Now that MLB is back...does anyone care?

[Runscott]

Seattle doesn't really have a team, my Astros are disgraced, and all the other teams are either boring or our enemies. The '94 strike hurt the sport for years and many of us didn't watch it with any interest until the Sosa/McGwire steroid HR battle. It certainly hasn't been as interesting since, and I'd argue it's been on a slow downhill slide.

So how will the infantile behavior of the spoiled egotistical owners and over-paid players who have no appreciation of where their grossly-gigantic incomes comes from, affect us, the fans?

I really enjoyed watching a 2004 NLCS championship game yesterday, and as long as I can get hold of these old films, I think I'm good.

[nebboy]

I'm a fan - period - I'll take baseball over any other sport - I grew up in football country and stuck with that norm until I grew up and learned to think and follow my own path in life. At times baseball is my distraction from the social whatever is going on in the news on any given day, having a game on TV is the best escape from what the other Chanel's have to offer. I love the fact that it's history in so entwined with this country's history that you can explore and read about the events of of country and find its effects on the game. The GAME has changed in many aspect to reflect the cultural change of our nation, but on the other hand has not. Baseball policy has been great and saddling, has shown fault and achievement it's changed labor laws and cultural norm. It's the best of the USA and at times the worst of greed and sandals - I enjoy baseball on professional and little league level, it,s a piece of my life that I welcome with open arms. Any baseball is good even so much as a 50 something year old guy still collects baseball cards for the love of the game. If baseball is on a down hill slide than I'm all in and will stay on the bandwagon until the end. It's my game and proud to say so!!!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by nebboy

I enjoy baseball on professional and little league level, it,s a piece of my life that I welcome with open arms. Any baseball is good even so much as a 50 something year old guy still collects baseball cards for the love of the game. If baseball is on a down hill slide than I'm all in and will stay on the bandwagon until the end. It's my game and proud to say so!!!

I can't argue with any of that. Just wondering about MLB coming back now, not the history, which obviously no one in a vintage baseball card forum would argue isn't important and great. I'm certainly not one of those guys who thinks we should destroy history, even though I know it's currently in vogue. But I would argue that MLB has done everything imaginable to separate it's current incarnation from its history, and has pushed further and further toward something that's unrecognizable from the last time we played a ~60 game season. If all of that doesn't alienate a huge fan like yourself, then I'm betting the slide will continue.

I'm with you regarding Little League and other non-MLB forms of our sport - still all in and if I give up on MLB I'll probably replace it with watching college baseball. Just not sure I'm in for MLB in 2020. I was out for 1995, and life went on just fine. We'll see - I love the sport so much that I won't know until it's 'opening day' and I have the option of watching a game.

[packs]

In some sense I'll care even more this year. If Paxton gets hurt making 3 starts in a 60 game season and misses his final year in 2021, I couldn't help but feel like the decision to play this year was a stupid one.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by packs

In some sense I'll care even more this year. If Paxton gets hurt making 3 starts in a 60 game season and misses his final year in 2021, I couldn't help but feel like the decision to play this year was a stupid one.

With his luck this will be his career season, but not enough stats to make it shine in the future. He's one of my favorites so I wish him well.

[packs]

I'll have to revise my view. Paxton is a free agent after 2020, not 2021. Pitch him every day.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Just like how World War 2 impacted some career stats of great players

so will Covid....50 games this year..and next year can also be impacted...also catching the virus will take a player out of 14 games or so plus he has to worry about the normal injuries

5 years from now we may have some players that are within 5 or so homers of a key number or from a player above them that 'what if' played 100 more games..would of hit those key HOF number or a number above the next guy who is in the HOF..

[Orioles1954]

I'm an Orioles fan an 100% don't care. Won't watch a game and the World Series Champs this year might claim it's a real title but all will know it's nothing more than an asterisk.

[packs]

The more I think about it the more it seems like a huge mistake. The CBA is up next year and if a player gets sick and (god forbid) passes away or someone in their immediate family passes away because the commissioner compelled a season, I think baseball will have a hard time coming back long-term.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by packs

The more I think about it the more it seems like a huge mistake. The CBA is up next year and if a player gets sick and (god forbid) passes away or someone in their immediate family passes away because the commissioner compelled a season, I think baseball will have a hard time coming back long-term.

