Fans Are The Biggest Losers In the MLB Mess
At the onset of this offseason, the start date and conditions of the 2021 MLB season were shrouded by uncertainty as the global pandemic loomed over the world of sports. It seems, though, after months of negotiation (public bickering), we finally have a clearer picture of what the season will look like.
The MLB and players union reached an agreement this week to bring back 7-inning doubleheaders, as well as starting extra-innings with a runner on second base. This news is a breath of fresh air, if only considering the stagnancy of negotiations since the shutdown of the 2020 season last March.
Neither side should be applauded for reaching an agreement, however. Over the past year, fans of the game have sat idly by while the league and players union engage in a power struggle to maximize their personal benefits and be on the winning side of an argument. It seems that every proposal and counter-offer is a calculated move to maintain leverage as the current CBA nears it’s expiration on December 1st of this year. If this is any indication of how these talks will go between the two parties, the 2021 offseason could literally be the longest one yet.
The publicity of the discussions between these two parties gives fans a unique perspective on the situation. We are put in a position where we can share the sentiment of one side or another, and hold the league and the union accountable for their decisions. Whether you support one side’s arguments over another, we all share one thing in common: we want baseball back. This is something that seems to be lost on the MLBPA and MLB alike, despite what they say their intentions are.
A dissection of negotiations this winter helps to peel back the layers of dysfunction. Earlier in February, the league submitted a proposal to push back the season a month, shorten it to 154 games, and included an expanded playoff format as well as the universal DH. Players would receive a full salary, which was one of the main concerns during the 2020 season.
On the surface this seems like a mutually beneficial deal. So, naturally, the MLBPA rejected it. The union had a number of issues with this proposal, believing it was too short of notice to push off the season, the wear from double headers would lead to injuries, expanded playoffs would disincentivize teams from signing free agents in an already slow market, as reported by Jeff Pasan for ESPN.
While these qualms are valid, the real issue here is leverage. The union does not want to be bullied by the MLB and team owners. Accepting this would mean, for the second year in a row, ignoring the current CBA, a precedent they do not want to set.
Delaying the season certainly makes sense given the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this decision should have been made months ago, and without bargaining chips like the DH as a rider. The union possesses the right to reject this proposal, and exercising this right is the most valuable card in their hand.
Both parties have every reason to be frustrated. However if their frustrations continue to sour relations, the only losers in this power struggle will be the fans. The league and players’ inability to reach a mutually beneficial solution to the problems that come with playing baseball in a pandemic will only lead to more issues. Another stoppage of play because of a covid outbreak could be detrimental to the progress of the sport, especially considering the problems of growing the fanbase. The universal DH is beneficial to both sides; it lowers risk of injury to pitchers and creates more roster spots for offensive players, while generating more action in the game and increasing fan appeal. Yet both sides are only willing to do it on their own terms.
This stalemate is almost certain to continue throughout the CBA negotiations. With money and power as the root of the issues, all the fans can do is continue to support their clubs and hope the league and players realize the consequences of this power struggle. With spring training around the corner, we can all pretend the league isn’t a total dumpster fire, at least until the CBA negotiations start back up.
