It seems silly to talk about a baseball lockout the day after Russia started a war. But here we are, in the Toy Department. As many of you have so often reminded me, this isn’t a place to come and argue real life day after day. And we did have fun and games through the first two World Wars.
In our own tiny way, we’re playing out part. As Hunter Thompson said, “When the going gets tough, the tough turn pro.’’
MLB announced Wednesday it would start canceling real games if there were no deal by Feb. 28, four days from now. Players don’t get paid until real ball begins, so every real game lost equals a loss of 1/162nd of their pay. This fact no doubt pleases lots of owners. Cold-weather, non-dome teams don’t draw flies in April, so every day lost gets them closer to warmth. And did we mention they don’t have to pay players?
More:The future of Reds pitching: Inside the organization’s changes for 2022
I’d wager there are more than a few owners who’d exchange an entire season if it meant breaking the players union.
More:Daugherty: MLB disrespecting fans with plodding approach to labor talks
There’s something undeniably bogus about a shortened baseball season. 2020 was an absolute farce. A 60-game MLB season is like going to The Precinct and ordering a fried baloney sandwich.
Even the 144-gamer in ’94 was wrong. Baseball’s greatest strength is the integrity of 162 games. Mess with that at your own peril.
That said, a return to 154 games would be welcomed, especially if it meant permanently expanding the playoffs. It might also get March and November out of the schedule.
Meantime . . .
TODAY’S DAILY BS BASEBALL REPORT . . .
Major League Baseball will begin canceling regular-season games if the league and the MLBPA can't come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement by Monday, a league spokesperson said Wednesday.
The games would not be made up and players would not be paid full-season salaries, the spokesperson said. "A deadline is a deadline," the spokesperson said. "Missed games are missed games. Salary will not be paid for those games." (ESPN.com)
More:Doc's morning line: Hard to digest Tiger's car accident a year later
Breaking news: In a major concession, Rob Manfred has announced that Baseball will set up blood-donor stations at every major league park, where players can give blood and get cash. “We’re not unsympathetic to our players’ financial concerns in what could be a rocky time,’’ Manfred said.
Really breaking news: Scott Boras has asked his clients Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and Gerrit Cole to consider funding bread lines for players most in need. “We’d ask them to pay to build simple shelters,’’ Boras explained, “to keep our less fortunate athletes fed and out of the cold.’’
Scherzer wondered if he could charge rent. Harper said he’d do it, but only if he could decide who got fed. Cole said he’d need a multi-million dollar endorsement from Wonder bread. Talks continue.
News so breaking, we’re sending out a cleaning crew to pick up the broken pieces of news: Baseball legal counsel Max Shyster (no relation to Max Scherzer) has threatened players that without a deal, Baseball reserves the right to lock them out of their own homes. “We paid for those mansions,’’ Shyster said. “We can take them back.’’
The players association had no comment, but several of its members could be seen building moats around their compounds in Isleworth, a posh neighborhood near Orlando, Fla. One player already had gone so far as to have alligators imported from the Everglades, to roam his moat.
Now, then . . .
UM, BASKETBALL. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO. Xavier played as well as it has in awhile, yet still lost at Providence in 3 OTs. The guys who built the Dunkin’ Donuts Arena must have had a few too many Boston Creams when they put the roof on. The game was delayed 15 minutes when water started dripping onto the court. Seriously.
Then the refs’ monitor went blank when they were reviewing a play. Nice gym, Providence.
More:Xavier falls in a dramatic triple-overtime loss at No. 11 Providence
Meantime, the X-Men did pretty well considering they had to play while holding umbrellas. Actually, their defense was very active, they stayed engaged for, um, 55 minutes. Adam Kunkel was on and when that happens, best to give that young man the ball and some room. They did.
If the Musketeers can play like that the rest of the way, the Madness awaits them. But please, no matter what, no more 3 ½ hour games. That was beyond ridiculous and cut deeply into my time to watch The Amazing Race. Thank god for DVRs.
UC, well. . . Let’s just say things aren’t getting better.
TML SIGN #1 THAT A TEAM ISNT DOING WELL:
“We are trying our asses off.’’ Wes Miller said that after the L at UCF.
Uh-oh.
Any coach/manager/player who has to tell you his players are trying is a team in deep. Effort is assumed.
"I think these are the moments where you really have to challenge yourself. I told the guys in the locker room not to give in," Miller said.
More:Turnovers doom Cincinnati Bearcats early in 75-61 loss at UCF
These are the times that try men’s soles.
Very funny, Doc.
I try.
