Skip to main content

Is the 2022 MLB Season in Jeopardy?



 I like avoiding the lockout topic as much as I can, and just focus on the Cubs and what will happen when there is baseball, but at this point it's kind of unavoidable. And it's also not good news.

Going into the lockout I naturally expected it to be as aggravating as possible, with the possibility of Spring Training games or even regular season games being canceled. But I looked at the optimistic side that said that MLB and MLBPA would reach an agreement peaceably and before Spring Training starts. There are a million reasons why I want the lockout to end now, or at least before ST, including wanting to see how the new Cubs' team looks and all the endless possibilities to the success of prospects and players.

But I'll start with the news first, and then discuss it from there.


If you don't quite understand all the business, technical part of baseball, it's ok. The basic gist is that MLB and MLBPA (MLB Players Association) met, and MLB made a proposal. There were some things in it that MLBPA did not like, and no agreement is close to being made.  

The process in the agreements is what takes the longest. They have to agree on general stuff, then the next step is working out specific details. Then the agreement has to be made. And you can tell that they aren't even at the first step of agreeing on general stuff. So, without a definite meeting time in the near future (or we haven't been told about it yet), you can tell that the process is going to be awhile yet.

The first problem is Spring Training being in jeopardy. It's always an important time for young and new players to play on an "official" level, as well as good indicators for key players' health and status. If an agreement isn't made until March, for example, that would leave limited time before Opening Day. Of course, then Opening Day would be pushed back to make room for some Spring Training, leaving us with less than 162 games.

Basically, it's a big sign that we aren't going to be playing 162 games this season. That really, really stinks, especially for the Cubs, who really need to use 2022 to judge the state of their team. How many games less? I'm willing to say even 30 days less. That's a big chunk, if you think about it.

Again, I'm not trying to be pessimistic, and I'm personally hoping some miracle takes place and perhaps an agreement will be made early February but based on what we're seeing it's hard to see it happening that soon.

So, I'm prepared for another *similar* 2020 season, but hopefully a little more normal. That makes me even more glad that the Cubs already addressed several needed areas before the lockout happened, so they're not scrambling at the last minute to get players.

Anyway, that's all the discouraging news I have for now, so I'll find something happier for later.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reliving the Cubs' 2016 Postseason Highlights

 As we enter the final stretch for baseball in 2021- a Braves/Astros World Series, it's a good time to look back at memorable Cubs' history in 2016, when the Cubs broke a 108 year WS win drought to beat the Indians in the World Series. The Cubs cruised to a 103-58 standing at the end of the season, getting the NL Central pennant and meaning they'd face the winner of the Wild Card, who ended up being the Giants. Game One of the NLDS Jon Lester threw 8 shut-out innings, Chapman closed the 9th with a shut-out against the Giants and Javier Baez solo-homered in the 8th to give the Cubs a 1-0 win against the Giants and get the 1-0 series lead. Game Two of the NLDS Kyle Hendricks started the game, only allowing 2 runs, and he drove in 2 runs himself in the 2nd with a single, but he left the game in the 3rd due to a line-drive injury. Reliever Travis Wood replaced Hendricks, and hit a home run, yes a home run in the 4th to give the Cubs a 5-2 lead. That was the first homer to be hi...

Iowa Cubs Roster Evaluation: Infield Depth

The last article I wrote evaluating the Iowa Cubs' roster, I analyzed the pitching depth. This article we'll discuss the infield depth of the Iowa Cubs including catcher, first, second, shortstop and third. If you are unfamiliar with the minor league system, here is my explanation from my previous article: " Players are drafted by a team from high school or college, and when that team drafts them, they start training in that team's farm system, starting with the bottom, usually a complex league or rookie league. Then they jump to the official minor leagues, starting with Low A, and they work their way up to the Triple-A level from which it is one step to reach MLB." That's just a simplified explanation, but it'll give you an idea if you are unfamiliar with the topic. Anyway, as a precursor to my evaluation, I do want to say that infield prospects do a lot of shifting around the infield instead of strictly staying with one position. While some shift around ...

Which Top FA Outfielders Would Be A Good Fit for the Cubs?

 Let's start with some overall news and then get into our subject for today. Noah Syndergaard signed a 1-year deal with the Angels today. Kind of an interesting move- seems like they want to get Trout and Ohtani a World Series victory, maybe? Noah Syndergaard agrees to $21M, 1-year Angels deal. @jonmorosi and @JeffPassan 1st — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 16, 2021 #Angels make their first splash of the offseason; https://t.co/0O5D9wpMUz pic.twitter.com/FyN7v1M421 — MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 16, 2021 The Blue Jays have extended their trade-deadline pickup Jose Berrios...   #BlueJays ' big trade-deadline acquisition will be staying in Toronto a lot longer now: https://t.co/1oaDT73uFn pic.twitter.com/Wco3kBiB8G — MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 16, 2021 Looks like the Mets finally have their GM after interviewing scores of candidates. I was wondering if they were going to start interviewing fans.  Billy Eppler is finalizing an ag...