Gregor: A 50-game baseball season is an awful idea
This is not 1994-95.
Back then, I would put in a call to Mike LaValliere once a week.
"Spanky" was the White Sox's backup catcher, and he was also the player representative.
The conversation usually opened with a "Bleep the owners," and LaValliere would continue ranting about the players having no choice but to strike due to a de facto salary cap designed to break the union.
Those were some pretty dark days, from Aug. 12, 1994, when the strike started, until April 2, 1995, when it ended.
Major League Baseball is currently idle, but the coronavirus is to blame.
That's not to say the owners and players are in a good place as talks on playing an abbreviated season drag on.
Two of the Cubs' biggest stars - Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant - directed some pretty strong feelings at management before spring training was shut down on March 12.
The Cubs exercised Rizzo's $14.5 million club option for this season, and the star first baseman has another $14.5 million club option for 2021.
Rizzo's been open to a contract extension and was a bit miffed there were no serious talks before play was halted.
"They have a business to run and we're a part of their business," Rizzo said. "We're players. We know this game doesn't know any names. You're just another piece of the puzzle and if I'm not playing first base, someone else is.
"This is as cutthroat as ever now. We're talking about trading the MVP of the league a couple years ago (Bryant), who has done a lot for this franchise."
Bryant was the subject of intense trade rumors over the winter as the Cubs were trying to reduce payroll after paying a $7.6 million luxury tax last year.
The star third baseman wondered why the Cubs were so quiet during the off-season.
"I haven't looked at the math of wherever the payroll situation is, but I know we just got this new (TV) network for a lot of money and the Cubs are one of the most profitable teams out there and one of the most desirable teams," Bryant said. "People always want to go to Wrigley Field to watch a game, they want to go to Wrigleyville and see all the bars and everything that's built up. The Ricketts family has done a really good job in terms of just changing everything about this franchise and there is certainly money out there. It's just a matter of if they want to. I don't know, I really don't."
In the owners' defense, COVID-19 has wreaked financial chaos, and games are likely to be played without fans in the stands if baseball is able to return.
Getting back on the field in early July remains the most desirable target date, and an 82-game season and expanded playoffs would be ideal in these current times.
A compromise is needed by both sides, and the onus is on the owners to take the lead and figure out a way to properly compensate the players who would be taking huge health risks to return.
Owners say they can't afford to give players prorated pay for an 82-game season. OK, then try to figure out a way to defer some of the money until the country is back up and running at full speed, hopefully by next season.
The owners are reportedly considering only offering prorated pay for a 50-game regular season, but who wants to watch that? Little League travel teams play 50-game seasons.
The players have to bend a bit since attendance is taking such a big hit, but the owners have more to lose. If you believe MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, they'd lose $4 billion if no games are played this season.
An industry source had a great take on baseball's current state, and here's hoping it doesn't come true.
To paraphrase, if a deal doesn't get done because of money, make it look like something else is to blame.