No joy in Mudville…
Well, baseball, you’re about to lose me…
I’ve been a baseball fan for 40 years. I’ve endured watching the game I love devolve into a money grab. I’ve seen all of the money these owners and these players make and I’ve seen ticket prices go up and I’ve seen my patience with these people run out.
Don’t get me wrong. These are very talented players and very smart businessmen and I don’t hold a grudge against them for trying to get rich and be successful.
But, come on, guys!
Several years ago, there was a guy named Matt Diaz who was a solid utility player. He was never an every day guy.
He was never going to be an All-Star. He was a baseball player who simply played the role he was needed in when he was called to do so and always gave it everything he had. I looked it up. The most he ever made was a twoyear, $2.2 million contract with the Miami Marlins. He also played for the Atlanta Braves for a few years in a support role. One day, while MLB was going through some round of labor negotiations, he was asked about it and his simple reply was, “I get paid to play baseball. We make enough money.”
At a time where millions are unemployed and there is a great deal of unrest in our society, baseball could be a thing we could all center around and come together as a nation.
Instead, alongside COVID-19 death tolls and race riots, we’re seeing headlines about how the multibillionaire owners and the multimillionaire players can’t decide on when they are going to play or how to split the profits.
It’s pretty sad, really. Just shut up and play ball! Or you, know, at this point, don’t.
I don’t care anymore either way.
