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VF314 Live Chat - 3/2/2022
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Derek
12:01
Hey everyone. If there's any personal positive to take from MLB's labor situation right now, it's that I'm no longer furiously refreshing Twitter like I was for the past few days. Let's chat.
Drew
12:01
There is a sentiment that has been going around that I don't particularly agree with but wanted to get your thoughts. Are the players at fault for trying to get back everything they last in the last few CBA's all at once? On the other hand, everything they are asking for seems reasonable in the grand schemes of things and the owners would still be coming out ahead. Idk man, this all sucks.
Derek
12:03
I don't think they're trying to get much *back*. Maybe the forfeiture rules around signing qualified free agents, but stuff like raised CBT minimums, an arb bonus pool, more super two eligibility, and higher league minimums are clawbacks.
Victor
12:04
Could the players start their own league during the lockout? Use independent league stadiums to start with, sell tv rights, and build a league without 30 owners trying to extract as much profit as possible? It would be better than no season at all for the players, and if it has moderate success, gives them a stronger bargaining chip with MLB or an asset to continue building themselves.
Aaron
12:04
Would it be legal for players to bring back barnstorming?
Derek
12:04
Gonna group these two together since they're kinda getting at the same thing.
12:05
The answer: yes, I believe they could start their own league or barnstorm. The most recent Effectively Wild podcast talked about how NHL players barnstormed with Gretzky in 1999 (or one of these years).
Billy MartinVanBuren Boys
12:05
I don't really remember the strike-shortened 1994 season but between this whole labor relations mess and the Yankees' overall lack of being the Yankees the last few offseasons, is this the worst time to be a Yankee fan/general baseball fan??
Derek
12:06
I was too young to remember 94-95. I'd say 2020-onward has definitely been the worst time period to be a Yankees fan, or MLB follower, for those of us born when I was (1990).
12:07
The league is really sucking the life out of everything. The baseball manipulation, the lack of substance of any penalty handed down on the Astros cheating scandal, fighting tooth and nail for every last dollar, including canceling games, etc. etc.
Tim
12:08
I understand the principle of why the players don't want a salary cap, but if they structure it like most other leagues in the US (i.e. the league reports total revenues, 50% goes to players and every team has to spend 90% of salary cap) then doesn't that achieve the same outcome that they're pushing for in these negotiations?
Derek
12:09
There is some logic to a salary cap and floor tied to an even split of revenues, but the issue then boils down to: what revenue streams are defined as baseball revenues, vs. what aren't?
David
12:10
Although the conventional wisdom would largely attribute the owners' hardline stance on the CBT to small market teams (in particular, Colorado), isn't it actually more likely that this is being driven by larger franchises such as the Yankees and Red Sox? Why would teams such as the Pirates or Royals care if the CBT were $40 million higher than it is now when they'll never even come close to spending that much on payroll and would have to adopt a very specific/narrow teambuilding strategy irrespective of what teams like the Yankees do? To me, all of the public blame on owners like Monfort simply provides cover to the cheapwads like Hal who would relish having a firm salary cap that would completely tie their hands.
Derek
12:12
It's both. We know that Hal is in favor of limiting the thresholds, and wanted to *lower* it to $180M. That's just being cheap, obviously. At the same time, small market teams also support it in the name of balancing the competition.
Drew
12:12
Nevermind that missing games is bad for the sport in general, but it seems particularly bad for the Yankees. They had a bunch of guys that are going to be FA at the end of the year or are right in the middle of their prime. Every game missed is one less game of peak Cole, Stanton, Judge etc.
Derek
12:13
I'm planning to do a post by either the end of this week or early next week about the on field repercussions of an extended lockout into the normal regular season. But yeah, it's bad. Hell, if we lose all of 2022, we may never see Aaron Judge in pinstripes again. How's that sit with everyone?
Sam
12:14
So here we are. A chat or two ago i gave you an over/under of 20.5 games missed, and now I'll do it again -- over/under 20.5 games missed.
