Owners Force Hand; Major League Baseball is Coming Back… For Real This Time

After two months of childish bickering, Major League Baseball is FINALLY coming back. Tonight, MLB owners announced their plans to implement a 60-game season, after the MLBPA rejected their latest offer. This time though, it seems we are at the end of this long, drawn out nightmare.

It asks players to respond by 5 p.m. Tuesday as to whether they can report July 1 for spring training (the sequel) and whether they’ll agree to the safety and other protocols in the operating manual MLB gave them a while back. https://t.co/iU6OxrV0j4

— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2020

Major League Baseball has asked the MLB Players Association if players can report to camp by July 1 and will sign off on health-and-safety protocols. The union has been asked to respond by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

In other words: MLB is planning on a season.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 23, 2020

Bingo. https://t.co/V41UKyAAHI

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 23, 2020

PLAY BALL!

This all happened after the MLBPA voted 30-5 against the league’s latest proposal. That proposal included an expanded postseason and universal designated hitter in 2020 and 2021. It also included the inability for players to file a grievance against the league for lost revenue.

While owners could have gone with a 50-game season, as previously thought, they appear to have taken the high road (or that is what they will say). Instead, they’re offering the same 60 games they did in their last proposal, even though the players rejected it. In theory, this “olive branch” also decreases the players’ likelihood of filing any legal action against the league and owners, for negotiating in “bad faith”.

Two hurdles that still remain….

1. The league asked the union if players would be ready to report IN SEVEN DAYS (July 1).
2. Will players agree to the Operating Manual that lays out health and safety protocols for the season. Remember that COVID-19 is still a thing.

But ONE FUCKING WEEK to get ready? Way to play hard ball…

MLB has asked the union for two things by tomorrow at 5: 1) can players get to spring training in 7 days? 2) will players agree on the Operating Manual that lays out health/safety protocols for the 2020 season?

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 23, 2020

MLB owners did the right thing by giving players their 60 games rather than punishing them for the rejection. Hear from players who were pleased MLB took the high road in the end on this issue. Of course, by giving them the full 60, it may also blunt a grievance, to a degree.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 23, 2020

WHAT ABOUT THE TWINS?

This isn’t the best case scenario for the Twins. They are built for a marathon, not a 60-game mad-dash.

While they could absolutely dominate in this type of season, there is so much variation to put any tangible faith in it. Just look at how they performed during certain 60-game stretches last year.

If the 2020 season is indeed 60 games …

Twins’ first 60 games last year: 40-20, up 9.5 games

Twins’ last 60 games last year: 39-21, up 6.0 games

Twins’ best 60 games last year: 41-19

Twins’ worst 60 games last year: 31-29

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 23, 2020

Ok, nevermind. Bring your parka. It’s cold here in November.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan