There remains hope for a deal this week, but protracted talks may have already damaged the sportGETTY IMAGES
The possibility of MLB staging Opening Day on July 4 is "all but gone," and the way negotiations are "dragging, the start of the season easily might be delayed until August, and 50 to 60 games might prove the only option," according to Ken Rosenthal of THE ATHLETIC. Though the March agreement empowers MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to "determine the number of games in a shortened 2020 season, MLB will blow the chance for expanded playoffs and other benefits if it fails to reach a deal" with the MLBPA. But every move the league has made in these negotiations has "stiffened the players' resolve." MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark and MLBPA Senior Dir of Collective Bargaining & Legal Bruce Meyer "seem to be banking on the owners caving, knowing divisions also exist on that side" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/6). Meyer, the union's top negotiator, wrote in a letter to MLB Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem on Friday, "The league’s cynical tactic of depriving America of baseball games in furtherance of their demand for unwarranted salary concessions is shortsighted and troubling. Meanwhile, other leagues are moving forward with their plans for resumption.” The union also warned the league "not to force a shortened season on the players" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7).
TREAD LIGHTLY: On Long Island, David Lennon wrote baseball is "playing a dangerous game right now." The "complete lack of self-awareness exhibited by the sport during this maddening 'negotiating' process" is the "behavior of an industry that views itself as bulletproof, thoroughly protected from any hurt feelings boiling over in the paying customers." MLB believes "all their loyalty is an indestructible, infinitely renewable resource," that fans "can’t ever be insulted enough to turn away" (NEWSDAY, 6/7). ESPN’s Buster Olney reported there are "flickers of hope" that a deal could be reached this week. However, the two sides have “dragged on for so long ... they’ve already done enormous damage to the sport.” Olney: “They’ve ceded the opportunity to own the stage by themselves because all these other sports have moved along and begun preparation.” He added, “Both sides have been incredibly tone deaf. Both sides have done damage to the sport" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 6/8). In S.F., John Shea wrote, "Baseball has never been more secondary than it is now." Many fans "seem somewhere between disinterested and turned off, a public-relations nightmare for the game," especially the "commissioner’s office and owners" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/6). CBSSN’s Adam Schein said, “It is unreal how foolish both sides are when it comes to this entire situation, and also the way they’ve handled things in the court of public opinion” ("Time to Schein," CBSSN, 6/5). Meanwhile, in Boston, Peter Abraham wrote MLB "should be very concerned that the NBA will find summer basketball to its liking and permanently move games to July and August beyond this season" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/7).
MEDIA DEALINGS: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff reported the "idea of a 50ish-game season, which seemed a ludicrous threat only days ago, gains momentum with the players." But beyond "statistical credibility and general customer dissatisfaction," a 50-game season "would inflict considerable damage upon the teams’ bread and butter, their RSNs, many of which -- like YES and SNY -- are owned at least in part by the same people who own the teams." Davidoff wondered how RSNs will "explain that to their cable carriers." Additionally, baseball faces "further headaches because deals with two of its three national broadcast partners, ESPN and TBS, expire next season -- the agreement with FOX runs through 2028." If the current labor discord "bleeds over into next year, the last year of the basic labor agreement, then MLB hardly would find itself in an optimal position to negotiate new deals" (N.Y. POST, 6/7).
HEADLINES: In N.Y., Bob Raissman asked, "How can baseball be a 'great healer' when the people running it and playing it are obsessed, first and foremost, with their bottom line?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7). ESPN.com's Jeff Passan went with the header, "Inside MLB's Financials Fight -- And The Numbers To Solve It" (6/5). In Toronto, Gregor Chisholm wrote under the header, "Baseball Has The Most To Lose, But Trails Every Other Major Sport In Reopening. Here’s Why" (TORONTO STAR, 6/7). Also in N.Y., Joel Sherman wrote under the header, "How Baseball Can Get Back On The Field And Stay There" (N.Y. POST, 6/6).
