The MLBPA yesterday showed "how prepared they are for lengthy negotiations to take place" even if that means "more games are to be lost," according to Phillip Martinez of SNY.tv. MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark "touted the players’ unity and inability to be intimidated by the owners" despite the league pledging not to make up games that are canceled. Mets P Max Scherzer and free agent P Andrew Miller represented the players at the CBA negotiations in Jupiter, and Miller said, “We’ve seen this coming in a sense, unfortunately. This isn’t new to us or shocking. Our communication, our willingness to see each other’s point of views and find solutions and fight for what’s right is nothing like I’ve seen before.” Scherzer: “Things that have happened to different players have made us outraged in certain situations that we absolutely have to have corrections. And that’s why we find it necessary to continue this fight" (SNY.tv, 3/1). Rockies P and player rep Scott Oberg: “We certainly put forth our best effort, but from the union’s standpoint, I thought that we stayed committed to our priorities and we showed a lot of strength, not only to the other side but amongst ourselves. That was important for us" (DENVER POST, 3/2).
Reportedly, there has been talk on both the agent and team sides that Max Scherzer’s negotiating style was overly aggressiveGetty Images
SCHERZER BECOMES FOCAL POINT: SNY.tv's Andy Martino wrote he "sensed that there was a real problem" yesterday morning, as there was "talk among those on both the agent and team sides that Scherzer’s negotiating style in the room was overly aggressive." The Scherzer topic seemed to "indicate a larger and more destructive trend: the re-introduction of finger-pointing toxicity into a process that had previously become professional and respectful" (SNY.tv, 3/1). MLB Network’s Joel Sherman said, “It’s hard to get to an agreement in general. It’s harder still when there’s real distaste and distrust on both sides” (“Hot Stove,” MLB Network, 3/2).
PLAYERS LOOKED TO REVERSE TREND: In Milwaukee, Tom Haudricourt writes the failure to reach an agreement did "not surprise people who have monitored the animosity between the sides in recent years." Players were perceived to have "ceded too much financial control to owners in previous CBA talks" and the sides "fought bitterly over money in 2020 during what became a pandemic-shortened 60-game schedule" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/2). MLB Network's Carlos Pena said the “players are more informed than ever in the history of the game.” Pena: “They understand that they have a responsibility to leave the game better than they found it. They take that very seriously in the players’ association … and that may mean sacrificing yourself in the moment” ("Hot Stove," MLB Network, 3/2).
LACK OF EARLIER URGENCY DECRIED: In L.A., Jack Harris notes players "took to social media with complaints and concerns about the owners’ tactics." Most revolved around the "same frustrations," that they felt the owners "waited too long to begin seriously negotiating." The two sides only met “six times over more than two months before nine straight days of talks this past week." They felt the owners "pulled a public relations stunt at the last minute, leaking rumors that a deal was closer than it actually was in order to shift blame onto the union." And they felt by canceling games amid a lockout that "isn’t required in the absence of a CBA," the owners were "putting their own financial interests ahead of the long-term health of the game" (L.A. TIMES, 3/2).
