Well for the first time in six weeks, the MLBPA and MLB met in a zoom type meeting where MLB brought its latest proposals to the table. The MLBPA was not impressed according to Jeff Passan and the chances spring training is delayed just escalated. Of course, we do not know at this point what proposal’s the players will submit. These were just base financial issues brought up today.
The MLB had offered to bring minimum salaries up to $600,000.0$ and to $700,000.00 by the end of the agreement, but length of service and the super two rule which the MLBPA would like abolished were not discussed. The universal DH and expanded playoffs, which MLB wants badly were not discussed either.
At least they talked. But just how flexible the MLBPA is and how far MLB is willing to go remains to be seen. Minor league signings have continued and so have players leaving to play overseas. The Dodgers themselves have been pretty quiet and other than the minor league rule 5 guys, and a backup minor league catcher, they have not made much news. But several players have continued their philanthropic endeavors. The latest was Chris Taylor.
International signings start this weekend and the Dodgers have one of the lowest pools of available money. So who they might sign is still up in the air. Eddie Basinski, the oldest living Dodger passed away on January 8th at 99 years old. RIP.
I found an interesting thing in the Dodgers media guide. A list of notable Dodger artifacts on display at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown… which is still on my Bucket list of places I want to visit
- A Bellinger game-worn jersey from 2017.
- An autographed media guide used by Von Scully during his final season in the booth in 2016.
- A bat used by Jimmy Rollins in 2015 to hit his 500th double.
- A ball from Kershaw’s no-hitter in 2014.
- A ball from Beckett’s no-hitter in 2014.
- Ethier’s jersey worn in the opening series in Australia in 2014.
- Matt Kemp’bat used by Ethier during his 30 game hitting streak in 2011.
- A ball signed by Jeff and Jared Weaver on June 20, 2009, when they matched up for the 21st brother vs brother matchup in MLB history.
- Batting gloves used by Orlando Hudson when he hit for the cycle on April, 13 – One of eight recorded in 2009.
- Bat used by Marlon Anderson to hit the 4th consecutive HR in the ninth inning forcing the game into extras against the Padres. Nomar would win it in the 10th.
- Ball used on May 22, 2006 when Korean pitchers, Byun Jung Kim and Jae Seo matched Korean born starters for the first time.
- Goggles worn by Eric Gagne while setting the consecutive saves mark at 84 in 2004.
- Bat used by Shawn Green to hit four home runs in one game, May 23, 2002 and seven over a three game span… an MLB record.
- Balls from each of Koufax’s four no hitters.
- The cornerstone from Ebbets Field.
I am sure other artifacts will make their way to Cooperstown, including the ball used to record strikeout # 3000 this season by Max Scherzer.
The loyal paying fans will be the ultimate losers when the strike is over with higher prices for gate ,food and merchandise along with availability to view games.
Jesse Sanchez@JesseSanchezMLB
The Dodgers sign two from Colombia: RHP Yoryi Simarra and RHP Sean Paul Liñan. That makes the total international signings by the Dodgers yesterday to 31.
Yefry Ramírez was one of 39 different Dodgers to throw a major league pitch in 2021, and one of five to pitch exactly one game for the team. It looks like he’ll be back with the organization for another go around in 2022, per report.
With opening day still up in the air I still stand by my prediction of April 10th with no make up games.
Not a bad call
I hate zoom.
They should meet in person. Go non-stop until they reach agreement. If it takes a week, two weeks, doesn’t matter.
Remember how all these cities in the Phoenix area helped build spring training complexes., including the one in Glendale, shared by the Dodgers and White Sox. They didn’t do that because they like spring training and exhibition games. They did that because it’s a tourist area and spring training brings in fans who spend money on hotel rooms, food, gas and other purchases. It spurs employment, puts money in the local economy.
So MLB and the players union are impacting revenues for Phoenix and Arizona. Do they care? Probably not, entitlement and all. Both owners and players live in an entitlement zone. It’s about us and just us. No one else matters.
The cities and state should have included a clause in the original agreements that if there is a work stoppage, MLB and the player’s association should have to reimburse those cities and the state for lost revenue. Seems fair.
Now maybe all this doesn’t happen, but these folks, at this point, don’t seem very serious. More like a big game.
