BY JAMES RUMSCHLAG, STAFF WRITER
The Major League Baseball, MLB, Lockout is when there is no agreement between the MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred and the MLB Players Association, MLBPA. The lockout began on December 2, 2021, after the current deal had expired on December 1st, and neither side could come to a collective agreement. As of now, Manfred has just canceled more games, making April 14th looking to be the closest date for Opening Day. This is not the first time this has happened. Actually, this is the ninth time the MLB has had a lockout.
In all honesty, this is mostly Rob Manfred’s fault. The guy has been one of the most hated people in baseball, outside of umpires, since his first day. Manfred has strained the relations between the MLB and MLBPA. He didn’t handle the Astros cheating scandal well. He cost Atlanta and its economy over $100 million when he moved the All-Star game because of politics. This is why we hate when politics are involved in sports. His petty attitude caused one of the most famous baseball journalists, Mr. Ken Rosenthal, and probably many others, to lose respect for the MLB, and he’s been hands off of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, other than to turn it into a lockout.
Having to watch a “halved” season due to COVID-19 was rough enough, having to wait until April 14th is turning into even more ridiculous. For some of us, baseball is just one thing we enjoy to escape reality, but with Crybaby Manfred as commissioner, we are screwed. Many people have taken to social media in a state of anger since Manfred hasn’t done jack and just canceled more games. Maybe he should get off his greedy butt and try to talk with the MLB and MLBPA. Manfred has a law degree and Bachelors in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, so one would assume that he would be the best man for the job. Guess not since he has no respect for the sport.
As mentioned before, Manfred has been hands-off the current CBA ordeal. It took Manfred, the MLB and the MLBPA some time to even consider talking about what should be Spring Training right now. The players, of course, are sick of this lockout and want to meet any new teammates that were traded to their team. One such example is that Detroit Tiger’s Spencer Torkelson had said his piece on the lockout and is wanting to meet new teammate Javier Baez. Yeah. Thanks, Mets. I can’t believe you sent him to that crappy place.
Due to this lockout, only players who are not on the current 40-man roster for their teams may enter their respective spring training facilities. Well, that’s probably the only good thing so far. It’s complete crap for the players on the 40-man roster, though. This is what they get paid to do, but Manfred is a complete moron
Overall, Manfred needs to get his stuff together. If no season happens, then there will be a huge uprising against him and the MLB from fans, players, coaches and their families. The club owners aren’t much help either. They’re like a bunch of little Manfred’s, greedy and useless. Here’s to hoping for a 2022 MLB Season. Cheers.
