Elktonnick

Can anyone confirm the traffic report that the Red Sox truck.was pulled over for going too slow on I 95 through New York!

Sorry! I'll make it up to you ! Who's on first. What's on second.....

I was being sarcastic. The player's association is primarily interested in protecting the interests of the player's association. If actual players benefit that is purely accidental.

Once again you misconstrued what I wrote. What I wrote was that more Free Agents of whom there are current 149 were more likely getting signed next year if there were expanded playoffs and a universal dh not that more jobs per se would be created. It is an irrefutable fact that the implementation of the DH extended some players careers. The dirty little secret is the player's association could care less about the lesser known free agents. If I were among those who doesn't get picked up next year because of the union's position I would not be very happy about it.

"There is no guarantee a delay of one month would be enough to improve the players’ chances of staying safe or ensure they would get the vaccine. But many team employees, at the executive level and below, are nervous about reporting in two weeks to Florida and Arizona, where the rates of infection are declining but remain high. Those employees express particular concern for the safety of older coaches, managers, umpires and staffers who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. For now, however, all systems are go. Even though the government recommended against it." By Ken Rosenthal Feb 3, 2021 The Athletic The season will go ahead as planned. However the onus is now on the player's association. If there is an outbreak and anyone gets really sick and games get cancelled they can not blame the owners. IMO it was a dumb move by the players because they were going to get paid for 162 games even though they were only going to play 154. Moreover expanded playoffs and universal DH probably means a chance for more FAs getting jobs and more players earning extra bucks. Once again I think the palyers union is cutting off its nose to spite its face. BTW I guess the Player's Union doesn't believe in following the science.

Vaccination is more than mere mitigation.

The White House seems to think so.

The Biden administration's goal is to vaccinate 1.5 million a day. A month's delay would allow an additional 45 million to have been vaccinated. It is entirely conceivable that that number could be well greater pushing the total vaccinated to nearly 100million by the time a delayed ST would start. That would reduce the risk significantly.

The risk of spread is not from the in game experience but from clubhouse and training venues pre and post game interaction. Each ML team will have close to two hundred players coaches and ancillary individuals interacting with each other as they travel between training sites and game venues on a daily basis. Listen to all the former players and baseball analysts on MLB TV and radio virtually everyone thinks the player's association has made the wrong call.

The knuckleheads that run the player's union turned down the White House's advice to delay the start of the season by a month, according to Ken Rosenthal in the Athletic. Now if someone gets the virus and passes it on to their team mates and games get canceled or worse one of the older coaches gets really sick it is all on the union. Let's face facts baseball isn't basketball or hockey the logistics of spring training are far more complicated for an MLB team than any other pro sport. I think the union has made a real sucker's bet by gambling on not delaying ST until more were vaccinated.

There is an interesting development out of Baltimore which is indicative of the tough financial issues facing some franchises. According to the Athletic "In a highly unusual and potentially alarming example of slashing expenses this winter, the Orioles asked two arbitration-eligible players to accept deferrals of a portion of their one-year salaries so the full amounts wouldn’t be on the 2021 ledger, according to multiple industry sources." In addition the Orioles had previously furloughed some 50 front office personnel and MASN the Orioles regional sports network has yesterday fired its entire pre pandemic broadcast personnel including long time employees Jim Hunter, Rick Dempsey and Tom Davis. In addition MASN will no longer broadcast the half hour pre game and post game for both the Nationals and Orioles. Commenting on MLB radio Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette observed that issues may be peculiar to the O's and Angelus's stewardship of the franchise (worst owner in baseball IMO) and his feud with the Nationals (Orioles lost an 100 million dollar lawsuit with the Nats over broadcast rights) but it also showed how difficult managing a baseball team in the pandemic can be. Both Bowden and Duquette advocated MLB forcing Angelos to sell the team.

concur

I think Bloom and the Red Sox are acting with due deliberation and patience. It seems every time the Yankees make a move there is an over reaction that Boston must make an immediate counter move. Let's be honest signing Kluber would have been a high risk move for Boston who already has three questionable top.of of the rotation arms in ERod Sale and Eovoldi. All three may come back strong in 21 but to expect four to shake off injuries and have good years is a "bridge too far" in my book. One thing to keep in mind. No pitcher in MLB got stretched out last year with the short season. I expect every team is going to be quite judicious in how they manage their rotations in 21. I think depth will play a larger role next year then it has had in the past. It seems to me that Bloom is playing the long game.

The great Yogi said it all when he allegedly said, "Ninety percent of this game is half mental!"

Your last line says it all.

MLB network's Brian Kenny led a panel discussion last week or so. MLB presents different logistical issues than either the NHL, NBA or NFL. According to the group last season was not as seamless as it appeared. If similar incidents arose in 21 that arose in 20 it would be far more disruptive. MLB was able to compensate for those disruptions because of the severally truncated season and the limited long distance travel gave the league flexibility to adjust. The panel thought attempting a nearly full schedule would severely limit MLB's ability to make in season adjustments. For one thing baseball in order to play a full season every team has to play virtually everyday unlike the other pro leagues. That does not take into account the role of the minor leagues upon which MLB is more co dependent than the NFL and NBA. Notwithstanding the financial issues which are considerable in MLB, the panelist comprised of former ML executives believed that it is totally unrealistic to expect MLB to play a normal schedule in 21 because of both the logistical as well as financial issues. Simply put unless ownership has the incentive of fans in the stands there is little incentive for owners to agree to 162.

Logistics! NFL teams don't move but once a week. Baseball teams move several times a week is one of the reasons. The NFL plays 18 regular season game. If MLB played 18 games then there would be no issue.

May 1st would be a stretch IMHO. Dr Fauci et al are basically saying that we shouldn't expect normality before fall. In any event, last year's shortened season was accomplished by limiting inter city travel. Any season where teams play more than 90 games will require expanded travel presenting exponentially greater logistical challenges. I just don't think it is realistic to expect anything approaching a normal baseball season in 21. While there will be baseball, no one involved at any level can say what the season will look like or how many games will be played, at this point in time.

If any team goes north in March it WOULD be a huge accomplishment. But don't hold your breath.

For a host of reasons arising from the singular fact that no one knows when fans will be allowed back in the stands, now is the best time to rebuild the team using the slow and steady approach Bloom seems to be employing. Fans simply need to be patient.

They are having a special, a dollar a month. Splurge! Live a little it's Christmas ! Broaden your horizons.

That's the way I see it. Read Jayson Stark' s piece in the Athletic. Good summary of the current state of play.

I think it is a great idea which is why it will never happen.

It won't happen but banning batting gloves would help lessen the excuse for stepping out.

Since I have gotten hooked on Rugby Union, American football has become tedious to watch. Once one understands the rules it is exciting and fast paced. It is the way our football should be played.few time.outs limited substitutions and both way players.