[ARETE] Sport and Society - Reopening Baseball?

[richard crepeau]

SPORT AND SOCIETY FOR ARETE

MAY 25, 2020



Over the past week the move to reopen sports, along with society in general, seems to be gaining some momentum. How much momentum varies considerably from state to state.

In the case of each sport, there are particular conditions and obstacles, but at the moment only baseball seems to be facing a possible labor stoppage over the divisive issue of pay. In March, the players and owners agreed to a pro-rated salary for an 82-game season, which translates to half pay for a half season. However, by early May the owners wanted those terms renegotiated.

Rather than pro-rated pay, the owners initially indicated they wanted the players to accept a new formula based on a 50-50 revenue split rather than a games played formula. The owners claim that an 82-game season without fans would mean a four billion dollar loss, while a cancelled season would only mean a two billion dollar loss.

In an interview that drew considerable criticism, Tampa Bay pitcher Blake Snell focused on the money, explaining how much money he would not be getting after pay cuts. His estimate is that without fans and using the 50-50 cut he would lose three-fourths of his annual salary, concluding that a lower salary while taking high health risks was not an attractive proposition.

At the same time, The Athletic reported that in the last two years team revenues have increased while player salaries have declined. The Players Association also points out that teams have not participated in the free-agent process in good faith, and, of course, the Association has never trusted any economic data coming from the owners because the team books are closed.

These are familiar variations on the old refrain, “there is never enough pitching, and nobody ever makes any money.”

One of the open questions in the process involves blame. If there is no agreement and the season gets canceled by the owners, who are not willing to more forward without a new salary agreement, will fans blame owners or players? My guess is the answer will be both, and heavy damage will be done to Major League Baseball. Unemployed fans standing in line at food banks are not likely to sympathize with either party in this struggle over money

As to who takes a bigger hit financially, I would say that the marginal players and those whose salaries are at the median will be hit hardest. The millionaires will survive, be they players or owners.

It is reported that this week the owners, will make an alternative offer and serious negotiations will begin. If there is to be an 82-game season an agreement must come very soon.

The shadow of Corona-19 and the threat it poses to the health of players, managers, coaches, staff, family, and all other parts of the game, with or without fans, could be the only thing that really matters. The estimate is that each team would have at least 100 active employees on hand to play the games. These are the people that Sean Doolittle of The Washington Nationals referenced in a series of tweets focused on the health issue: “Bear with me, but it feels like we've zoomed past the most important aspect of any MLB restart plan: health protections for players, families, staff, stadium workers and the workforce it would require to resume a season.”

MLB delivered a 67-page document to the Player’s Association on May 15 detailed procedures and protocols for any resumption of baseball. Since then other ideas have been floated in the press. The most eye-catching of these is the proposal to use the Designated Hitter in all games in both leagues. This alone caused chills down the spines of baseball purists across the nation, or at least across the National League, the purist of them all. In ordinary times, it is likely this would not be accepted, but then these are not ordinary times.

The proposal calls for a three week spring training in Florida and Arizona at regular spring-training sites. Given the heat of Arizona and the heat and humidity of Florida by June, all spring training games would start between and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time. Umpiring crews or four or five would be used and home plate duties would be rotated to avoid heat stroke.

Added to these difficulties is the fact that there seems to be little planning for an outbreak of the virus on a team or teams. What are the acceptable levels of infection? What if there is a death within a clubhouse? At this point there are many more questions than answers from either the owners or the Player’s Association.

To monitor the health of players, umpires, and staff regular testing for the virus will be done. Social distancing would be maintained for the National Anthem, for seating in the dugout, or wherever players might be seated when not on the field. There would be no smokeless tobacco, and no sunflower seeds, and no spitting. Is it even possible to play baseball without spitting? Generations of ballplayers would say, absolutely not.

There would be no showers at the ball park. Saunas, steam rooms, hydrotherapy pools, and cryotherapy chambers would not be allowed. Hand-washing and/or hand sanitizing would be done after each half-inning or after handling equipment.

Group dining would be discouraged, use of buffet or communal food would not be all allowed, and meals would be served in individual packaged containers. Travel presents an entire range of difficulties including varying requirements in different states where games will be played.

Finally, what happens when some players, especially star players, say they will not play? Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, arguably the best player in the game today, says he will not play and endanger his pregnant wife and the arriving baby. How many others have this or other serious concerns?

These few examples illustrate just how difficult it will be to resume major league baseball. It seems, in fact, close to impossible. Nevertheless, baseball seems to be pushing ahead.

Given the multitude of variables and potential complications, my suggestion is simply to cancel the season and begin planning for 2021.

On Sport and Society this is Dick Crepeau reminding you that you don’t need to be a good sport to be a bad loser.



Copyright 2020 by Richard C. Crepeau



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