As expected, Major League Baseball didn’t lose its mind and came to an agreement to continue playing games and making billions of dollars for another five years. Take that NFL! And NBA! And NHL! All of those leagues have had at least one work stoppage since the last baseball strike, and no one would notice if soccer stopped so hooray for baseball! While most expected this to be a no brainer, they did take their sweet time, waiting until the final day to finalize the agreement. Nothing too shocking with the new collective bargaining agreement, but here are some of the highlights with Tonyonball’s expert analysis:
· The Tampa Bay Rays owner is the only owner to vote against the agreement saying that it doesn’t address the problem of widening talent gaps between higher and lower revenue teams. Yeah, the Royals are really hurting. And the Pirates have had all kinds of trouble over the past 5 years. And the Rays making the World Series a few years ago is just further proof that he is absolutely right. Revenue sharing is helping smaller market teams, this guy is pocketing tons of cash from the luxury tax, he’s just butt hurt because Maddon won the World Series with the Cubs (please refer to Tonyonball’s initial article about 90% opinion and 10% fact…)
· Chris Bryant is not allowed to play in St. Louis until he gains a beer belly...or his eyes become less dreamy. This is in the best interest of Tonyonball’s relationship. Help me out Mr. Manfred…
· The luxury tax is raised from $189MM to $195MM. This will affect the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers (for some reason). Possibly the Cubs when Bryant, Shwarber, Baez, Russell, Hendricks are all due a zillion dollars in a few years.
· No longer will smokeless tobacco be allowed on the field of play. Tonyonball doesn’t partake in this practice anyway, preferring sunflower seeds (dill pickle Bigs are the best, followed by Salt and Pepper, worst are the Sweet and Salty. They sound good, but they are g-ross). If Tonyonball is feeling a bit dehydrated, some old fashion chewing gum does the trick. Tonyonball would prefer that MLB treated players like men and allow them to make their own choices, but apparently the helicopter parents win again.
· The All-Star Game no longer determines home field advantage for the World Series. This rule was always dumb (hot take – compliments of Stephen A. Smith). For all of those who liked this rule, I have news for you, it didn’t make sense and didn’t reward the team that had the better season (straw man argument – compliments of Bernie Miklaz). The new rule is interesting, giving the team with the higher winning percentage in the playoffs the home field advantage. The NBA and NHL base it on regular season record, the NFL has neutral site; and soccer, well, maybe Cheech can fill us in but let’s be honest, they probably play in Florida so they can have fresh orange slices for everyone after the match.
· In their first game at Wrigley Field, all visiting managers are required to give Joe Maddon an old fashioned. Just kidding, Joe Buck will probably take care of that.
· No longer will a first round pick be used as compensation for signing away a free agent. This is in response to some players remaining free agents well into the season because teams didn’t want to give up a first round pick for a decent, though expensive, older player. The most recent example that Tonyonball can recall is Kyle Lohse. Tonyonball would recommend that the compensation remain the same if the player is with the original team he came to the major leagues (it seems that the rule was intended to keep players with their original teams, good for fans, bad for players). However, when a journeyman player becomes a free agent, that is not the intent of the rule, let him go sign with whomever he wants, that’s the free market system that sports entered into with free agency.
· Stimulant penalties are going up. Seems legit, somehow all it takes to get prescribed Adderall is to say, “I would like some Adderall.”
· Players may now be placed on the Disabled List for 10 days in lieu of 15. Tonyonball has never really understood the short term DL stint. With baseball, you’re either very hurt (Tommy John surgery, broken ankle, etc.) or you’re not (sore muscle, jammed finger, vaginitis). It’s baseball, very little contact, take a day off and be ready to play.
Not sure it was in the collective bargaining agreement, but Dexter Fowler to the Cardinals is another bright spot in this cold December. Go Cards!
-Tonyonball