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Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--6/4/2020
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Craig Edwards
2:02
Let's get things rolling.
2:03
Today, I wrote about MLBs decision not to respond the player's offer: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mlb-takes-unusual-negotiating-tack/
Here's what I wrote about the player proposal when they made it: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/players-union-counters-mlb-proposal-with-m...
2:04
and I'm still asking for your help regarding what the 2020 season will look like. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/how-optimistic-are-you-that-the-2020-seaso...
The Stranger
2:04
Craig, what’s your opinion on whether the owners can unilaterally decide on a 50-game season? As they’ve reminded us, the March agreement is for play to resume when there are no restrictions on large gatherings which I’m assuming won’t happen soon in several states with MLB teams. Couldn’t the players use that as the basis for objecting to such a move by the owners, in addition to all the safety/testing elements that they haven’t agreed to? Setting aside the PR impact of the players reusing to play on that basis, that is. I agree (or am hopeful) this is most likely a negotiating tactic, but I’m curious if they can even do what they’re saying.
Craig Edwards
2:05
For background, from the piece: According to the agreement, it is up to MLB to propose season length:
using best efforts to play as many games as possible, while taking into account player safety and health, rescheduling needs, competitive considerations, stadium availability, and the economic feasibility of various alternatives.
2:08
It's hard to say what can be done unilaterally given that safety concerns in the agreement haven't been met, but it is up to MLB to propose a schedule. If they are going to say the season is 50 games, show up, that also means there isn't expanded playoffs.
2:09
any other things the players have proposed also wouldn't be on the table anymore.
The Stranger
2:09
And a follow-up: if MLB tries to dictate a 50-game season and the players refuse and the 2020 season doesn’t happen, who wins the inevitable lawsuit over the service time provisions of the March agreement?
Craig Edwards
2:10
There are still enough safety issues that the agreement would simply hold as is. Players keep their advance and get their service time and agree not to sue for full pay.
Trent Hauser
2:10
Where can I find info on teams' media rights deals?
Where might I find info on stadium funding?
Craig Edwards
2:11
Here's something I wrote on tv deals earlier this year: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-update-the-estimated-local-tv-revenue...
If you want information on stadium funding, I think Neil de Mause is a pretty good resource: http://www.fieldofschemes.com/
Zaque
2:13
Give me a hot take on Timo Werner signing with Chelsea.
Craig Edwards
2:13
What does this mean for Pulisic? I don't really care otherwise.
MB
2:14
Do you have any book recommendations that are more modern day Moneyball like?
Craig Edwards
2:14
I'd be remiss if didn't mention Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel's book Future Value.
Pumpsie Green
2:14
In a 70-game season, what ratio would you like to see for NL-AL games? 20 vs the other league and 50 vs your own?
Craig Edwards
2:15
So that would be four games each against cross-division and then 12.5 against your own division, assuming you aren't going out of region. that's about right, probably.
Chris
2:16
Tampa Bay rays #slowclap
Craig Edwards
2:16
They made the rare good tweet.
Matt
2:16
Any more/less optimistic than you were a week ago about a season happening?
Craig Edwards
2:16
I'm about the same. Fairly optimistic that something gets done.
Isolated Thinker
2:17
After reading your article about the negotiations, it seems clear that the biggest obstacle is the division among the owners themselves and the players are quickly becoming the good guys.  For the "Owners Don't Know How To Share" section, regarding the bickering, do the owners who stand to lose money have a legit beef, or is there a logical correlation between making less money during normal times and therefore having more losses during unprecedented times?
Craig Edwards
2:20
We saw in the first proposal MLB made that they were catering to the big-market teams as the high-salaried players took big hits and those guys tend to play for high-salary teams. The teams with the biggest projected losses in the AP story from way back were all those big market clubs, though they also owned a significant portion of their RSN, which could still produce a ton of revenue that wouldn't be seen. If it is the big-market clubs losing more money now, it is kind of hard to ask for relief from the smaller-market teams. It's sort of like the owners asking the players to help them out this season with reduced salaries when they've been banking billions over the last few years.
Proofreader
2:21
Is "tack" slang for "tactic"?
Craig Edwards
2:22
according to a quick google search, here's the definition: a method of dealing with a situation or problem; a course of action or policy.
it perhaps has some sailing origin.
JD
2:22
Any advice for studying for/taking the bar?
Craig Edwards
2:24
i found the bar class they offer very helpful, assuming that is still around. That's half your day, then a few hours more per day reading material, then re-reading outlines as the test gets closer and taking a bunch of practice tests. Hopefully this advice isn't outdated.
ben
2:25
Thoughts on Ricketts' quotes from the other day?
Craig Edwards
2:25
JD
2:25
also follow up: besides the labor route what is a way to use a law degree to get into baseball eventually?
Craig Edwards
2:26
On that, I don't have much help.
Pumpsie Green
2:26
Will we see any draftees from next week in MLB this year? Maybe a guy like Garret Mitchell, an older college guy who can provide value on defence? They won't have anywhere but MLB to play and develop this year.
Craig Edwards
2:27
If there are bigger rosters, it seems more likely that will happen. More likely to be a pitcher, though.
Pat's Bat
2:27
At what point will individual players begin to announce that playing the season in isolation from family and with an increased risk of illness isn't worth it for reduced salary?  Will there be enough of them to jeopardize the season?
Craig Edwards
2:28
I doubt it will come out quite like that. There probably will be players who sit out the season for health concerns. I don't think they are going to say that for enough money, they would be willing to sweep aside those concerns. That isn't a good look.
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