No one gives a shit. There’s money to be made. America.

[packs]

Originally Posted by conor912

No one gives a shit. There’s money to be made. America.

People definitely do care and if a player passes away you can be sure the union will care.

[todeen]

All I know is that MLB looks like chumps compared to NBA, with all their arguments over money. Did you see NBA is paying Disney $150 million to use their facilities without fans, and expect to lose $1 billion or more financially. WOW

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[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Originally Posted by todeen

All I know is that MLB looks like chumps compared to NBA, with all their arguments over money. Did you see NBA is paying Disney $150 million to use their facilities without fans, and expect to lose $1 billion or more financially. WOW

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Much more looking forward to the NBA this year. When I was a kid baseball ruled over the NBA and NFL, now as I gotten older I rather watch the NBA and NFL over the MLB, even with that I am glad the MLB is back. I am definitely not a fan of that runner on second base in extra innings game though. That`s going a little too far.

[todeen]

Will anyone watch if Trout opts out? Would he opt out for half the season? He has a baby due in August.

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[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by todeen

Will anyone watch if Trout opts out? Would he opt out for half the season? He has a baby due in August.

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I havent seen trout play in years and i watch at least 100 games year ..hes on the west coast and in the AL...

[packs]

I can’t believe there are so many people who fall into the owner’s narrative trap about the players being “millionaires who play a game”.

The owners are BILLIONAIRES who don’t want to pay people to work. How can anyone be on the side of people who by and large inherited their fortunes and never worked a day in their life.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by packs

I can’t believe there are so many people who fall into the owner’s narrative trap about the players being “millionaires who play a game”.

The owners are BILLIONAIRES who don’t want to pay people to work. How can anyone be on the side of people who by and large inherited their fortunes and never worked a day in their life.

How do they not want to pay people to work? What player is working and not getting paid? They don't want to pay players not to play, actually....

It's not that I'm on the Billionaires side, it's that in the constant public money fighting between millionaires and billionaires, they all seem whiny and unappealing.

[packs]

The A’s are valued at over 2 billion dollars and as soon as the minor league season was cancelled they stopped paying the players $400 a week so they could save 1.3 million dollars. The owners only reversed course after the league made enough noise about it. Why should the players not want to get paid when all the owners want to do is screw them and make it look like the players are the bad guys?

The owners originally wanted to pay the players one third of their salary regardless of how many games they played.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by packs

I can’t believe there are so many people who fall into the owner’s narrative trap about the players being “millionaires who play a game”.

The owners are BILLIONAIRES who don’t want to pay people to work. How can anyone be on the side of people who by and large inherited their fortunes and never worked a day in their life.

Not everyone buys into the class envy thing.

Now that you've finished running down people who have more than you (because they have more than you,) go out and buy a lottery ticket.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Not everyone buys into the class envy thing.



Now that you've finished running down people who have more than you (because they have more than you,) go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Stereotypes are always dangerous. There are some of the rich who are trust fund babies and living it up. Some worked really hard for their money. Some screwed others to make their riches. Others still are philanthropists.

But I think a stereotype that is true is that the rich stay rich by doing everything they can to keep their money. Some argue that's sound business operation. Others argue they're heartless.

Full disclosure: My wife and I are strong union supporters. I don't believe in socialism, but laws helping redistribute wealth are needed. The good ol days - 1950s and 60s - had a higher level of wealth located within the middle class, and also had higher taxes. Many want America to be more economically like then, but they aren't willing to recreate the conditions that allowed the US to flourish.

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[packs]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Not everyone buys into the class envy thing.

Now that you've finished running down people who have more than you (because they have more than you,) go out and buy a lottery ticket.

I don’t know what this comment means. If you think players are millionaires playing a game aren’t you denigrating people for having more than you?

[todeen]

Again, I don't think redistribution of wealth is theft. I do think it's unethical, but it's not theft. My tsk tsk comment was in reference to that. I'm also not socialist. I'm pro capitalism. My family and my life has been greatly influenced by capitalism. Redistribution of wealth is a very capitalist endeavor.

