MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners 72 game proposal was rejected by the players as the odds of a 50 game season is the most likely scenario (AP photo)

MLB: Players Reject Proposal – It’s Manfred’s Time!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Major League Players Union rejected the latest proposal by the MLB owners from yesterday this afternoon which called for a 72-game season at 70 percent pay with a chance to get is as high as 83 percent of their pay if postseason is concluded.

Players told MLB/Commissioner Rob Manfred today to set-up the schedule. This more than likely would mean the 48 to 50 games “season”that I have written about recently on this site. When Manfred said recently he guaranteed 100 percent a season, he was talking about this last resort of around 50 games.

When people don’t talk to each other, things do not work out the way they should through these “negotiations” both sides owners and players have just shot down each others proposals. With such quick response from the players it is obvious that each side mistrusts each of other rules the day. As expected the MLPA rejected it.

There are reports they even have shut down their Zoom accounts. Zoom is a video-audio-conferee chat (not in person) platform where it allows people to communicate from different locations.

As mentioned before, Commissioner Rob Manfred, who recently guaranteed there will be a season, can set a schedule and by decree the power to start the season. Not only the economic, health and security of the players are at risk but the whole 2020 season.

The Commissioner is very close to doing a”Pontius Pilate” washing his hands from this mess and ordering a 48 to 50 games season, that’s very possible scenario (the last one left) then the MLPA can file grievance. Players might not even show up in that case, the cloud of health and security for them is paramount since after all we still are inside a Pandemic.

Remember the owners do not take the field and are not under the same danger of contracting Covid-19 as the players. So we have to be fair here, in this cold war called baseball.

If Manfred orders 48-50 games: There are at least six owners that prefer not to play at all this year. That has a lot to do with the Commissioner selecting the last option of 50 games,the smallest amount, so players get paid less.The players feel betrayed and see the owners trying to pay them less and therefore not abiding by the March 26 agreement.

The Commissioner is chosen by a vote of the owners of the teams. Rob Manfred assumed office on January 25, 2015. This by far has been the biggest challenge for Mr.Manfred who is the CEO of baseball and rules over all the important things in the game.

Like any Commissioner he would like to leave a good legacy someday and I am sure the year 2020 was not what he had envisioned. Not to mention there is a collective bargaining agreement expiring after the 2021 season. But to be fair to the Commissioner had anybody alive in this world could have predicted this 2020 so far?? I do not think so, unless Nostradamus just resuscitated and was back in business.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the play by play talent for Oakland A’s radio at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com