Someone finally convince Berman to ditch the brick Nokia and get a new cell phone?

Two days after labor talks in Florida were called off, the lead negotiators for MLB and the players’ union will meet in person today.

— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) March 3, 2022

I'm kinda surprised, I thought the league would try to freeze them out again

I know nothing about labor law, but if there isn't "good faith efforts" wouldn't the league be subject to potential ramifications?

From the outside looking in, honestly why would anyone ever want to vacation in Houston?

Living in Houston is one thing, oil jobs, gas, mixed cultures etc. I get that. But as far as a destination city, or Houston being a beautiful town it isn't. I get what Z.G. was saying, the town brings little to the table.

It's huge so getting around is a pain in the butt. Traffic is terrible. Everything is spread out which makes it hard to have a good vibe. To me the biggest aspect of what Zack was saying is the town is ugly. Downtown suck, no trees, no scenery, dirty, etc.

A lot of the bigger city's in the USA have a much more welcoming downtown IMO. EIther rivers, lakes run through it and put off a cool vibe, or you're surrounded by mountains, desert, etc. Something that kinda sets the atmosphere. Houston has Buffalo Bayou. A **** water creek and 100% humidty 85% of the year. For outsiders it is pretty unappealing I'd assume.

so is the plan to cancel the baseball season one week at a time?

informal talks today on Thursday, March 3rd.

if nothing is agreed to by Monday, March 7th...that should cancel the next wave of games that were supposed to begin on April 7th

W said:

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so is the plan to cancel the baseball season one week at a time?

informal talks today on Thursday, March 3rd.

if nothing is agreed to by Monday, March 7th...that should cancel the next wave of games that were supposed to begin on April 7th

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Heyward is not the first to point this out, but it might get done once the TV $$$$ is in jeopardy....

Jason Heyward with the flamethrower on his Instagram page pic.twitter.com/357gUVrMx2

— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) March 2, 2022

Can we blame Dusty for any this labor BS?

EastCoastAgNc said:

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My understanding for minor league spring training is that major league coaches are prohibited from speaking/working with prospects.

Major league coaches are allowed to be at the team facilities, but have to stay away from the prospects.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 3, 2022

Well this is stupid...

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I don't see why that would matter, Coaches aren't part of the MLBPA and neither are the prospects...

Apply here https://t.co/20pmBp7qfu

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 4, 2022

Y'all have at it

Sources: Angels, Diamondbacks, Reds and Tigers owners opposed MLB luxury tax increase to $220 million. MLB also proposed including player meal money in calculation of luxury tax, which irked players. https://t.co/gBKrqAx9wV

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 4, 2022

the player meal money is good stuff. I remember going out to "dinner" with a former player after a game and he said something to the extent of it was quite silly for me to buy my own food and drinks, he had like 160 bucks or something crazy for his per diem. Perhaps that was for the whole series? who knows? We had a good time.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Players launching $1 million fund for workers affected by MLB owners’ lockout@mlbpa | @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/M2UIxPD4lO

— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) March 4, 2022

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Trying to win the PR battle.

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They're doing a better job of it than the owners / league are.

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Looks like the PA just beat them to it:

Checked with a MLB source: The league is also setting up a fund for workers impacted by the delay to the season. They'll announce details soon.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 4, 2022

I guarantee you the owners/league will try to make their fund bigger

EastCoastAgNc said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Trying to win the PR battle.

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They're doing a better job of it than the owners / league are.

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Looks like the PA just beat them to it:

Checked with a MLB source: The league is also setting up a fund for workers impacted by the delay to the season. They'll announce details soon.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 4, 2022

I guarantee you the owners/league will try to make their fund bigger

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Maybe their generosity will eventually extend to the fans at some point and they can... oh, I don't know... play some freaking baseball!

Mathguy64 said:

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The meal money figure I saw recently was it's about $10MM team. It's not insignificant. And it's 100% a form of an expense for the owners and it's salary compensation for the players.

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100% agree.

Mathguy64 said:

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The meal money figure I saw recently was it's about $10MM team. It's not insignificant. And it's 100% a form of an expense for the owners and it's salary compensation for the players.

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How in the ever-living hell is it salary compensation for the players?

Meals expensed on the road or when working weird hours (or per diem) aren't salary in any other job. Perks like meals and food offered at Silicon Valley HQs aren't calculated as compensation or benefits.

Of course the owners have expenses… stop the presses! Why would it ever be included in a competitive balance calculation? If every team has an expense, then it doesn't effect competitive balance.

Unless some big market clubs are slinging lobster and caviar every night, they need to get out of here with that ***** This particular point is the owners being stupid and basically trying to get the CBT not to move at all. Add $10M, then subtract $10M cause, uh…. We buy you food.

Next maybe we can also include travel and hotel costs in the CBT.

Caveat. I'm not a tax attorney or CPA. However at one point in my life I had to ask this question and the answer was if it's a big enough amount (and it varies by location) it's something you declare and it's taxable. And the amount they are getting would be well over the limits.

If a tax attorney or CPA has a real answer I'm happy to retract this.

Whether its actually considered salary compensation or not...it is. If you are not paying for your own meals that is money you are not spending...which can be spent elsewhere, out of your salary.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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Whether its actually considered salary compensation or not...it is. If you are not paying for your own meals that is money you are not spending...which can be spent elsewhere, out of your salary.

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Of course it's a benefit and has some value… we would all rather work somewhere that has those things than doesn't.

But why would it be included in a competitive balance focused calculation? It's a fringe benefit and isn't compensation, especially for the purposes of this discussion. This is petty by the owners.

Besides, owners should pay this as an investment in proper nutrition and performance. No different than trainers, etc. in fact, the amount of money spent on trainers and stuff to go above and beyond what a small market team can offer would be more appropriate than meals to include.

Also, $10 million isn't close to a true number anyway. Even if every player on the 40 man got 3 meals a day for a full 365 days (we all know that is not the case and is extremely aggressive), that's 10M/40/3/365 = over $228 per meal, every meal, for an entire calendar year.

I honestly took it as some of the bottom dweller teams just wanting to make it a way to punish the higher spending and quality teams

Hearing from sources on both sides of the CBA talks that they are hopeful that a renewed discussion of the 14-team playoff field could be a potential breakthrough -- for talks that need a breakthrough.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 4, 2022