When the collective bargaining agreement ends after 2026

[ScotchMIrish]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

I agree. You get it. My favorite reply is pitchers don't want to bat. Get the big boy britches on and bat.

[desertrat23]

St Louis fans are still the best in baseball, Desert Rat. And I really miss the game that most of us played and that I fell in love with before any others. Both Scotch and myself probably accept the fact that the DH is here to stay. But that doesn't mean we have to like the fact that MLB ramrodded it down our throats without our consent. Do you really think in their heart of hearts Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Al Hrybosky, Ricky Horton all believe or believed that the Universal DH would be good for the game? Of course not. And if they were not company shills, they would say so.
Okay, so I know some of my examples are no longer with us. But I assure you my views are not because I'm a dinosaur that cannot stand change. Fully support the automated strike zone, courtesy runner on second to start the 10th and subsequent innings, pitch clocks, limitations of stepping out of the box and mound visits and throws overs to first, etc.. So when I occasionally still DO attend a Redbird game in person, I will wear one of my altered Cardinal replica jerseys in protest of the biggest slap in the face, punch to the gut MLB ever perpetrated on its fans.
Just my humble opinion

Jack Buck’s been dead for almost 25 years. I wouldn’t presume to know what he would think and neither should you.

I agree with you on every rule change. But that’s not relevant, because there’s no going back. Baseball has to stop living in the past and stop catering to those who do.

[imadangman]

The problem is teams like Miami, the A's, and many others have financial problems to where they cannot afford to make an honest attempt at contention. The DH has nothing to do with that.

Just imagine the revenue differences for big/small market teams.

Imagine a typical Marlins home game. What's the ticket price 10 bucks? What about a Yankee game. Probably 100 bucks a ticket. And then you're talking about a sellout crowd vs <10,000. For 81 games. And then think about the additional money the fans are spending on food/bev, merch/jerseys etc at the game.

The revenue differences between the two teams must be just massive.

This is what has to be looked at in the next CBA. I don't know what they're gonna do. The fact that two teams are playing in minor league stadiums right now with no plan in site for 2026+ is a black eye on the league.

In 2024, six MLB teams generated over $500M in revenue, while three teams generated less than $300M. I’d like to see a salary cap and floor to help create competitive balance. I think Manfred generally agrees. It may take a lockout to get the union to consider a cap.

Given the huge revenue disparity, I don't think a salary cap is realistic. We know the players don't like it. Also, the owners of the 6 teams with over $500M of revenue are never going to agree to do that. If the owners themselves are not unanimous, it won't even be an issue on the table. Like I stated above, the owners first need to agree to share gambling revenue so the disparity doesn't get worse. Then, they need to have a floor that is at least $100M. There are 5 teams under $100M now according to Cots. One the Mariners are at $68M. I don't know exactly what gambling revenue sharing does exactly to the numbers or moving the luxury tax up. Perhaps it suggests a floor closer to $110M. In any case, that should more or less prevent outright tanking.

But these issues are complicated and who knows what all comes crawling out...

I don't see how the owners can all get on the same page. They weren't for the last CBA. There might be some bigger divisions between owners-owners than there are owners-players. Folks keep talking like the players are going to get slam dunked on. The Players at least have a unified stance, and they've already had members of their side putting out soundbytes to set the public image. One purpose of a lockout would simply be for the owners to get their stance organized before coming to the table. The delay might infact come from the owners getting themselves together, not ready to come to the negotiating table.

[desertrat23]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

I agree. You get it. My favorite reply is pitchers don't want to bat. Get the big boy britches on and bat.

I'm been against the DH since I was a kid when it was enacted for the AL so I've been "stuck in the past" since it's inception.

IMO it removes too much of what makes baseball great and that's Managerial strategizing.

I liked seeing pitchers bat..........can they get the bunt down and move the runner over?.....or would they fake a bunt and tomahawk a ball?.............or even swing away and OMGosh he got a hit!