Okay, I was disappointed in MLB’s latest offer as reported. But then again, I’m not exactly a fan of players whining about this and that. Every gain they make comes out of the pockets of fans, no other way to put it.
Why have the cost of tickets, food, parking and merchandise increased so dramatically in the past few years when inflation was more or less at a standstill. Imagine how much everything will cost this summer now that we’re at seven percent inflation. Probably actually higher.
Now the cost of season tickets already jumped and they even asked for the money a couple of months ahead of the usual time. Individual tickets will no doubt increase.
Now I have already purchased my tickets so basically I’m stuck, no matter what they do. But this season may be my last.
After going through a pandemic and everything that comes with it and now I have to put up with owners and players squabbling, it’s time to move on. I’m not the only person who feels this way. Do the owners players actually understand any of this? Probably not, probably don’t care. Fans really don’t count.
I can find lots of ways to spend money enjoying life other than wasting it on MLB games. The dye is cast. They should be wary of their next step. That’s assuming either side actually has a clue.
In terms of international signings, the Dodgers chose quantity over perceived quality. Probably a good approach since the international market is pretty much a crapshoot.
Since you brought up items now in the Hall of Fame, Bear, I assume the Dodgers have kept many of those things and much more in looking forward to a Dodger Museum at Dodger Stadium. I toured the historical baseball display at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley a few years back. Amazing display.
The Dodgers have retained many items, and some are on display in the hallways fans do not see like the silver slugger bats and gold gloves. The Hall also has a large collection of items that are not on display that they rotate for display then storage. When a pitcher throws a no hitter, a ball or the pitchers glove will be placed on display for current events. For a while there was a place in LA where a private collector displayed Dodger memorabilia. It is not there anymore. I would think the plate of nacho’s that JT’s HR landed in last season is not on display. But a photo of that would be pretty cool.
Do you know that Dodger Stadium offers a tour a couple of hours before a game whereby they take you into the bowels of Dodger Stadium where you can see a ton of Dodger stuff like you talked about? You can see the analytics dept and all kinds of cool stuff. You just have to call and arrange it several days or weeks ahead. They do it every game.
Yes, I knew that. Just not sure what it costs. I would love to do it sometime.
Free
cool
I hate Zoom too.
I guess baseball may be a true reflection on society as a whole.
Competing parties screwing around for other people’s money.
Then again this may have always been the case – just look at the history of the world.
Despite the “other people,” the world and most people are pretty extraordinary and I think has gotten better over time.
Maybe sanity and good people will continue the trend.
I hope so.
Not that anyone here particularly cares but the original list of signees posted yesterday consisted of 29 names, 20 of whom were identified as being from Venezuela.
Another list has come out today with 30 names on it and the breakdown only shows 14 from Venezuela. I humbly apologize for passing along bad info.
I saw a comment about irrelevancy a couple days ago. I’m not clear where that came from, because I have been making a conscious effort to pull away from baseball, which includes pulling away from my favorite Dodger blog. Please don’t interpret that as meaning that I think any person who contributes here, especially any of you who have given so generously to create the posts, have become irrelevant in my opinion.
For a long time, I have become more and more disgusted with the obvious greed of owners and players, and the “business” of baseball. I don’t think the anti-trust exemption was ever really legitimate, but at the time the rhetoric spoke of baseball as a “sport,” not a “business.” All pretense of that notion have been abandoned, as well as concern for the interest of fans.
I quit buying tickets to major league sports about 25/30 years ago. I quit watching any but baseball about 15 years ago, and I am, as I said before, now trying to do the same with baseball. It is not easy, and sometimes I can’t stay away, like today, but I am going to try. For me, the MLB agreements with gaming interests was an admission of the abandonment of the game’s integrity, and the final nail in the coffin.
I still love the game, but there’s a lot of baseball to watch and enjoy without being fleeced.
I wish you all the best, and I give you full permission to make fun of me when I come back 100% because…well, because it’s hard to stay away.
Thanks Mark.
Dave there are times I feel exactly the same way you do. I have already vowed to not support MLB by attending games or purchasing merchandise offered on the MLB web site. But, my love of the game, not the leagues or the players, keeps me watching the game I love. I love it more than any other sport. And because of that love I am not going to deprive myself of the enjoyment I get watching. Good luck to you. If you come back, I will not make fun of you.