poppysox

If the owners were the jerks some here think they are...the owners would agree to the players' asking number and then just not spend to it Wink/Wink.

When talking about the luxury tax it just gives spending room to a few teams that already have an advantage. None of the teams are required to spend anything. If they want to graduate a minimum floor up to something more reasonable it would do more in the long run for all players. While some teams are spending $40M and others already spending $230M...makes no sense to worry about the top end while leaving half the league to cry poor. My big beef is that both sides claimed parity was the "big" need. Obviously, that was just BS.

Nice story! Good guys wear black.

The luxury tax only helps the Yanks/Dodgers type of team. It doesn't make anybody spend money. Institute a minimum and make everyone spend 75 million and you do get more money for the players and get some parity. Everyone gets what they said they wanted.

I see it reported that Scherzer loses $232,000 per day for every day lost to the lockout. Won't take long before that becomes money.

Both sides claimed that parity was the primary goal in these negotiations and yet no mention of minimum team payroll. Raising the cap just leads to more disparity.

Just something to give up in later negotiations much like the players giving up on free agency after 2 years. Neither was ever a serious want IMO.

Hammer meet nail.

It won't take until April 10th IMO but I agree with your reasoning.

Pointless...just hurting themselves.

I said Feb. 28th in other posts and I'm sticking with it.

Correct...there is no market for bad news.

Feeling optimistic makes you feel better than being pessimistic does. Much easier on you physically and mentally IMO. Kind of like fooling yourself into feeling good.

I remember those days fondly. Those were the days that the players had something to bi*** about.

The poster inquired if baseball couldn't have gone forward while negotiations continued. I explained why that would never happen again because it already didn't work in 1994. The replacement player was a poorly conceived idea that came along well after the strike was initiated by the union.

The National Labor Board didn't slap anyone down. They filed a complaint upheld by the district court. The replacement players were brought into the fight in January 1995...quite a bit after the strike was called by the union in August 1994. The Natl. Labor Board filed a complaint that was upheld by the District court thereby ending the strike in March 95. The point still is...the owners don't want a strike mid-season therefore the lockout when we got it...with enough time to settle things before the season gets started.

Of course, the players would be OK with it. Remember when in 1994 a strike was called by the players on August 12 that flushed the playoffs and WS down the drain. You can bet the owners will never again be caught in that type of weakened bargaining position again.

Yes, until right before the playoffs. Noone cares about strikes and lockouts during the offseason. The owners have the most power over the situation when many players don't have teams and players start missing paychecks. Players have the most leverage when the owners would miss the big money the playoffs create.

This is how labor negotiations go. When enough owners or enough players let their negotiators know they want this thing settled sooner rather than later...a deal happens. I am rather optimistic that the end is in sight. The end of the month (February 2022) would be my guess.

If that happens several owners will be in deep trouble and many players will have seen their careers come to an end. That's what happens when you kill the golden goose. Best for all concerned to stop posturing and get a deal done.

That would at least lengthen the time for the meetings.

I know it takes something to get something and Sheets will have a market with the National League getting the DH...but I really would want something good. Feels like when the Sox traded John Romano and Norm Cash for a 37-year-old Minnie Minoso.

Burger might be the bait we are using to snag a short-term TOR-type arm.

I know it can feel like "adversaries" but for the most part, they are fellow WS fans who have strong opinions just like you and me. A few years ago when Jose was about to become a FA you were without a doubt Jose's biggest supporter. At the end of the day, the FO agreed with you and brought him back. His performance since then has been as "you" thought and you were right in your support for him. Nice of you not to rub it into all those who said Jose was finished. If I had my way Jose will share a little more time this year with Vaughn (heir apparent) and maybe sign an extension with the understanding of transitioning to a player/coach type of situation...heavy on the "coach" as his skills diminish as they do for everyone. His fellow players look up to him and I like him so long as the young guys get to transition. Jose seems to be WS in his veins so I think he will recognize when the time comes. Konerko as an example stayed too long and I for one thought it was sad to tarnish his reputation. Age is a funny thing in baseball. Thomas and Konerko both made 15 years and the last few weren't very pretty to watch. Jose started his major league career later than those guys so I guess it's year to year.

I suspect you know better than that.