By: Michelle Mehok

Just when things were starting to look up, negotiations in Florida have ended in shambles with no date set for further negotiations.

SO CLOSE!!! And now again…so far. It’s official, opening day is gone – along with the first two series, which in total erases ninety-one games from the season. Nine straight days of deliberation ended in a seventeen-hour meeting. Just when we thought progress was being made, we are right back at square one. So what now? 

For those fearing we will miss the whole season, you should know this is far from the first time this has happened in baseball. Throughout MLB history there have been nine strikes and lockouts. In fact, just about every time the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) has expired it has led to a controversial lockout. 

“I had hoped against hope that I would not have to be in the position of canceling games,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Tuesday. “We worked hard to avoid an outcome that is bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs.”

Fans’ backlash to this ruling has been heated, to say the least, and rightfully so. They have started to refer to the controversy as “Millionaires vs. Billionaires” and while they are not wrong, it is more complicated than it may appear. Players such as Mike Trout and Max Scherzer have spoken out explaining that they are not fighting this for them, they are doing this for the players who come after them so that new young players will be allocated more resources in the seasons to come. 

While we wait to hear what’s to come for the rest of the major league season, take comfort in knowing that minor league baseball WILL be beginning on time and have already begun their spring training. It might not be what we were hoping for, but it at least gives real baseball fans the opportunity to see who the next up and coming stars might be.