By Jack Henry

The Major League Baseball season is at risk of not starting on time this spring. Every year since 1995, the MLB season has begun on time (with the exception of the 2020 COVID season), roughly around April 1, but this year may be different.

The MLB and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) have been unable to come to a contractual agreement regarding wages, and without this agreement, the MLB cannot use player names and likenesses, and teams cannot officially speak with their players. 

The inability to come to an agreement stems from the fact that the Players Association does not want to continue with contractual agreements until there is a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) put in place. A CBA is important because it assures that players cannot be taken advantage of by organizations and owners to a greater extent than they already have been.

The MLB owners implemented the lockout on December 1, 2021 through Commissioner Rob Manfred as a preventative measure to keep the players from going on strike when the season was supposed to start. 

Manfred in 2021. Photo credit: AP Photo.

The players and fans of Major League Baseball have often expressed their disapproval of Manfred, who has been commissioner since 2015. The disapproval for Manfred started following the release of information in November 2019 that revealed the Houston Astros had cheated to win the 2017 World Series. This information was revealed in an article published to The Athletic’s website by Ken Rosenthal, a well-known and well-respected analyst in the baseball community. The article revealed that the Astros used a camera that was set up in center field of Minute Maid Park, the Astros’ home stadium, with a perfect view of home plate, to steal the catcher’s signs on which pitch to throw. This gave the Astros a heavy advantage, and many credit their postseason success to this cheating.

Many fans and players were expecting harsh consequences for Houston, but Manfred thought otherwise. The Astros were fined five million dollars, which is the maximum allowed by the MLB for a first-time offense, and their manager, A.J. Hinch, was suspended from the MLB for a year. Following these punishments, many were outraged at Manfred, as he did not punish any of the players involved, nor take away the Astros’ World Series trophy. Players and fans also took issue with how Manfred dealt with the 2020 season and the COVID-19 pandemic. When Manfred was being honored at the 2021 World Series in Atlanta, he was met with a chorus of boos and expletives, as fans were starting to learn about the potential of a lockout following the season. This, mixed with Manfred’s previous actions, has led to a very low approval rating of Manfred among the fans and players. 

Ken Rosenthal. Image courtesy of Twitter @Ken_Rosenthal.

Recently, Rosenthal spoke out against Manfred, expressing his distaste for the way the lockout was being run and providing his input on the situation. Displeased with this, Manfred fired Rosenthal from MLB Network on January 3, outraging fans. 

The lockout was an extreme measure but was likely taken because of the outcome following the last time the organizations could not come to an agreement.

A similar problem occurred in August 1994. The MLB owners were attempting to stall out the end of the contract between them and the MLBPA; this stall would result in players losing millions of dollars if their contracts were due to end after the ‘94 season. When the players found out what was happening, they were furious and proceeded to go on strike.

The strike of ‘94 lasted around seven months, causing the 1994 season to be cut short, resulting in no playoffs or World Series that season. Because of the duration of the strike, the 1995 season had a delayed start, with only 144 games instead of the regulation 162.

The labor strike of ‘94 may have differences from the lockout of 2021, but the events that led to the problems that occurred are almost identical, with the only difference being that the owners suspended operations in 2021, and the players did in 1994. 

Major League Baseball is at a dangerous point right now, with viewership rising and more exciting young players coming into the league. The last thing that the league wants right now is a lockout, but unfortunately, that is what they have to resolve.

Featured image credit: pixabay user cindydangerjones.