Now, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. The wealthy have been redistributing and consolidating wealth for 60 years. Real wages / real wealth is not higher than that of the late 60s. If the wealthy have been able to change monetary laws, reduce taxes, and create stagnant wages, than the middle class has every right to undo these changes. The wealthy have reduced or eliminated taxes on capital gains, estate transfers, and taxes on wealth above certain percentages, and this has hurt the USA. We have stopped investing in infrastructure, and we wonder why we are about to be passed by China for most powerful economy.

Next, it is a false narrative to believe that taking lower benefits will increase your wages. Both benefits and wages have fallen since the 60s, creating less real wealth. Wages have not kept up with inflation, so middle class workers have less buying power today than 60 years ago. By stagnating wages, and introducing gig jobs (private contractor economy - Uber, Amazon deliveries, etc), CEOs are inflating profits to create dividends and other capital gains. Since the majority of stock wealth is possessed by the wealthiest citizens, these dividends are going directly into private accounts rather than strengthening the company. Further, private equity firms have learned how to buy a company (Toys R Us, Sears, etc) and stack the company with debt, while at the same time withdrawing profits from the company. The company then goes bankrupt, and the private equity firm walks away with the wealth, leaving behind debt and jobless employees to be sorted out by others. Pensions are turned over to Pension Guarantee, and the private equity firms score another victory.

No, redistribution of wealth is not theft. If it was, the wealthy wouldn't have been able to do what they've done. What the wealthy has done is completely legal and supports capitalism. Changing tax and income laws, reducing benefits and wages, getting rid of matching 401k payments, leeching wealth from companies, increasing part time work, increasing contract workers, and reducing full time employees is unethical, but it's legal, and it's not theft.

And it's every bit fair game for middle class workers to play by the same rules and begin to advocate for these changes to be undone. Undoing these changes will turn the stream of income slightly away from the wealthy and redistribute wealth back to the middle and lower class.

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[packs]

I think it helps to understand what redistribution of wealth means and to understand it's already in practice in every aspect of your life. It is not theft, it is government policy. When you get divorced and your assets are split, that is a redistribution of wealth that takes place on the individual level you’re talking about. But that is not how wealth is redistributed on a public scale. We have a progressive income tax, that's redistribution. We have charities you can donate to. That's redistribution of wealth too. Medicare is a redistribution of wealth. Things like public WiFi, public education and public libraries are a redistribution of wealth. Museums are a redistribution of wealth.

In political circles you will hear people talk about theft. But in your practical life it seems to be more or less accepted as the cost of doing business. It also leads to a lot of good things for people (like a free public education, being able to access the internet or going to the doctor).

[Cliff Bowman]

I can’t say their names, but NP of CA has a net worth of $120 million, MW of VA has a net worth of $90 million, RB of CT has a net worth of $70, DF of CA has a net worth of $58 million, EW of MA has a net worth of $12 million. Does any anyone here who is not naive honestly believe that they are going to pass laws that will take their personal wealth or their billionaires donors personal wealth with no loopholes or havens to protect their own money? I have no doubt that will certainly try to clean out their wealthy enemies as soon as they take power in January but they will never pass laws that will allow their own wealth or their donors wealth to be touched.

[packs]

A city's budget is a redistribution of wealth. Every city has one and every city passes one. It decides how your tax dollars are reinvested in the city. I don’t think it’s theft if people who have more money pay more in taxes that then benefit other people in the form of public services.

[Cliff Bowman]

What does that have to do with taking wealth from liberal millionaires and billionaires and giving it to the less fortunate? Do you believe NP and MW are going to allow their own personal wealth to be confiscated? Hell no they aren’t.

[the 'stache]

Hell yes, I care. It's Major League Baseball. And while all the off-the-field stuff baffles me (millionaires and billionaires not able to sit down, and reach a compromise on how much richer they will all be, while the average American worries if the cost of a treatment for a virus will bankrupt them), and angers me, it's still baseball. I love the sport. I wish it were 162 games being played while our country was not divided, with people suffering and dying. With brutality against individuals because of their skin color on full display. That's not our reality, right now, and it may not be for a while.

We need to try and find anything we can that makes life better, even if it's just a few hours a week. Baseball will serve as a welcome respite from the suffering. If I can turn on a game, and not think about the negatives for a few hours, I'll find a little peace. Next Wednesday, I'll sign up for MLB.tv, and get ready for opening day.

