On Wednesday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced another wave of regular season cancellations. Opening Day has been delayed until at least April 14, effectively canceling two more series for each team. Last week, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the cancellation of the first two episodes of the 2022 regular season. The vernissage was originally scheduled for March 31st.
The cancellations come after two days of marathon negotiations with the MLB Players Association, which was unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. Here is Manfred’s statement on the latest wave of cancellations:
“In a last-ditch effort to save the 162-game season this week, we made bona fide proposals that address the specific concerns voiced by the MLBPA and would allow players to return to the field immediately. emergency deadlines to meet significant MLBPA requirements. On key economic issues that have created stumbling blocks, clubs have proposed ways to close the gaps to keep the schedule full. Unfortunately, after our second overnight negotiation in a week, we are left with no deal.
“Due to the logistical realities of the calendar, two more episodes are being removed from the schedule, meaning that Opening Day has been moved to April 14th. We have worked hard to reach an agreement and offered a fair deal with significant improvements for the players and ours. I am saddened that this situation continues to affect our game and everyone involved, especially our loyal fans.
“We have the utmost respect for our players and hope that they will eventually accept the fair deal that was offered to them.”
The owner-imposed lockout is nearing its 100th day, and MLB set another “soft” deadline on Tuesday for game cancellations. That deadline was moved to Wednesday after 17 hours of talks, and while both sides have narrowed the gap on some economic issues, the biggest sticking point at the moment is the international project. MLB wants him, but the union continues to fight back.
The tally is four canceled series for each of the 30 teams. In general, each team plays about two episodes per week throughout the season, so this is equivalent to canceling two weeks of the season.
Perhaps some of the attention here should be shifted to Jackie Robinson Day. The event is celebrated annually by Major League Baseball on the anniversary of Robinson crossing the color barrier in 1947. April 15, 1947 was that season’s opening day, and every year on this day since the 2004 season, MLB has celebrated, and most recently moving to every player with the No. 42 Robinson (otherwise retired throughout the league).
April 15 falls on a Friday this year, and that date is in a precarious position on the MLB calendar, though there’s also a chance it could mark a triumphant comeback. If MLB and MLBPA somehow come to the New CBA and the lockout is lifted by the owners, the league could designate Jackie Robinson Day as the opening day. If the owners keep the lockout and no deal is reached, the next batch of cancellations will include a Jackie Robinson Day to mark the 75th anniversary of his MLB debut.
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