Ty Buttrey will be back. Now if the labor issues can just get resolved. Meanwhile, Mike Trout busies himself throwing a Nerf football.
Rachel Balkovec will become the first woman to manage a minor league baseball team. The Tampa Tarpons are a Yankees affiliate.
Here is a comprehensive article about all the women breaking barriers in professional baseball.
The Mets are still having trouble putting together their non-player staff. However, they were able to get Eric Chavez as their hitting coach.
Collective Bargaining Agreement News
MLB will supposedly make their core economics proposal to the MLBPA within two weeks. The lack of any plan to talk, previously reported here, hasn’t stopped the lawyers from working up their plans of action.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Seeing that note about the Tampa Tarpons made me flash back to a tarpon anecdote from a long time ago- I was at a friend of mine’s house, watching TV and I was looking in the paper for a movie theater. There was an item bylined Tarpon Springs, FL. There was a tiny blob of ink on the r making it look like an m, making the town Tampon Springs. I laughed, she asked me what was wrong and I said Tampon Springs. Without missing a beat, she says “Could have been worse. Could be Tampon Falls.” She’s a pistol, Known that woman since she was 16 and I was 21. Always too dammed smart!
Couple of international signings
https://twitter.com/taylorblakeward/status/1481068897990512640?s=21
https://twitter.com/taylorblakeward/status/1481068815450529804?s=21
Stupid Perry.
But can he pitch?
Not gonna win by signing a bunch of TEENAGERS.
Cheap Arte
He’s not cheap, he just has poor taste.
He’s a main course kind of guy. No need for sides
True connoisseurs of taste know that the sides are usually the best part of the meal!
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/a21fd7e1-6134-4ecf-8f8b-199581cf6b27
When Arte told Perry he was out of Cubans, this isn’t what he meant.
Happy 2022 Arte!!
Toto symbolizes me!!
💪 💪 💪 👈
So did you get your rabies shot yet?
You’re a frightened little yorkie who rides around in a basket and barks at witches?
I was thinking…
No, I think he’s saying he’s the man behind the curtain. The mystery is solved!!! 2002 is ANDREW!!!!!!
Am I wrong to be excited about the the prospect of Butters taking the mound in an Angels uniform next year? Maybe with a new fresh outlook on life, clear head attached to that great arm…..possibly great news?
Unfortunately I believe he is now first year arbitration eligible, so, because of this fact, I’m not sure if the Angels would non tender him upon his return. Hopefully the Angels and Buttery are desirous of putting a deal together . From what I understand , once players reach arbitration eligibility, they are no longer required to sign a split contract with 2 different rates depending upon whether they are in the minors or playing for the big club. In the case of Buttrey, any deal he signs with the Angels would require him to get paid full boat even if the Angels exercise one of his 2 minor league options. With Buttrey’s new found perspective on life, maybe getting a $1,000,000 minimum salary even with the threat of going to the minorsminors is enough for him to find his inner zen.
I’m cautiously optimistic. Ty is a great guy as evidenced by his numerous interviews with me and the live chat he did with all of us at the old site. I love rooting for him and we’ve stayed in touch during his absence.
He was definitely mentally fried. His brother in law died two weeks before Tyler did. If you look at his numbers prior to July 2019 and post July 2019 they are quite different.
If he can be the guy he was in 2018 and the first half of 2019, he’s a boon to the bullpen.
I’m not counting on Buttrey to contribute, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he became a key bullpen piece. The stuff was there. Perhaps he’s in a better mental state now. I hope so for both baseball and non-baseball reasons.
Pulling for Ty. He is better than 8/9ths of the bullpen personnel we had last year. It’s only been 1-year, won’t take him long to throw darts past Bregman.
Can we get Professor Chaos to pitch, too?
The owners will present their plan to the union on Thursday. A good week or two sooner than expected.
This is still a one way street with the owners trying things and the union just saying no. At least publicly.
I’m anticipating the same on Thursday, but hoping to be wrong. There’s a good shot the lawyers for each side have been talking a lot over the last month. It’s not like you need an actual meeting to get things done in 2022.
At least more than 7 minutes
To be fair to the players, when they met in December, “the league had reportedly informed the MLBPA it would only entertain core economics discussions that didn’t involve changes to revenue sharing, six-year free agency eligibility and the existing eligibility requirements (for the most part, three years of service time) for arbitration.” From https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/mlb-mlbpa-expected-to-resume-core-economics-discussions-on-thursday.html
I missed that.
That definitely limits the discussion. That would leave open the doors for salary floors, new luxury tax thresholds, universal DH, minimum wage, and a host of other things, though.
And playoff expansion.
to the Owners;
Slow down you move to fast
you got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the negotiations
Taking the Fans interest away and feelin’ groovy
Ba-da-da da-da the Owners are feelin’ groovy……..
Hello ticket gate watcha knowin’?
I’ve come to watch your lines a growin’
Ain’t you got no answers for me?
and the rich are feelin’ groovy
Ba-da-da da-da rich are feelin’ groovy
Owners got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
They’re dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
let the morning Sun drop all it’s Baseball Memories on me
Baseball I love you but not all is Groovy.
In fairness, I don’t see the MLBPA making any proposals.
I’ll return tomorrow with the second part, and I won’t spare the players either.
Not sure I agree the owners are entirely responsible for what’s going on. The players share a lot of the blame.
I get the Owners strategy of enforcing a lock out. The disastrous outcomes associated with the in-season 1981 strike and the 1994 Armageddon would deter MLB from starting the season and playing on without an agreement.
The procrastination by both sides is appalling. I’m still not sure how this negotiating ploy benefits either side. However, it is inevitable that until a perceived real deadline is threatened (like opening day) neither side starts negotiating in good faith.
Based upon my own experiences with negotiations for collective bargaining agreements the proposals should come from both sides not just from the owners. I would think the owners, if push came to shove, would take the status quo going forward. But I’m sure they are really pining for more playoff dollars.
the players have voiced the most displeasure with the current agreement despite the fact that they agreed to extend for a record 5 years. I just don’t see this new agreement settling anytime soon unless the players come forward with their own desired changes. But maybe with the publicity and exposure involved, the more meaningful negotiations occur on the sidelines instead of in formal setting. Those unofficial discussions could probably happen at anytime.
I think its important to note that Manfred’s entire legacy with Major League Baseball is defined by his proficient labor negotiating skills. I doubt he would have succeeded our good Buddy if it wasn’t for the perceived successes and labor peace that the owners have enjoyed these last 20+ years . As such I’m sure he’s directing the Owners negotiating strategy. But as Manfred has demonstrated in recent years his ego sometimes seems to get in the way of sound judgement. So I, for one ,have legitimate concerns that his perceived “legacy” may still end up dictating a prolonged work stoppage.
You are correct on Manfred, one of two righthand guys to Bud and his part was dealing with the player’s union. It is obvious that he is all about being a puppet for the Owners. He is not a Baseball Fan and not really astute at the business end. He is being set up to take the fall, deservingly so, for any long-term fallout for this lockout. His popularity quotation is not very high with the fans.
He’s a Labor Attorney that some how pushed his way into being the baseball commissioner.
The fact we’re currently in a lockout should be viewed as a failure if Manfred’s calling card is labor negotiations.
Love your perspective on saying both sides need to talk. I’m a big talker (shocker, right?).
I sincerely hope the two sides have some adults with some sway letting the lawyers talking away from the media. We’ll see.
This proposal on Thursday could be one that is made with some knowledge of things the Union will accept or it could be a token offer designed to get a no and extend the fight.