MLB debut

MLB: The Case Against the Owners

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As MLB continues to figure out just how to restart the season during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, an unfair narrative has started. The narrative is everyone from politicians, local elected officials, and all of us as fans is to denounce the players for wanting to delay the restart of the baseball season due to the amount of money they’d be paid by their bosses, the owners.

Yes, I understand that some ballplayers make more money in a single season than I will in my lifetime. But the MLBPA was told by the owners that if baseball play were to resume, players would receive a prorated salary based on the number of games they’d play, as well as accepting only 4% of their salary should the whole season be canceled. So why are the ballplayers the villain in this situation, when the owners suddenly decided to change course?

The Owners Can Absorb the Hit, Most Ball Players Can’t.

Everyone is financially reeling from the economic uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic. And the vast majority of major league ballplayers are set to lose every penny at this given moment. It’s well documented that minor league ballplayers make below minimum wage on average. The AAA ball season begins in April and ends in September. Baseball isn’t set to resume until July should this deal get passed. Minor league ballplayers are being paid $400 a week, $1,600 a month by MLB due to the coronavirus. How many of you can safely say you can live on $400 a week?

Compare that to the players on a major league roster who make the league minimum. The current MLB minimum is $563,500. Aaron Judge was making $8,500 less than that of his 2017 campaign. 4% of $563,500 is $22,540. If the season gets canceled, that’s what MOST BALL PLAYERS will be paid by their teams. That’s less than half my annual salary. So why shouldn’t the MLBPA do what they can to ensure that their players will get paid fairly?

Seriously… The Owners/Teams Can Eat the Loss Better Than The Players

According to Forbes, the Yankees are worth $5 billion. The Yankees spend 32% on their player’s salaries. The Yankees need to split revenue 50-50? They aren’t paying their hourly employees and will stop paying the rest of their other employees by May 31st. As the Mets are. So that’s already saving them money. The players already agreed to 4% of their salaries. A 50-50 revenue split would mean even less money than what was promised the players.

Think about it.

Giancarlo Stanton is worth $40 million. Stanton accepted 4% of $26 million. The guy who signs his checks, Hal Steinbrenner, is worth $3.8 BILLION! Stanton is worth 1.05% of Hal Steinbrenner, and Stanton (as a member of the MLBPA) is the villain in this situation? The Yankees need less in overall operational cost for a truncated 2020 season, why not pay their players with that?

It’s true for the Mets as well.

Again, the vast majority of baseball players will make more money than we will in our lifetimes. I understand that I’m not disputing this in the slightest. But why are the owners going out of their way to pay their employees, players, and essential personnel even LESS than what they were promised the good guys in this situation? None of us will be able to go to a game this season. Most of us won’t be able to go to a game next season until the vaccine is ready. So how can people say the players are villains when the owners are trying not to feel the financial hardships the rest of us are feeling right now?

Why Pushing the Start of the 2020 Season Back is the Best for the Greater Good, Even if it Complicates the Postseason

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New York Yankees

In accordance with the CDC’s recommendations regarding gatherings of 50 or more people in this new coronavirus world we live in, the opening day of the 2020 season won’t come until May for the Yankees and Mets. While this is a drag for everyone looking forward to the season, yours truly included, baseball had to do this. Given the new information coming out about those recovering from the disease, you HAVE to follow the CDC’s recommendation.

Why We Should Trust the Experts at the CDC

The CDC recommended limiting as much as possible gatherings of 50+ people for the next two weeks. Based on information coming out of areas like China, it’s now more imperative to protect us fans AND the athletes.

Research out of Hong Kong is showing that close to 25% of patients recovering from the coronavirus are recovering with 20-30% less lung capacity. I posed why it’s imperative to suspend the season due to the coronavirus based on just how fast the disease spreads. Think about it, 1 person who doesn’t know they have the coronavirus could infect 10,000 people at Yankee Stadium, and those infected can then go and infect 3 others, bringing it to 30,000 infected people. Based on the research out of Hong Kong, that would mean 120,000 infected would have 20-30% reduced lung capacity.

