We Are Getting Closer To A Baseball Season! Or Are We?

On Saturday, a memo was sent out the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) that outlined the new way of life for players and personnel. This document is 67 pages long and goes into great detail about what players can do each day during the season.

A Day In The Life

I won’t go over the whole day in the life of a MLB player here, but if you do want to know, read Jeff Passan’s article. For the short version, a player will have to take their temperature right when you wake up and right when you get to the stadium. Wear a mask while inside. No spitting or seeds at all. A baseball is done after it is touch by multiple players. No showers after the game. No going out to dinner.

For me, this would be a lot of steps to follow in order to play baseball. But if I could play the game I get paid for, I’d do it. I can get used to the social distancing at a game. But no spitting?! That is just a habit of a baseball player. I do that without thinking of it. But I guess I could be used to it. That is not the biggest hold up in the negotiations. I will get into that below and how I feel about it.

The Hold Up

So as I wrote about last week there was a proposal approved by the MLB owners. But players have to agree to it as well. Back in March players agreed to a prorated salary based on how many games they end up playing. Now owners want a 50-50 revenue split. This would be another pay cut by players.

The way the play structure would probably work is: players would be ranked 1-25 based on the percentage of the teams payroll they get. So if you make the most you will be number 1. Then they will give that player the high percentage of the payroll the team now has. This means a player who makes $30 million could go down to $10 million.

My Thoughts

I have so on the players side of this it is not even funny. Blake Snell said it best so far on his twitch channel. Kevin Perfios has a great article about it here. Players should not take another pay cut to risk their lives to play. Yes they would be risking their lives if they play. If someone get the virus and gives it to others it is risking their lives. Some players could already have underlining health concerns.

Also yes, I understand that players make millions of dollar to play a game. I do believe teachers, healthcare workers, and others should get paid more. Unfortunately, that is not the case and baseball players generate that kind of revenue. So they should be paid for it. So I’m on the side of the players and understand if there isn’t baseball because owners do not want to pay them.

If you feel I’m wrong, please tweet at me and let me know. I would love to discuss this.

-Tom “Powder” Cadmus (@powder42308)