Rant #2,837: Stop This Game

An Open Letter to Major League Baseball Management and Owners, and to the Player’s Association:
 
“Stop this already.
 
Stop this bickering, stop this he-said-he-said stuff, stop this overall nonsense.
 
Sit down with each other and come to an agreement.
 
And do it now, because billionaires and millionaires arguing over whatever piece of a billion-dollar pie that they are going to get is so ridiculous at this point, and so counter to what is happening in the greater society that you people supposedly live in and are so interested in.
 
Do you see the greater picture here at all, or at least a little bit?
 
We are still in a pandemic, where the great majority of people have had their lives changed, some forever.
 
Millions of people have lost their jobs, millions remain out of work, millions are wondering where their next meal, or mortgage payment, or money to live will come from.
 
Maybe you don’t think that this effects you, but if you don’t, then you really are living in some other galaxy.
 
First, let me address the players.
 
Look, we live in a capitalist world, and nobody is telling you that you should not make as much money as you can, but how much money is enough?
 
I know, your focus lately is on younger players, who often make dirt wages and themselves can barely afford to live, but again, your view is so short sighted, I have to wonder what world you are living in.
 
Everyone in life has to start at the bottom for the opportunity o reach the top, and that goes for not only baseball players, it goes for everyday people like teachers, journalists, cooks, garbage men … I mean, everyone.
 
Few people walk into a million-dollar job right out of high school, or even college, so why shouldn’t there be a salary pecking order in baseball, too?
 
I made $180 a week in my first real job out of college in 1980. Yes, $180.
 
And through the years, I improved my salary through hard work, and at my last job, I actually more than doubled my original salary there—and it took over 20 years to do it.
 
I was never a millionaire, but I felt I accomplished something to get to the level that I eventually attained.
 
Many of these lower minor leaguers are very young, and they received huge signing bonuses, so even if their current wages aren’t spectacular, they have gotten more bang for the buck than others in their age group will ever receive.
 
And for those who never got big bonus money, hard work will pay off for them as it did for me, and as they reach another level in their careers, they will get their money.
 
And now I want to specifically talk to those players who reached the major league level, make more money than they ever dreamed they could make, but have seemingly forgotten their humble beginnings.
 
I remember that Hall of Famer Mario Rivera said that he came from a dirt poor family, and as a child, he would play baseball using a milk carton as a glove.
 
How many of you came from such humble beginnings, and now have reached a level where you not only have the best glove that you can have, but festoon yourselves with earrings and rings and necklaces that make you a walking and talking jewelry store?
 
Have you completely forgotten where you came from?
 
And now for the owners …
 
You don’t get off scott-free here either.
 
Why did you lock the players out so early on in the negotiations? Did you really believe that thais tactic would force the players to sit down with you and do what you wanted them to do?
 
Instead, the action only deepened the chasm between you and the players, and it also rankled the fans, who could care less about you running the business and owning the teams.
 
And like the players, have you yourselves forgotten your own humble beginnings?
 
I congratulate you for being major successes, and many of you are self-made men and women. That is all fine and good, but do you remember the times before you were wealthy, when you were just one of us?
 
Somehow, I don’t think so.
 
And to both factions here, you are destroying the National Pastime with your actions … actions which have a ripple effect on us peons, if you will.
 
What about the vendors at the stadiums you are shutting down who can’t work because of your actions … the ticket takers … the parking lot attendants … the team shops personnel …
 
None of then can work, can bring home a salary, can help their families, while you bicker over a billion-dollar pie.
 
Are you so far aloof that you don’t recognize what you are doing has a major domino affect on the little guys and gals of the world?
 
The other day, Joe Torre was asked about what was going on with the two sides, and he said that both of you should be wary of alienating the fans, and that you should also be wary of making this thing bigger than baseball itself.
 
You should both take heed of what the Hall of Famer said, because he is correct.
 
Stop this game, stop this nonsense, and sit down and not come out of the negotiations without an agreement that you both can live with.
 
Again, we are in a pandemic. The world has been shut down because of it.
 
Sickness is one thing; greed is another.
 
Shutting down the National Pastime for greed is bad enough, but shutting it down for greed when people the world over are suffering as a civilization is another thing.
 
You guys can have all the money in the world, but let me tell you, you look like foolish simpletons by continuing yoiur rigid stance—
 
And all the money in the world can’t buy back the interest of the fans somewhere down the line.
 
You are losing us or have lost us forever—
 
And don’t you think enough is enough already?