As the NBA and NHL surge toward a return, and the NFL still plans a full schedule this season, the sport that seemed to have the most harmony between employer and employee is suffering the most labor strife.
Indeed, we've heard many mutations of a baseball season, yet MLB and the MLBPA can't seem to get their act together, and get their teams on the field. It's no secret that baseball's player union is the most powerful in American team sports. But other than 1994, when they cancelled the World Series, there hasn't been public or prolific feuding we've seen in other sports. Even the NFL, which can't agree with the NFLPA on anything, won't let such discord detonate and cost them a season, even on the business end of a pandemic.
Baseball, still our pastime, is supposed to be above these problems. Yet, they are dithering dangerously close to losing a chance to play a vaguely valid baseball season, which still hasn't started as we move toward June. And, of course, the toxin pumping through the veins of this beef is quite familiar: money.
Blake Snell didn't do the players any favors. The Rays pitcher inserted his foot, cleats and calf in his mouth when he rambled semi-cogently about getting his money and his refusal to take less in any compromise. "I'm not splitting no revenue," said Snell. "I want all mine."
As 36 million Americans file for unemployment in the toxic wake of COVID-19, it's probably not a good look for the 2018 AL Cy Young winner to rant about money. "Bro, y'all got to understand, too, because y'all going to be like: 'Bro, play for the love of the game. Man, what's wrong with you, bro? Money should not be a thing.' Bro, I'm risking my life. What do you mean, 'It should not be a thing?' It 100 percent should be a thing."
Even worse than Snell's monologue is the fact that Bryce Harper and Nolan Arenado support it. Snell hasn't had a winning season other than the year he won the Cy Young. But Harper is a bona fide star and Arenado may be the best player in baseball not named Trout. We haven't even included super-agent Scott Boras, the Gordon Gekko of baseball, who has snaked his way into the middle of this monetary squabble. (Conversely, you don't hear LeBron James or Tom Brady or Sidney Crosby grousing over their bank accounts.)
Most adult Americans have made $1,200 over the last three months, which barely covers a mortgage payment or month of rent, much less food and phone and electricity. Single mothers are trying to raise kids who can't go to school. Fathers are emasculated by the biblical loss of jobs. And even once our government deems it safe to get back to work, many of the jobs folks had in February won't exist anymore. Meanwhile, MLB players have already cashed-in on $170 million between March 26 and May 24. Some of that went to Snell, of course, who was supposed to make $7 million this season after signing a 5-year, $50 million deal in 2019. In other words, a lot more than $1,200.
Part of the frustration behind these woes is the fact that we're battling a virus, which has no political or philosophical bias. We can't touch it, fight it, or force it out of our homes and hamlets. While the word "unique" is abused and overused, this really is a unique time in human history. If there's been one silver lining it's been the esprit de corps spawned by this coronavirus. We always do better together.
Which is exactly why we need Blake Snell to be quiet, along with his misguided supporters. Word is that MLB is taking a long-awaited economic proposal to the MLBPA this week. Shove the shot-callers in a room, lock the door and hammer out a deal. If baseball cares at all about the people who pay their bills - that would be you, the fans - then it's time for them to talk to each other, not pout or preach at the media.
On this day in 1935, Babe Ruth hit his final home run. Baseball is the only team sport that reaches that deep into history. For a sport that trades so much on its past, it's time for baseball to secure its future. Do it in private, and then come back to the public.
Twitter: @JasonKeidel
