OT: Pirates & Reds

[pittdan77]

The other owners know it, but why would they care? There is already a mechanism in place that specifically addresses the union's concern, and every time the union has made a complaint about the Pirates it has not held up under the rules in place. And if expanding those rules to force the Pirates to spend a little more is something the union desperately wants (and they may very well), then the owners are going to demand some other sort of concession from the union to agree to that. Which is, once again, a win for the big market owners.

If the Pirates and the Marlins are forced to spend $10 million more per season on payroll that's a drop in the bucket compared to what the Red Sox and Dodgers and Yankees do. That won't affect them at all, but you can bet that the concession they get from the union in exchange for that will benefit them, because that's the way that it works.

Of course. I mean, the MLB players union hasn't really conceded much over the years, but it's safe to assume that's how it should work. But this isn't a $10 million problem. It's a lot bigger.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

But this isn't a $10 million problem. It's a lot bigger.

Well right. But they can't force a team to spend $40 or $50 million more on payroll. Or at least they can't unless they give something else up. And you can be guaranteed that if the union insisted on some sort of payroll floor like that the owners would insist on a cap, and probably a hard cap, at the top end. And not only do the players not want that, the owners of the Dodgers and the Yankees don't want that either.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

Watching the Pirates-Cubs on television. Bottom of the fifth inning, no score, Pirates at bat.

Pirates load the bases with no outs; top-of-the order coming-up......

The Pirates didn't score.

Off went the TV.

 

[vietvet1]

Watching the Pirates-Cubs on television. Bottom of the fifth inning, no score, Pirates at bat.

Pirates load the bases with no outs; top-of-the order coming-up......

The Pirates didn't score.

Off went the TV.

I was there with Mrs. Vet. What a downer watching so many baserunners stranded. sat with some Chicago fans and they really talked up the Burgh.