Major League Baseball is testing every ounce of patience the fans have and they know it.
The third proposal from MLB to the players union should be take it or leave it.
The only problem with that theory is the previous proposal was take it or leave it.
In this latest round of chicken, MLB submitted its second official proposal Monday morning to the union. The bullet points include a 76-game season starting July 10 that will pay players 75% of their salaries if there’s a postseason. If the postseason is canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, it becomes 50%. The postseason also could be increased to eight teams in each league instead of seven teams from their last proposal.
And the most important bullet point… if the union agrees.
Because the union, in case they haven’t already made themselves clear, still want their money, all of it.
The players union still is insisting on players receiving their full salaries, while the owners believe they will lose $640,000 a game, per team, if the players don’t take a pay cut from their prorated salaries.
Throughout this entire ordeal – which is what it’s become – the owners have been consistent in their concern for losing money. If there’s a season to be played, it’ll be played initially without fans.
That means the only revenue generated by the games is TV revenue. For the owners, this means no tickets, no concessions, and no parking. MLB officials project if the postseason is canceled, MLB stands to lose about $1 billion in TV revenue. That’s a body blow to their bottom line.
And here’s the part where I remind you – the union doesn’t trust MLB as far as they can throw them across a baseball diamond.
The union called the latest proposal a “step backwards”. They believe they’re being asked to take a greater financial risk than the previous proposals if there’s no postseason games because of COVID-19.
They didn’t reject it, and they’re not happy about it, but they didn’t say no to it yet.
It’s not a take it or leave it scenario this time, so at least the owners have that going for them.
It’s hey, here’s another proposal, think about it, yell to one another about it, and come back with your counter.
Negotiations always have a sweetener or two on the table. COVID-19 is a major concern for all pro sports leagues as they attempt return-to-play formats. This proposal comes with an option for players not to play this season.
Those who are considered high-risk in suffering a severe illness because of COVID-19 will still be paid and be given service time. Any other player would not be paid or given service time.
All this going on, and so much more, with very little time remaining to get a deal done.
The deal.
You know the deal, right? The one where baseball is played again — that deal.
The one where both sides are telling anyone, willing to listen, they want to get it done and play ball.
That deal.
Time is working against baseball right now
Gordon Gekko was quick to tell everyone in the room “greed is good” before Bud Fox, Blue Horseshoe, and Anacott Steel helped him realize “time is our most precious commodity”.
The NBA is coming back, and the NHL won’t be far behind. If baseball isn’t careful, they’ll be left with a fragile 50-game schedule and another stamp on the perception they can never move beyond their greed for the greater good.
Major League Baseball will get a deal done. But not after going 12 rounds in a predictable fight no one wanted.
If they listen closely, beyond the bickering, they’ll hear a fan base losing patience with every called strike three at the bargaining table.
It’s time to get it together.