Not boring to me at all, I liked managing along trying to figure out what the field manager was going to do.

[imadangman]

There will be only one - issue. Competitive balance. They MUST figure out a way for smaller market teams to at least pretend they can build a team and win a WS title on occasion. As it stands there is no reason for a 5 year old boy in Pittsburgh to dream of his favorite Pirates player allstar and expect him to be on the team for life and lead them to a title.

Prediction - there WILL be a work stoppage. There WILL be major moves to make it more competitive. It WILL fall short of where it needs to go.

As for DH no one cares.

Agree 100% on the DH and competitive balance.
Not sure about the work stoppage but certainly possible!

I think a work stoppage is likely. With 20-25 owners feeling like they have no chance to compete, this is going to be the big one — the one that costs an entire season. The NHL lost a whole year and it saved the sport; time for that to happen in baseball.

Within that group of 20-25 owners, how many of them intend to compete? It seems like the perception from the big market owners is that the small market guys just want to pocket the revenue sharing money. Perhaps that's only the reality for just some of the most slovenly of the small market owners.

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

[Goldfan]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

Playing the Cubs for the first time in the season on 6/23 has got to be one of the stupidest changes/scheduling ever to come out of someone’s head
Especially now with both team competing for division. Busch could’ve had sellouts in at least one series if Cubbies were in town already. Balances schedule is asinine. Interleague play is fine on limited basis…..but not entire season.

[Adam2]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

I like it as is, i understand you prefer it as it was. But for the overall popularity of the game "as is" is better for it. A kid in the stands at dodger stadium will remember seeing Aaron Judge. A kid in Yankee stadium will remember seeing Shohei Ohtani.

They don't care to see the Rockies or the Rays a few extra times a year.

You can't argue that

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

Playing the Cubs for the first time in the season on 6/23 has got to be one of the stupidest changes/scheduling ever to come out of someone’s head
Especially now with both team competing for division. Busch could’ve had sellouts in at least one series if Cubbies were in town already. Balances schedule is asinine. Interleague play is fine on limited basis…..but not entire season.

How insane is that?

Meanwhile I can't wait every year to see the A's, M's, Angels, Rays, ChiSox...........

I could live w/seeing the Royals every year (In state or close Rivalry Games), after that no thanks to seeing the AL other than the ASG and WS.

[desertrat23]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

OF COURSE baseball was better then. OF COURSE the ghost runner sucks. OF COURSE I wouldn’t prefer to see the DH in the NL. But it’s like complaining about yesterday’s weather. It’s over and you can’t change that it’s not coming back.

Why look back in anger? Look forward and hope the game figures out how to make young people happy, not you or me.

[ScotchMIrish]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

I agree. You get it. My favorite reply is pitchers don't want to bat. Get the big boy britches on and bat.

I'm been against the DH since I was a kid when it was enacted for the AL so I've been "stuck in the past" since it's inception.

IMO it removes too much of what makes baseball great and that's Managerial strategizing.

I liked seeing pitchers bat..........can they get the bunt down and move the runner over?.....or would they fake a bunt and tomahawk a ball?.............or even swing away and OMGosh he got a hit!

Not boring to me at all, I liked managing along trying to figure out what the field manager was going to do.

Exactly. And after a couple plate appearances the pitcher is usually replaced with a pinch hitter. Sometimes a double switch. Manager has to use his brain. Much more entertaining brand of baseball.

Charley Finley had a lot of goofy ideas. Orange baseball. Orange bases. Designated runner. Designated hitter.

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

I like it as is, i understand you prefer it as it was. But for the overall popularity of the game "as is" is better for it. A kid in the stands at dodger stadium will remember seeing Aaron Judge. A kid in Yankee stadium will remember seeing Shohei Ohtani.

They don't care to see the Rockies or the Rays a few extra times a year.

