5GoldGlovesOF,75

Unusual times call for unusual measures... even compromise. Does the baseball players union somehow fear owners will be able to turn them back into what Curt Flood called "well-paid slaves" before free agency? I totally understand if it's a warehouse or processing plant and workers fear for their safety, but if this latest MLB dispute is more about convictions, then it's about as sensible as people suing governors during a health crisis for ruling it's non-essential to buy weapons that can't really shoot Covid droplets out of the air.

I agree entirely with your second sentence. Not seeing many Sox fans talking about trading JD, though, except for speculation he may be on the block because of his opt-outs. I do think there are less fans that actually want him traded than want him kept from playing the outfield.

Thanks for the clarification. This will present tough decisions for some college players: sign for a fraction of what many expected, just for a chance to play pro ball (over a year from now at the very least), or refuse to sign and hope they'll get a chance to increase value if there's a college season in the fall or the spring of 2021... if there's even college.

I like that -- some of our youth baseball coaches started a little tradition after every game of presenting a teeball or hardball to the player of the game; it's cool recognition in front of the team... and the good coaches make sure to recognize each player on the club by the end of the season. One guy even passes around a pen and has the entire team autograph the ball for the player (then a parent adds the date and maybe a memorable stat or feat). As for trophies for parents, I only accept them with a cork or screwtop; capped bottles require an opener, but the Sox sent Brewer to the minors (hey, since there ain't none now, maybe he'll be back up).

I'm just thinking hypothetically (and ignorantly)... but if say, only 150 players are drafted this year, instead of 1,500, does that mean that rich teams like NY, Boston and LA can then open their wallets to lock up the next best 1,350 -- if they want, of course. Every club has its limit, but is free spending capped like the draft, and let's face it, the 40-man (by the tax)?

I can appreciate your post. I never won a trophy in youth sports, and almost turned out alright... But I can say when I finally won my first medal -- a bronze in a state high school track meet -- it meant a lot. Then again, TV sports helped turn the entire American society into winning-obsessed since the 1970s; there are sports champions piling up in title games all year long, in every season, on many channels -- and kids can't help but notice. You must know how much they care about which team "won" any competition, every day at recess. Unfortunately, even the fed. govt perpetuates the hysteria: "We're Number One in testing!"

I certainly am. It's not about winning; they don't even keep score in my son's "minor" league soccer or baseball games, and these are 9 and 10 year olds (but some players always keep track). There are no winners, losers, records, standings or playoffs. I'm totally against the "tradition" of rewarding young athletes with a trophy, medal or ribbon for just wearing a uniform and playing. Such awards should be earned -- like they always were before a few decades ago -- and growing up striving for goals that kids know are attainable by effort and determination can't hurt their character development. Plus, what's wrong with just having parents praise their children for participation, and coaches rewarding them with Dairy Queen, and the intrinsic value of just being part of a team sport, playing together for the respect of peers, friends and foes?

Except soccer -- watching kids soccer is like watching... well, it's not as bad as T-ball. And the tradeoff for a lot of parents is that at least soccer makes kids run and expend energy. And in soccer, you can't strike out. Let's give them all a trophy!

So... might this be an opportunity for savvy clubs with the resources to scout, sign and stockpile bodies to grow their farms? I know there's a cap on "draft" money each team can allocate, but what about just signing guys off the street?

I'm all for keeping JD. I just think if he sees a monetary reason to opt out, like a new market in the NL, then Bloom will be anxious to swap his bat-only asset for the best young arm available. But I also think the free agent market will be significantly affected by the economy -- especially if the half-season doesn't happen or has to close down early because of the virus.

If I had to pick, I'd say JD will be traded -- especially if Bloom thinks the NL will keep the DH after this half-season; as Tomase wrote today, that would open up an entire market for JD's bat... and we know Bloom will be all over taking bids, looking for the best possible piece before JD opts out. Plus -- maybe Bloom values the DH slot as a platoon position from his TB days -- and after all, JD is Dombro's signing, not Bloom's.

