The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life. It has brought about the first sabbatical from sports since WWII, but due to quite different circumstances. As we await the return of sports, there is chatter about possible updated formats and proposals to pick up where some sports left off and other sports seek to begin, but under an abbreviated season.
Baseball has been voted on unanimously by the owners to go ahead with the beginning of its season as of the 4th of July weekend. That, of course, is pending no argument from local and national high-ranking government officials. The proposal consists of an eighty-two game season, with the All-Star game being canceled, games being played in teams stadiums, but with no fans in attendance until it is deemed safe. Unfortunately, there is another underlying issue, that is more like an elephant in the room. That elephant is the pay cut owners are requesting the players to take as an abbreviated season with zero revenue from ticket sales will put the owners in a position where they are making pennies on the dollar.
The historical relationship between the players union and the owners when it comes to finances resembles a relationship built like a straw house. The players union in recent years has put up a front where they attempt to assume more power than ownership of franchises. Since there is no baseball without the players, makes it abundantly clear that they have all the leverage in this situation. The stage is set to produce an ugly couple of weeks as negotiations are set to begin. Will anyone be willing to bow down to get the game rolling?