LUKE FICKELL HAS A CONTRACT EXTENSION through Dec. 31, 2028 but of course that doesn’t mean he’ll be here until then. The buyout through 1/1/24 is $3.5 mil, not excessive if a school really wanted him. From there the buyout declines $500K/year for the next four years.
If UC fires Fickell because he’s not winning enough, it’ll cost ‘em $35 mil before Jan. 1, 2023 and $5 mil before Jan. 1, ’28. Probably, that won’t be an issue.
There’s also a mutual “non-disparagement clause’’ if the two camps part ways.
It’s all good for UC football and deservedly so.
HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE? Troy Aikman apparently is considering seriously an offer to leave Fox for ESPN’s Monday Night Football booth. Back in the day, this would be big news but MNF’s broadcast has slipped so mightily, it barely registers.
I never thought it was possible for MNF to lose its throne. But then Booger showed up. Then Steve Levy and other guys so indistinguishable I can’t even recall their names. There’s nothing special about MNF anymore, unless you count the Manning Bros.
Aikman is likeable, but not exactly magnetic. If you listen to him carefully enough, you realize how deft he is at stating the obvious. Joe Buck, rumored to join his Fox booth-mate on MNF, is solid, but he’ll never be Al Michaels. (Aikman won’t be Cris, either, for that matter.)
AND NOW. . .
Hey Michelle! won’t sleep until Monday.
This weekend is full of Mardi Gras, brunch, Bockfest and arts..
Final Friday. The last Friday of every month you can wander around the Pendleton Art Center, sip wine, check out artwork and maybe even see art in progress, created by some talented people in the Cincinnati area. Free admission. And, when you’re finished I suggest you walk up to Hart & Cru, 1206 Broadway, just a couple blocks up and grab one more glass of wine or a cocktail in one of Cincy's cutest little bars.
Saturday. If you’ve never had a chance to check out the Mainstrasse Mardi Gras Parade, I recommend you change that and join in while the streets fill with fun and, of course, beads will be flying… festivities start at 7 pm. You can join in on a pub crawl around the area after and try to find the best Hurricane.
While we’re talking Mardi Gras, the party to hit on Fat Tuesday is the 31st Mardi Gras for Homeless Children at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. This is a ticketed event and is a great way to celebrate and give back. It’s a big one with around 2,000 people, more than 50 local food and drink vendors, a live auction, marching band parade, bid & buy and more.
Bockfest is gearing up for its 30th year on March 4-6. The festivities are kicking off around town and this Friday at 8 pm Sonder Brewing is hosting the “Sausage Queen” Preliminary Round 1 (rescheduled from the Super Bowl). You can tour the brewery and cheer on your favorite Queen. Then join in at Listermann Brewing on Saturday at 7:30 for the final round with more beer, bites, music and as they say epic shenanigans!
Sunday is the launch of the new “Musical Brunch'' series. The location and music will be different every month. This Sunday it will be at the beautiful Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. You’ll be able to brunch and toe tap to some modern swing tunes by The Matt Tolentino Band. Join in this Sunday 11-1. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door and include a full brunch buffet and made-to-order omelet station along with a dessert station. You also get 2 tickets to the Mimosa/Bellini bar or the outrageous garnish it yourself Bloody Mary Bar. This event just SOLD OUT. Make sure to get your tickets soon for the one on March 27th!
Love me some epic shenanigans.
Imbiber Dave hangs out with the kids and some adult sodas.
I never remember being off on President’s Day. Not for school or work. Much less a four-day weekend, which is what my kids enjoyed. Now this is imbibing.
Why don’t we just embrace the four-day school and work week so we can all plan around these things? The not quite frequent enough breaks make it very hard to plan, but I guess that’s what keeps booze sales going strong.
Trader Joe’s homemade pizza and a nice bottle of Pinot were a solid start, but not nearly enough. We had to pull out the big guns. Legos. Quite possibly the best analog kid energy quencher on planet earth. It’s like mini-imbibing. Oh who am I kidding, I can’t get enough of this stuff.
We knocked out some mini Mandolorian Razor Crest ships, and moved on to a super cool mini AT-AT and shockingly functional ice cream truck. What a blast, and not totally just for dad.
Then, to recover from our angels returning to school, a Braxton Brewery happy hour was long overdue. Check out their Munich Helles, a wonderfully balanced beer with just the right amount of bitterness. Then, please make sure you try the Boss Bevy English Bitter. Whenever a brewery makes a real ESB that isn’t too sweet I am pumped, and this one knocks it out of the park.
Cheers!
TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . Hey, OGs: Allmans or Eagles? Best American band. I vote Allmans, but not by much. Or maybe you nominate some other group. Beach Boys, Aerosmith, Petty/Heartbreakers, whoever. Weigh in.
For now, a classic when Duane was King Slide.
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