We've Learned Nothing

 

Rob Manfred and Tony Clark

It would be a comedy act if it wasn't so sad.

Rob Manfred (MLB commissioner) and Tony Clark (MLB Player's Association boss) are today's Laurel and Hardy. Or Abbott and Costello.

Or add another dolt and you'd have the Stooges.

Nyuck nyuck nyuck.

Soitanly...ahem...certainly you've read the sad state of affairs by now. We're once again in a baseball work stoppage.

The first time was a strike in 1972 and 86 games were lost. Lockouts followed in 1973 and 1976 but no games were lost. A brief strike in 1980 was resolved with no loss of contests.

Sadly, 1981 hurt badly and tore the sport apart to the tune of 713 games being lost. A split season threw things into chaos.

There was a hiccup strike in 1985 and another lockout in 1990 but both kept things on schedule.

Then came 1994. The carnage was bad as 938 contests went down the tubes along with the post-season. The World Series wasn't played for the first time since 1904.

Baseball finally returned in 1995 but severe damage was done. We couldn't be that arrogant to do this again, right?

Well, partially right. Threats abounded here and there but things were resolved before the deadline. Late last night, Stan Laurel Manfred collected the votes from owners who unanimously elected to lockout the players.

Olver Hardy Clark no doubt said, "This is another nice mess you've gotten me into."

Or maybe he didn't.

What he -- and Laurel/Manfred -- didn't do was reach an agreement.

At the end of the day, fans don't care. They want baseball. They want action. Right now, they want to see player moves. They want to know exactly what the heck the Yankees are doing (they're about as inactive as the Marx brothers at this point).

I see people (you know, twidiots) being pro player, and isn't that all la-di-da super. 

But, frankly, they're wrong. I know, people are allowed opinions and all but I'm going all-in on this one.

Just as in 1994, I am one thing: pro-fan.

I love the players. Don't get me wrong. I've met and gotten to know some minor leaguers who can and will be great in MLB.

But, that being said, I'm not playing Switzerland here either. I'm pro-fan. I'm pro-baseball. I'm pro-save this damn sport.

A bunch of billionaires and athletes and lawyers squabbling over money doesn't exactly make anyone want to embrace the grand ol' game.

It's only day one, of course, so I supposed the good news is we don't need to panic yet. 

Still, as of the last check, no new meetings were scheduled, and, for the layman, one can't help but wonder why they don't just lock themselves out of leaving the bargaining room. Get in there, throw away the key, and don't come out until you have a resolution.

Naive, I know, and yes they'd need restroom breaks but still, work with me here.

Soon, conveniently, the holidays will interrupt things and we'll be into January. Pitchers and catchers would like to show up in February with the full squads not far behind.

In other words, time flies. 

Figure it out, boys. Make it so.

We've had 27 years of labor peace in part because we all knew we couldn't afford another disaster like 1994. We literally couldn't afford any work stoppage.

And yet? Here we are.

But don't worry, we have the comedy gold of Manfred and Clark.

Another nice mess.

Nyuck nyuck