Manfred needs support from 75% of owners to unilaterally implement a scheduleGETTY IMAGES
There are six MLB team owners “who do not want to play this year,” according to sources cited by Andy Martino of SNY.tv. The sources added that some other owners “are unhappy with Manfred's handling of negotiations ... though their exact complaint is unclear.” A divided or unhappy coalition of owners “would present an additional challenge to reaching an agreement.” In trying to reach a deal, Manfred “can't afford to see his constituency crumble” (SNY.tv, 6/16). THE SCORE's Jason Wilson noted Manfred "needs support from 75% of owners (23) to unilaterally implement" a schedule (THESCORE.com, 6/16). In Pittsburgh, Joe Starkey wrote he believes many owners “would prefer to cancel the season or play the bare minimum of 48 games,” and their actions as a group “support that notion.” Starkey: “They are stalling at every turn, whether by floating unreasonable ideas, putting forth bad-faith proposals or making their mouth-piece commissioner look like a fool” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/16).
GETTING READY FOR LABOR WAR: SI.com's Stephanie Apstein wrote under the header, “MLB Is Crumbling. Blame The Owners.” Almost “every move the owners have made this year reeks of arrogance.” They seem to only care about “winning a business negotiation, no matter how small the stakes or how narrow the margin of victory.” The owners seem to view these talks “as a way to position themselves for next winter’s labor war.” Apstein: “The owners want to win next winter, and so they are playing hardball now” (SI.com, 6/16). In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes, “For all the ugly bluster of today, it's less about this bizarre season. They're not that far apart. It's more about setting the tone for what comes next, and that really threatens to get nasty” (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/17). In Newark, Steve Politi writes it is clear that the owners’ motive is to “cripple” the union ahead of the next CBA talks. Politi: “Maybe this embarrassment from his about-face will drag Manfred back to the negotiating table. Even so, he is so lacking in credibility, it’s hard to imagine that the players’ union will take him seriously” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 6/17).
FALLING INTO OLD HABITS: In Detroit, Anthony Fenech writes, “The owners only care about one score, and it's counted with dollars, not runs. They are pinching their pennies and stalling for a shorter season in hopes of avoiding paying the players the money they agreed to via contract negotiations” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/17). In L.A., Mark Whicker wrote the owners are “living up to their longtime cynical norms.” They are “capitalizing on a pandemic to try to impose a salary cap” when the current CBA expires (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/16).
PLAYERS' UNITED FRONT: In Ft. Worth, Jeff Wilson writes the owners “are wobbling, and the players are going to win this fight.” They have “badly misjudged how unified the union has become over the past four years and a year before bargaining begins on a new basic agreement” (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/17). In Dallas, Evan Grant wrote if there is “anything good that can come out of this fight, maybe it’s that owners will get a grasp on that unity and learn they are better off making deals than trying to crack this union.” Grant: “This argument, which never should have occurred in the first place, has galvanized the union in a manner that hasn’t been seen in years” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/16).