Derek
12:14
Well, it's definitely over at this point. A lot of people are talking about how the owners won't really worry about $ until they start losing games in May.
12:15
Poor weather, schools still open in April tend to make it a less profitable month.
Dansby SwanSong
12:16
Joe Sheehan's column today stated the player's ask is about 2-3% of total MLB revenue, and given the expanded playoffs and advertising on uniforms, the owners will make much of that back.  There is nothing ground breaking in what the players are asking for, just a slight increase.  I can't believe the owners really think they can break the union.  End of rant.
Derek
12:17
I'm not a sub of his newsletter, so I can't speak to what he wrote. But yes, what the players are asking for is more than fair - in fact, still tilts in favor toward the owners by a large margin.
Sam
12:17
On of my many Twitter rants has theorized that the "yankees buy world series" bit that I have heard basically since the late 90s was actually carrying water for the owners and helped land us here. My take: The free-spending George Steinbrenner Yankees that overpayed for carl pavano and late-career Randy Johnson were Good for Baseball and the moneyball A's and the wall street ghoul Rays landed did more to land us here.
Derek
12:19
A pretty reasonable theory. The deification of what the A's/Rays have done, effectively commoditizing players, is more of a driver than the buy the WS stuff IMO. I think that criticism of the Yankees was more rooted in a subconscious jealousy from other teams' fans than anything else.
12:20
I think I've knocked out most of the CBA questions. Happy to talk more about it if you want, but for the moment, going to turn to some more Yankees-related stuff.
Doug
12:21
There have been reports suggesting the team likes Peraza and Volpe.  The odds say we should be thrilled if one of them becomes an average player in the majors.  One of them has to be a trade chip for someone with multiple years of control(Olson and Castillo come to mind).  What do you think?
Derek
12:22
One of them doesn't have to be a trade chip, but I'd bet on Peraza before Volpe. The Yankees haven't talked up a prospect like they have with Volpe in a little while. Maybe that's recency bias but no one else quite comes to mind.
In Cashman we trust
12:23
Will Gardner be back?
Derek
12:23
If there's a season, yes. I'm at the point where I'll never count him out until he actually signs elsewhere or retires.
Jim
12:23
I think it's time for a new GM.  One who is on the job for over 20 years can get stale.  Time for someone who can bring a fresh set of eyes to this organization and won't be attached to certain players.
Derek
12:25
I think Cashman has proven to be pretty adaptable and willing to move with the times. The grass isn't always greener. I think you can tie more of the problems with this organization to Hal than anything else. What's Cashman's last absolutely egregious mistake that has absolutely zero to do with Hal limiting his spending?
Eric S.
12:25
How about Trevor Story on a one-year deal - circumstances may have made this more favorable as players may just want to sign once this is settled.
Derek
12:26
Story on a one year deal is a no brainer.
Sam
12:26
Is Peraza, Wells, Gil too light for Olson? Add Medina?
Derek
12:26
I think that might be close, but I'll always lean on the side of it not being enough.
In Cashman we trust
12:27
With both cofs, 2/5 of the starting rotation, and all of the experienced bullpen arms free agents at the end of the year. Will we go all in this year or do you think we'll cheap out?
Derek
12:28
The pre-lockout reports seemed to make it clear that the Yankees weren't going to spend big this offseason. So I don't expect an all-in, sign Correa, sign Freeman/trade for Olson, etc. approach.
Drew
12:29
Who is the worst World Series winning in the last decade and why is it the Kansas City Royals?
Derek
12:30
The 2014 Giants won 88 games! I'll go with them.
Justin
12:31
The rotation needs another ace who can give 180 innings.  Sevy and Taillon can't be counted on to do that.  I say they should go all in on Castillo and make anyone not named Volpe and Dominguez available for Cincinnati.
Derek
12:31
Only 20 pitchers hit 180 IP last year, I think we all have to lower our standards a bit.
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