Major League Baseball's latest labor proposal is a radical one. The MLB Players' Association all but rejected it within an hour of the news reaching MLB's social media channels. And yet, the proposal from the league on Thursday, Oct. 8 contains some of the most fan-friendly measures to emerge from the collective bargaining proposals that have ramped up in recent months. • Beginning in 2027, the higher-seeded teams in the wild-card and division series would be able to select their opponents before each round.
For example, the No. 3 seed would select whether to play the No. 5 seed or No. 6 seed. The No. 1 seed in each league would pick which wild-card winner it would play once the round is complete. • Beginning in 2029, teams would play 154 games in the regular season • Also beginning in 2029, the division series round would expand to a best-of-seven series, replacing a best-of-five The American League moved from 154 games to 162 in 1961. The National League did so the following year.
Against the current backdrop, however, MLB's proposal is actually a progressive one. By eliminating eight regular-season games and adding up to two in the Division Series round, the league is shining a brighter spotlight on its best teams, while telling its worst to go home more than a week early. The contrast between poor teams playing out the string on the regular season in September, and good teams fighting for survival in October, is stark.
More news: MLB Makes Statement About Yankee Fan Ejected for Anthony Volpe Interference The concessions cut both ways. Owners of every team would lose four home games. Players would in theory get paid more on a per-game basis, but would no longer be able to take aim at many single-season counting stat records.
The top eight individual home run totals of all-time, for example, were compiled during 162-game regular seasons. By granting teams the ability to choose their playoff opponent, it adds some juice to each series. The chosen teams will be seen as the weaker opponent, effectively placing a chip on the shoulder of every underdog.
More news: Brewers Could Lose Key Executive Amid A’s Postseason GM Search The MLBPA is unlikely to accept the proposals because it would require they accept a salary cap. Players will weigh in on these proposals and we will respond at the bargaining table.
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