[Cmount76]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Hell yes, I care. It's Major League Baseball. And while all the off-the-field stuff baffles me (millionaires and billionaires not able to sit down, and reach a compromise on how much richer they will all be, while the average American worries if the cost of a treatment for a virus will bankrupt them), and angers me, it's still baseball. I love the sport. I wish it were 162 games being played while our country was not divided, with people suffering and dying. With brutality against individuals because of their skin color on full display. That's not our reality, right now, and it may not be for a while.

We need to try and find anything we can that makes life better, even if it's just a few hours a week. Baseball will serve as a welcome respite from the suffering. If I can turn on a game, and not think about the negatives for a few hours, I'll find a little peace. Next Wednesday, I'll sign up for MLB.tv, and get ready for opening day.

+1 - Couldn't have said it better! Let's play ball!

[dabigyankeeman]

I was not happy with the negotiations, but now thats in the past and I dont care what went on. I am self quarantining totally alone and going nuts mentally and I need baseball so badly, I am looking forward to enjoying the games starting Thursday (which is tomorrow as I type this), and nothing will take away my enjoyment of the game on the field.

I dont care what the owners wanted, what the players wanted, I dont care about cardboard fans and piped-in crowd noise, I just want and NEED to watch baseball, real games, not old games or meaningless exhibition games.

I will take the 60 game season as a whole season, and in reality, it makes each game and even each at bat have more meaning than they do in a 162 game season. I will be hanging on every pitch.

As a Yankees fan I really love that they are opening the season, and playing the Nats!!

I refuse to let any off the field crap take away my enjoyment of the game of baseball. Period.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Hell yes, I care. It's Major League Baseball. And while all the off-the-field stuff baffles me (millionaires and billionaires not able to sit down, and reach a compromise on how much richer they will all be, while the average American worries if the cost of a treatment for a virus will bankrupt them), and angers me, it's still baseball. I love the sport. I wish it were 162 games being played while our country was not divided, with people suffering and dying. With brutality against individuals because of their skin color on full display. That's not our reality, right now, and it may not be for a while.

We need to try and find anything we can that makes life better, even if it's just a few hours a week. Baseball will serve as a welcome respite from the suffering. If I can turn on a game, and not think about the negatives for a few hours, I'll find a little peace. Next Wednesday, I'll sign up for MLB.tv, and get ready for opening day.

Go Bill- Even a little is good.

.

[Marckus99]

Nope.
Haven’t seen a game in years.

[steve B]

Have you seen the stuff they'll use to "enhance" broadcasts this year?

Ringling went out of business, and I think I found where some of their people landed.
Foul territiory digitally overlaid with an ad.
Areas of seats overlaid with ads if the team doesn't sell ads on the tarps already.
A Gatorade logo digitally added the the back of the pitchers mound...
Contests during the game

[vintagetoppsguy]

Not me.

[Chuck9788]

Originally Posted by Marckus99

Nope.
Haven’t seen a game in years.

I adore and honor vintage baseball.

However, as someone who loyally supports our police officers and the brave men and women in uniform, I don't think I'm very welcome in todays MLB.

Sports in general has been transformed, it's now all about liberal social justice politics. That's not my thing.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Chuck9788

I adore and honor vintage baseball.

However, as someone who loyally supports our police officers and the brave men and women in uniform, I don't think I'm very welcome in todays MLB.

Sports in general has been transformed, it's now all about liberal social justice politics. That's not my thing.

+1 Same here

[packs]

It was a little weird to watch yesterday. I did like that the Dodgers had the cutouts in the stands.

Hard to imagine the postseason under these conditions. The crowd will be missed, I'm sure. Have to think it would be weird to celebrate a World Series in a quiet stadium.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by packs

It was a little weird to watch yesterday. I did like that the Dodgers had the cutouts in the stands.

Hard to imagine the postseason under these conditions. The crowd will be missed, I'm sure. Have to think it would be weird to celebrate a World Series in a quiet stadium.

Lots of championships have been celebrated with very little fans.......it really isnt that hard , plus there are still more people there than im sure there were in minor leagues for a lot of these guys or college. Plus by playoff time there may be some limited capacity of 1000s of fans...its only the the first day.