Can there even be a mid-season this season? Even if, I don't see the usual trade activity with half the games, expanded rosters and more postseason berths on the line. Any hot streak can turn a pretender into a contender... especially with an entire first-round of best-of-three playoffs. We may see .500 teams qualify for the tournament; with longer regular-season series proposed -- say six games in one ballpark, instead of the usual three -- it may be difficult for any visiting teams, even good ones, to go 4-2 or 5-1 while cooped up in the same hotel rooms all week on the road.

... but not as much if the pandemic happened 40 years ago when Earl Weaver and Billy Martin were constantly in their faces.

Reading your post, I'm wondering if this was the owners' strategy... to give them pre-emptive public support as they prepare for another CBA war in Dec '21... (It sucks these days that I can't help suspecting people in power with big business interests to be more considerate of the health of employees)

It's hard for young, strong athletes not to feel invincible, or even conceive of the possible risks to parents, wives, kids, etc. For some players, careers could also be at stake, especially for rookies that may see it as their shot at making an MLB roster, or older guys trying to hang onto a last chance in the bigs. But there are no guarantees of full recoveries from this monster: I know a woman in her 40s who had it for over 4 weeks and it left her with the after-effects of 2 strokes.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but have to wonder about guys who may refuse to play a sport for any money when 25% of American workers can't find a job. Choosing to possibly lose an entire season of careers with clocks ticking also has to have some players questioning their own logic.

Now there are reports that owners and players are arguing about terms that threaten the proposed half season. Of course it's all about money. Way to go, MLB -- how endearing of you to your fanbase, during an economic depression amidst a pandemic when thousands of Americans are dying every single day.

Ya, I was talking about just from a player-development standpoint. He's a guy you said wasn't ready (and I agree), but the business factors are from a pre-Covid world. If the MLB plays, it's clear all involved must be willing to make changes to pull it off. They're already conceding to expanding rosters; the union and management may actually agree to compromise in a lot of ways to ensure it happens and not take a total loss like other industries. I think young guys and fresh new faces will be more appealing than coaxing the Steve Pearces out of retirement. But thanks for replying -- I'm up for any baseball talk instead of just politics.

No rinks, but if there is a summer season, MLB fans starving for baseball action deserve to see their teams in contention for as long as possible. The three division winners get rewarded with first-round byes. I am personally intrigued by the dynamics of veteran players vs. younger players rushing to get into playing shape after three months on the couch. I predict clubs with more supple muscle tissue than others will get off to hot starts and be surprise teams in the 80-game league. Possible upstarts: Blue Jays and White Sox. With no minor leagues, I also think we'll see many future major leaguers make expanded rosters, including guys who may not be ready for prime time. What could be the harm of say, a guy like Casas riding the pine next to Moreland and JD, practicing with them every day, and getting a taste of the Show? There may be no better alternative this year for his development. The one team that may benefit the most from the short season: Houston. By the time baseball resumes, fatalities from the virus will number six figures. Do any pitchers really still want to intentionally throw at and risk hurting another human being? Probably the biggest factor for the Astros is that there won't be any fans in attendance -- no booing, heckling, taunting, name-calling chants, banging props, waving mock banners or posters. Devoid of such stress, Houston can just play baseball. I wish we all could.

Back to baseball on a baseball forum: Bradford reports today that the MLB is proposing a half season of play in MLB parks beginning July, three 10-team divisions, with seven playoff qualifiers from each. For the Sox to return to the postseason, they'd probably have to outperform Baltimore, Miami and who else -- the Jays or Phils? Any takers?

Yes! I think that was Josh Reddick on the skins. Bagwell was flicking his lighter in the front row at the end, but Nolan Ryan and his wife got up and walked out.

This one's for Bregman, Springer, Correa and any other Astro who cashed a 2017 World Series check (cough, Fiers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfLyK2DVVUU

Isn't Neil making an assumption there with "a little part of it in everyone"? Greenwell was clean!

Manny: "Madman Across the Water" Elton Damon: "Signs" 5-Man Electrical Band Boggs: "Walk This Way" (for a couple reasons) Ortiz: As much as he'd like "Bad to the Bone", I gotta go with "Holly Jolly Christmas" Burl Ives... because Papi's the narrator/singing snowman who brought so much cheer to our island of misfit fans