Could you imagine Gio Urshela, RIPPING an easy double into the left field corner, but he has to settle for a single based on how winded he is because he had coronavirus?

What Could This Mean for the Postseason?

Baseball is determined to play as many games as possible once the season starts. Let’s argue that the season starts after Memorial Day, and they set out to play ALL 162 games. That would mean, essentially, 2 consecutive months where every day is a double header. That’s unrealistic. What’s more unrealistic, is to push the start of the postseason back by 2 months. That would mean we wouldn’t have the World Series until either Thanksgiving or Christmas, possibly starting Spring Training at the same time in 2021 (around Valentines Day is when players start reporting).

You have to have a shortened season. The 162 game format, as it exists in the American AND National league, has only existed for 58 out of the 151 years Major League Baseball has existed (the American League adopted the 162 game season in 1961, with the National League following suit in 1962). If you don’t shorten the season, you then have to delay the start of Spring Training in 2021, while also trying to work out a new CBA.

If Rob Manfred screwed the pooch on the Astros punishment, he has his opportunity to redeem himself with how to handle the coronavirus. Let’s all be patient, and hope for above average baseball when the season does start.

New York Yankees: How Did Adonis Rosa Fare in His MLB Debut?

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Adonis Rosa

Since the New York Yankees have struggled with the injury bug all season, they’ve had no option but to pull up several dozen triple-A players to take MLB roles. Monday night it was Brady Lail making his debut, and last night Adonis Rosa appeared in his for MLB game.

Rosa went two full innings where he allowed one run on a solo shot in the top of the ninth. He fanned two and walked none in his appearance. The 24-year-old right-hander flashed a low-90s fastball and dropped a hammer at around 77mph. He recorded the last out on a filthy down-and-away slider to get the batter chasing.

Rosa signed with the New York Yankees in December of 2013 as an international free agent. He made his professional baseball debut for the Dominican Summer League Yankees in 2014. This season for the triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, Rosa posted a 3.45 ERA so far with a 4-0 record (Baseball Reference). Rosa has been with the Yankees his entire career ever since he signed with them in 2014.

Domingo German started the game where he went seven innings pitched and allowed two earned runs on five hits. He improved his record to 15-2, where he now leads the MLB in wins. He’s also leading the pros in highest winning percentage, at .882 (Baseball Reference).

The Yankees improve their record to 80-41 and set themselves a season-high 39 games above the .500 mark. They also improve their record against the Baltimore Orioles this season to 16-2. The Bombers will continue their domination over the O’s tomorrow at 1:05 pm EST home in the Bronx.

New York Yankees: How did Brady Lail fare in his MLB Debut?

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New York Yankees, Brady Lail

The New York Yankees called up Brady Lail from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders for Monday night’s matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. Lail had previously spent eight years in the Yankee organization before he got the promotion.

After joining the New York Yankees following the series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Lail said, “It’s crazy. It’s an honor, but I’ve played with a bunch of these guys throughout the minor leagues. Walking in here and seeing all the smiles and hugs makes me fit right at home”

In his debut Monday night, Lail pitched 2.2 innings where he allowed three earned runs on a home run. This year in triple-A, Lail posted a 3.97 ERA in seven appearances. In 11 innings pitched, he’s allowed eight hits while fanning 11 (Baseball Reference). With his whole family in attendance, Lail recorded his first two major league strikeouts against the Orioles.

The 25-year-old-right-hander flashed a low-90s fastball with a changeup and spinner at around 86-88mph. Being up eight runs, all he had to do was throw strikes – which he did. He kept hitters off-balance with his changeup and his two-seam fastball.

The New York Yankees drafted Lail in the 18th round of the 2012 MLB draft. Drafted out of high school, Lail began his professional career in rookie ball where he would spend the next eight years working his way up to pitching in the Bronx.

With 17 Yankee players currently on the injured list, fans will most likely see a bunch of other minor league arms getting their shot this season. Another big name in triple-A is Deivi Gracia whos been talked about ever since the trade deadline.