I had a business , I would definitely not look to MLB as the model of how to run it. And I absolutely would not hire Rob Manfred.

[notin]

Players have not threatened the season though. The owners initiated the lockout. There was no reason for doing so. They could have written up a one page amendment that would have MLB continuing under the old CBA for a certain time until the new CBA is agreed upon.

 

 

And the lockout just seemed like a dumb maneuver to me, since they already had the upper hand and that would have continued under any slightly modified CBA..

[mvp 78]

And the lockout just seemed like a dumb maneuver to me, since they already had the upper hand and that would have continued under any slightly modified CBA..

 

100 million percent.

[Kimmi]

There will be a season and it will start on time.

 

In the meantime, what a boring offseason.

[notin]

There will be a season and it will start on time.

 

In the meantime, what a boring offseason.

 

We haven’t had an exciting off-season in years…

[mvp 78]

We haven’t had an exciting off-season in years…

 

"We" as in Sox fans, sure. However, I think some other teams have had some fun offseasons recently.

[Larry Cook]

Greed continued to choke the life out of this game!

[moonslav59]

We haven’t had an exciting off-season in years…

 

We did see one of the most exciting signing weeks in ML history.

[Kimmi]

We haven’t had an exciting off-season in years…

 

I think that's a matter of opinion. If you're hoping for the signing of a superstar free agent to a huge contract, then things have been less than exciting. If you're looking for the types of deals that will produce great value, both short term and long term, then it's been exciting for the Red Sox.

 

Right now, there is just a lack of anything happening.

[mvp 78]

I think that's a matter of opinion. If you're hoping for the signing of a superstar free agent to a huge contract, then things have been less than exciting. If you're looking for the types of deals that will produce great value, both short term and long term, then it's been exciting for the Red Sox.

 

Right now, there is just a lack of anything happening.

 

On one of the Sox Prospects podcasts, they discussed that there is typically a slow down in signings in December anyway. I don't think we're going to really feel the difference until February when ST doesn't start up. Once the crocuses start popping out of the snow and there are no MLB players in Fort Myers, we'll start to feel it more.

 

They are still going to do a non-MLB Spring Training though, right?

[oldtimer]

Still the most inciteful article I have read on CBA negotiations.

https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/why-mlb-lockout-wont-end-anytime-soon

[S5Dewey]

 

They are still going to do a non-MLB Spring Training though, right?

 

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

[moonslav59]

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

 

The age of absurdity!

[jad]

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

 

It's also a pretty accurate definition of Capitalism in Action.

(Anyone know if there are economic consequences or benefits of locking players out? maybe a few million and change in not having to keep facilities open?)

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

 

Watch out -- if they read your post they might mock you on Tweeter with one thumb, while the other is cashing your check.

[notin]

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

 

 

Hey, just because the players stand to lose money doesn’t mean everyone should, right?

[TylerD]

It’s amazing how the people who profit lucratively from a sport that sells itself can manage to ruin the business end of things.

 

It’s sickening really.

[moonslav59]

It’s sickening really.

 

Yup.

 

And lots of companies do some rather sickening things just to make a few more bucks in profit.

[notin]

There better be a season. I can’t have another 2020 of trying to get into Jelle’s Marble Runs on YouTube to fill my sports needs…

[dgalehouse]

I got an email from the Sox recently saying that I should expect the bill for tickets in my mailbox next week (or I could pay it online!)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hubris of the ownership of a team who would lock the players out and then sell tickets to games that may not happen because of their own lockout.

 

This is almost the definition of 'Having it Both Ways'.

 

Like many things , it is simply a matter of supply and demand. The system has been working very well for the billionaire owners and the ( mostly) millionaire players. And it will continue to work as long as the fans are willing to shell out the bucks. If and when the fans stage a " lockout " 0f their own , things will change. But if the fans continue to willingly pay the freight , they will continue to be taken for granted. That's how it goes.

[S5Dewey]

And it will continue to work as long as the fans are willing to shell out the bucks. If and when the fans stage a " lockout " 0f their own , things will change. But if the fans continue to willingly pay the freight , they will continue to be taken for granted. That's how it goes.

 

I agree, just as I've always known that people like me are a part of the problem, but there's a difference between a "lockout" as it involves the players and the teams and how a "lockout' by the fans and the season ticket holders in particular.

 

This lockout will end eventually and life will go back to normal for the players and the owners. However, things are different for the season ticket holders who choose to 'lock out' the Red Sox. The teams are holding the season ticket holders hostage because once one gives up their ST tix they don't get a chance to buy them for future years. And there's a waiting list to buy them.

 

I'd like to make a statement by "locking out" the Red Sox organization for this season by not buying ST tix for this year but if I do that I lose my ST tixs probably forever. Since I've been a Sox fan all my life and I'm now able to give myself the luxury of going to Ft. Myers I'm not ready to shut the door on it.