MLB Problems of the Product Itself
The latest MLB controversy is about the ball itself. Catch up on Krebs’ latest Friday column detailing the need for transparency in a league body of shadows.
Controversy exists in every major sport organization. Between people trying to tear down some of the greatest franchises with cheating allegations or human rights violations, sport has leaked into morality questions. What is a team or organization willing to do to achieve their definition of greatness? Problems dominate the sport formerly labeled America’s pastime with Major League Baseball not due to the quality of product but because of the institutional body itself. As the primary baseball organization in the United States due to anti-trust laws, the MLB has an obligation to keep the sport afloat. Between implementing a lockout and negotiating in bad faith, the league body, including owners and figureheads, always seems to act in their best interest rather than the sport's interest.
Take the baseball substance controversy as an example. After years of juiced baseballs in possibly 2020 and 2021 that allow hitters a better chance to hit the ball out of the ballpark, MLB has countered behind the scenes and provided new baseballs that most pitchers despise. Without notifying anybody who cares about the sport. Nobody outside the league office and game operations has any idea the process behind the new baseballs. What justifies the MLB to implement such a drastic feature without telling anyone outside the organization the truth?
Chris Bassitt, who knows as well as any pitcher what is going on, said the baseballs are inconsistent inning by inning, and no pitchers likes the new baseballs. The very object the sport uses has zero transparency. It is irritating is their inability to communicate and find a solution with the players, rather than make changes behind the scenes and hope everybody likes it. Here is a thought, maybe work with the players to find a common substance that works for everyone and put the situation to rest. The NFL proves drama makes for capable storylines that draw in revenue. This situation is not comparable and hurts the integrity of the sport, to which the divide in baseball extends.
Players cannot ignore what is going on behind the scenes. They cannot do their jobs effectively without proper equipment. It is like giving people shovels to rake leaves. The job will get done eventually but watching a person try to do that is no fun. Give the players more control, hitters, and pitchers alike, to create a product that appeals to everyone with minimal issues.
Major League Baseball is a billion-dollar business with no transparency. The league is losing fans by the day due to inadequate controversies. The MLB and the MLBPA should have agreed to a set standard in the CBA. Instead, another issue piles on to the pack. Shareholders, players, and sports books cannot be in the dark. We are talking about livelihoods, not just a league where an entity can do whatever they want without repercussions. Therefore, the first drastic change is changing their mindset on the players into a partnership viewpoint. There is the labor organization and the labor itself.
The MLB views its players as another entity to impose darkness, much like its partner organizations and fans, to which they believe they can do what they want. The MLBPA needs to seat the MLB at the table and agree about the state of the baseballs themselves. It is beyond time for MLB to recognize the MLBPA as a partner rather than an antagonist. People must work together to fix in game issues or risk losing an already wary fanbase.
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