With the latest play for power in Major League Baseball, America’s game is once again getting a giant black eye.
As of right now, the Major League Baseball Player’s Association (MLBPA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) itself are at odds as to how many games should be played and how much should the players be paid for those games. That and the breakdown in negotiations between the two sides have put MLB play on a what could be a permanent hiatus.
On Thursday, there seemed to be a small sliver of light in the every growing darkness of this impasse. After MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark stated “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where”, several players began to hash tag ‘when and where’ on their social media accounts.
It seems the players want to play and are waiting on Commissioner Rob Manfred to move forward and create a schedule.
One caveat however: If the players do not agree on the length of play and the pay scale, they could file a grievance against Major League Baseball, putting everything back to square one.
There is no doubt that America’s past time has had its fair share of body blows and upper cuts when it comes to controversy. The bigger ones like the 1919 Chicago White Sox game throwing scandal, the ongoing steroid embroilment that began in the 90’s and continued up until a few years ago, and the recent contentious sign stealing debacle, have dwarfed some of the smaller bruises that baseball has inflicted upon itself.
Still, through every controversy and strike that has befallen the game, fans have not completely abandoned the game that has touched every generation since the 1870’s. I don’t know for sure, but this situation feels a little bit different.
When the Corona virus pandemic reached the United States and caused the lives of Americans to come to a screeching halt, a lot was lost. Throughout the country, people from all walks of life were affected physically, mentally and most definitely financially.
With that, baseball fans across this vast land we call home are looking at the league and the players basically bickering over money and just shaking their head. There is no doubt that the owners of the teams are multimillionaires. And we also know the average salary of a major league player is about 4.3 million dollars.
So, with that knowledge and the fact that millions of Americans are still without a job, baseball purists and fans alike are slowly getting fed up with the greediness of the two sides.
Look, we all understand that the owners are looking out for their bottom line. They are businessmen and because of that they must make sure that their product remains viable.
On the flip side, players deserve to be paid what the market determines to be their worth. This is their job and it is what they use to make a living.
However, baseball is and will always be a form of entertainment. It is not essential to maintaining the lives of the human beings that dwell in this country.
Instead, we Americans use baseball as a distraction from the everyday decisions and problems that we face. Baseball gives us an escape that allows us to forget what is going on in the rest of our lives.
Don’t believe it, come to the ballpark here in good ole Ville Platte. There you will find people that are there to watch their child, grandchild or family member play the game in its purist form. But, there are also people there without a dog in the hunt, just enjoying a day away from the grind of life.
So, owners and players, bring this standoff to an end. Because I have a feeling if you don’t, you will not only lose fans, but even more important, you will lose any respect and dignity the game has left!!
June 12, 2026
