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Jake Klausner
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Around The MLB: News Update
MLB + MLBPA are Making Progress & Big Papi Earns HOF Bid, Bonds, Clemons Snubbed
Lockout Update
The MLB and MLBPA are finally starting to reach some agreement as it seems like they are willing to hear each other out. For the first time since Dec. 2, the two sides met on back-to-back days this week. On Monday, the two sides met for roughly two hours. The union countered the proposal submitted by the MLB two weeks ago. Most notably, the MLBPA is no longer interested in tying free agency to player age.
On Tuesday, the two sides met again for roughly an hour. The MLB made a counterproposal but wasn't as comprehensive two weeks ago. Here's roughly what took place on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan:
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MLB agreed to accept parameters of a pre-arbitration bonus pool for top 30 WAR. MLBPA seeking $105M, the league offered $10M.
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MLB offered minimum raise to $615K. The union wants $775K.
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MLB withdrew offer to change arbitration structure
The MLB deputy commissioner reportedly informed the players that the league would sacrifice regular-season games over critical issues. This isn't a threat but more so an acknowledgment of the reality of the situation.
While it's a breath of fresh air to see both sides talking it over, they remain distant on several vital issues, including the league's shared revenue plan. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in roughly three weeks. For spring training games to start on time, both sides would need to reach an agreement in approximately a week.
Mar. 1 is the approximate date they would need to reach a deal to begin the regular season on time. Opening day is currently slated for Mar. 31.
2022 HoF News
Now that the lockout talk is out of the way, I wanted to take the time to talk about the 2022 Hall of Fame Announcement that took place on Tuesday. In his first year of eligibility, David Ortiz received 77 out of the 75 percent required to earn a spot in the HOF. Ortiz had an illustrious 20-year career in the MLB. Ortiz, or Big Papi, spent his first six seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Still, he is better known for his time with the Boston Red Sox, where he established himself as one of the greatest designated hitters of all time.
Among the players left out: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, and Curt Schilling. All four players were in their tenth and final year of eligibility to get in via the BBWAA ballot (Baseball Writers Association of America). Bonds, Clemons, and Sosa were among many players caught using performance-enhancing drugs in the late 90s.
While Sosa probably wasn't a Hall of Famer before he took steroids, you could make a different case for the likes of Bonds and Clemons. Clemons will probably go down as one of the game's greatest pitchers. He started his career with the Boston Red Sox, where he became the first player to record 20 strikeouts in a game; he did it twice in his career. He also has the most Cy Youngs (7), but despite all that, he admits to taking steroids and has lied on several instances.
The same can be said for Bonds, who broke Roger Maris' single-season homerun record. He is also the "Homerun King," but he took steroids, and like Clemons, lied about his consumption. Despite all these two players accomplished in the games, the BBWAA still believes that their steroid consumption is enough to keep them out of the Hall of Fame. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Oritz was part of a random survey back in 2003 of players to test positive for PEDs.
I think both of these players deserve to get in the Hall of Fame based on what they did for the game. Another perfect example of someone getting snubbed is Pete Rose. Rose will probably go down as the greatest hitter in MLB history. His 4,256 career hits are a record that isn't getting touched anytime soon.
You would think someone like him is a surefire bet to get into Cooperstown, right? The one thing holding Rose back is that he received a lifetime ban from the sport for illegal gambling when he was a manager for the Reds in 1989.
Years later, the MLB hasn't let Rose into the Hall of Fame and won't until he dies. The same fate is now in store for Bonds and Clemens. All three legends will get into the Hall of Fame at some point, but they likely won't be alive to see it through. It is a shame that the all-time hits leader (Rose), home run leader (Bonds), and Cy Young leader (Clemons) all are left out of the Hall of Fame.
I think the point people are trying to make is that MLB should honor these great accomplishments by putting these guys into the HOF, whether you like it or not.
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Jake Klausner covers all things sports for ThePyrrhic.com. Keep your eyes peeled for NFL Analysis, World Series Recaps, and more from Jake.
Follow him on Twitter @jake_klausner