I really do hope the players strike this year. Shut it ALL down for the rest of the season. The owners have brought this all upon themselves BUT they still are the owners. I really think that they want to address their problems(no salary cap, arbitration, etc., etc.) and the ONLY way to do this is to "break the baseball union". So let the players strike, becuz in the end, the players will be the ones who will run out of $$$ first and will come crawling back. I'm hoping the majority of the owners have the balls to stick with to their guns and reclaim the power(s) that the union has had. Look at pro football and how they broke the NFL union; I think they are the model that the baseball owners should emulate. Break the union and re-take control of the game! It's really the ONLY way to save the sport and return some semblance of "an even playing field for ALL the teams"!!!
I kinda want them to keep playing. I mean, the Astros are winning it all this season . I wouldnt want that to go to waste. Save the negotiating for the offseason.
Ahhh, the eternal optimist..... What do you think about breaking the union though? I just think that's what it would take to start correcting the problems in baseball.....The players AREN'T going to give up anything, they hold ALL the cards right now. Heck, they won't even let steroids testing go on! Now, if that ain't the inmates running the asylum, I don't know what is.....IMO
I agree with breaking up the union. Baseball needs a complete makeover. And I would like to see steroid testing. It would be interesting to see how many of these players actually earned the seasons they have been having.
I agree, they are strong. BUT if the owners hold out long enough, they can break them. The majority of the players(non-superstars) would have to come back in a pro-longed strike becuz their $$$ would run out faster than the owners. This is the owners BEST chance to take back the game. Will they have the BALLS to do so, that's the million dollar question.....
I read an article about the labor situation and apparently the best thing that could happen is if the players don't strike this season. Without a strike or an agreement the owners could declare an impasse and set whatever labor rules they want. It won't happen I guess but damn it would be nice if the players dropped the ball and didn't strike.
The only thing worse than having the Player's Union too strong would be to let the owners break the union - I mean, baseball owners suck. Selig, Pohlad, Loria : Do you really trust the sanctity of the game to these liars and assholes?
I agree with you guys. The players union is very very strong -- to the detriment of the league as a whole. Look at what the Yankees just did, adding another $12mm a year to their payroll (although the Blue Jays will pay half his salary). That runs their payroll up near $140mm a year. The Astros payroll is somewhere around $50+ million a year ---- and they are considered "middle market"! Consider what would happen if the Astros added $90mm in salary! You could get 5 top line starting pitchers, and a couple of stud hitters! Think we'd be a .500 team then!?!?! ha! Unless changes are made, the only teams we'll ever seen in the world series will be the Yanks, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, Orioles, Red Sox and Mariners. I'm not a communist, trust me, but this is one instance where that philosophy should apply.
My fantasy baseball team is having an amazing season. It is looking very likely that I will end up with $500 extra in my pocket come Sept. Unless there is a strike. Then we all get our money back.
I agree, some of these owners can't be trusted BUT do you really think the players' union will/can fix baseball's problems? What incentive would they have to really try to fix it? They have the control and are milking the "golden goose" for all its worth. I do not trust the union to fix any problems. The status quo is in their best interest! And I don't believe it when they say they are fighting for the future players in the league; they are and will always fight for the "here and now", i.e. themselves. The owners caused all these problems but they should get the oportunity to try and fix it. They do "own" the teams afterall and should have the authority to try and fix it.