You can't argue that

Gotta tell ya' Adam as a kid I knew who most of the players were on AL teams w/o having them come to Busch Stadium.

Seeing them on The Game of the Week, All-Star games and World Series was all we needed.

But like I said above, I respect those who like this brand of baseball........they may not have seen anything else.

I was lucky to see a much better brand in the 70's-80's-early 90's, trust me it was better.

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

OF COURSE baseball was better then. OF COURSE the ghost runner sucks. OF COURSE I wouldn’t prefer to see the DH in the NL. But it’s like complaining about yesterday’s weather. It’s over and you can’t change that it’s not coming back.

Why look back in anger? Look forward and hope the game figures out how to make young people happy, not you or me.

I'm not "angry" at all rat', just stating my preferences (like you) on an opinion forum.

[rockondlouie]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

I agree. You get it. My favorite reply is pitchers don't want to bat. Get the big boy britches on and bat.

I'm been against the DH since I was a kid when it was enacted for the AL so I've been "stuck in the past" since it's inception.

IMO it removes too much of what makes baseball great and that's Managerial strategizing.

I liked seeing pitchers bat..........can they get the bunt down and move the runner over?.....or would they fake a bunt and tomahawk a ball?.............or even swing away and OMGosh he got a hit!

Not boring to me at all, I liked managing along trying to figure out what the field manager was going to do.

Exactly. And after a couple plate appearances the pitcher is usually replaced with a pinch hitter. Sometimes a double switch. Manager has to use his brain. Much more entertaining brand of baseball.

Charley Finley had a lot of goofy ideas. Orange baseball. Orange bases. Designated runner. Designated hitter.

BINGO

-How long does the Manager go w/his starter before PHing?

-Who does he match up as his PH'er vs who the other Manager may have on the mound or in his pen'?

It was so much fun "thinking" along w/the Manager!

Now they just sit back and wait for a three run homer.

And Charlie O, what a character.........paid players to grow mustaches too!

[desertrat23]

NL owners need to get rid of the DH. The experiment has failed. Attendance is down. TV deal collapsing due to viewership.

I doubt they are smart enough to do it or tough enough to stand up to the unions.

-NL loses the DH

-The idiotic, Little League Ghost runner literally disappears

-Japan/Korean League players must be subjected to the draft and NOT allowed to be signed as free agents (take that Dodgers), then given free agency after three years

-Interleague play is banished

-Pitchers don't have to face three batters before a change and can throw over to first as many times as they want

What makes baseball great is the strategic element, too much of it has been taken out of the game w/many of the above.

JMO

Interleague play has existed in baseball for almost thirty years. What’s next, no domed stadiums?

Stop looking backward.

Who the e f f are you to decide what someone should or shouldn't think?

Interleague play has S U C K E D for 28 years, the novelty wore off long ago and I was against it from Day 1.

Same w/the DH.

You say we're "stuck in the past"............I say "If it isn't broke, then why try and fix it" with STUPID GIMMICKS like the DH and Interleague play (I won't even get into Manfred's idiotic rule changes again).

Unlike you I respect your opinion, you need to respect others who "look back" and see a WAY, WAY BETTER brand of baseball.

I like it as is, i understand you prefer it as it was. But for the overall popularity of the game "as is" is better for it. A kid in the stands at dodger stadium will remember seeing Aaron Judge. A kid in Yankee stadium will remember seeing Shohei Ohtani.

They don't care to see the Rockies or the Rays a few extra times a year.

You can't argue that

Gotta tell ya' Adam as a kid I knew who most of the players were on AL teams w/o having them come to Busch Stadium.

Seeing them on The Game of the Week, All-Star games and World Series was all we needed.

But like I said above, I respect those who like this brand of baseball........they may not have seen anything else.

I was lucky to see a much better brand in the 70's-80's-early 90's, trust me it was better.

I saw that brand of baseball. It was better.

It’s gone and not coming back.