#mlb players association

[fushiguruuzzzz]

HEARTBREAK ON THE MOUND

“I didn’t think anyone noticed me.”

ARMIN ARLERT X F!READER

CONTENTS ; written miniseries, mlb!armin/mlb aot au, I don’t know a thing about baseball, crude humour, cursing, angst, injury, depression, social isolation, sad ending… I think…, warnings will be added as the series progresses

Unfortunately, living with one of the world’s most famous baseball players means spending hours of your life surrounded by overwhelming chatter and a sport you know nothing about. You don’t care much for it, not until you spot him. The quiet blond who looks like he’s just as out of place as you… except he’s on the field.

a/n — yeah I’ve been obsessing over this au for way too long. Sia is sick of me so I decided to put my thoughts elsewhere. Speaking of which, go check out HOME RUN — LIKE THE WIND, a similar concept that was made in association to this series :) yuta lovers I’m calling to u

ON THE FIELD - ⟢ ARMIN ARLERT ; Paper Bag by Fiona Apple, the lowering of tides on a sunny day, falling asleep at your desk, calloused hands, broken eyeglasses, the indescribable emptiness that creeps in late at night

FRONT ROW - ⟢ YN LN ; denim, polaroids, cigarettes on lonely nights, Heaven by Solya, Jeff Buckley, keychains, the longing for something you’ve never had, the 70’s, driving fast down country roads

3 STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT! ⚾️

01 — cynefin

02 —

03 —

tba..

MOODBOARD | PLAYLIST

STATUS ; Ongoing, inconsistent updates

TAGLIST ; Open 7/50

⟢ @estella-novella @lizbix @blu3-l0v3r @vi0let-writes @gumims @getovibesonly @tamishadawn

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

so, about that baseball au? 👀

Tobias plays right field. It's all about those insanely long catches and those even more insanely long throws. He's fast and light, able to spot a ball in the air and be sprinting to intercept it well before it's even reached the top of its arc. Tobias can not only run and not only throw, but he can jump like nobody's business to intercept a ball in the air. He can't snatch every single home run that clears the top wall, but if it clears the wall by less than 12 inches, you bet that he'll be there making one hell of a grab to intercept it. What he lacks in power he makes up for with speed and accuracy.

Marco is their starting pitcher. He can coordinate and communicate, but more importantly he can be tricky. Marco's the classic ambidextrous change-up knuckleball trickster, not the fastest fastball thrower but an absolute expert in lying with his body about where the ball's going and how it'll be spinning when it gets there. Pitching is about dividing attention between the guy inching down the third-base line, the catcher throwing signals, and the batter getting into position. The ability to read all that, and to hide a fastball in a curved-looking throw, is where Marco excels.

Rachel bats cleanup. She plays center field as well, but her strength is in batting. Her greatest weakness is her greatest strength: she swings at too many pitches. That runs the risk of strikeouts, but it also means that she can sometimes turn a curveball into a double or even a home run. She's the power hitter, able to rocket pitches into the nosebleed section often enough that she sells more t-shirts than the rest of her team combined. That said, when all else fails she can also be counted on to make a sacrifice bunt.

Ax is on third base. It's a position that requires keeping a close eye on the batter and the infield all at once, managing the risk of steals while also being ready to intercept smash hits. Above all, being on third base requires being fast: able to grab a 120 MPH hit out of the air and wing it back to a teammate before there's even time for the runner to think about making it to first. Third basemen are likely to go overlooked, but they're crucially important for the defense of the whole infield.

Jake catches. It's the position most associated with being able to take punishment. Runners collide with you, pitches hit you, backswings can take you out, and your knees are shot to hell within five years. But the catcher faces the field, and the catcher has to communicate with the field. The main line of contact is with the pitcher, everything from requesting pitches to signaling an impending steal, but the catcher has to be able to shout to the field as a whole with a second's notice. The catcher is up and down, up and down, throughout the game, and the catcher has to decide judiciously when to argue with the umpire.

Cassie is their shortstop. Of course. This position is all about support, about being where your teammates are not so that they can focus on covering their own bases. Shortstops have to be flexible, to float between positions and play backup to the basemen and outfielders alike. Shortstops are the most overlooked, the least understood, the most likely to be dropped from Little League teams that are short on players. But an actual MLB team cannot function without a shortstop, because their ill-defined role is actually to hold the entire rest of the defensive team together.

[swappingbryn]

Boosters Association

The university had a very generous boosters association, the athletic department received tens of millions in donations, so much so that the school itself didn’t contribute anything to any of the teams.

The school attracted top talent and was a feeder to the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA, all of which had owners and former (but no current) players that contributed heavily. As a result, every team had the newest and best of everything, unicorns, equipment, facilities, which meant the teams performed incredibly well. It was a glorious cycle of victory, rewards, improvement and success.

But strangely, the players never seemed happy about any of it. Every student wanted to be scouted by the school, it had a reputation of excellence, ever athletics member that graduated either went on to professional teams or received a lucrative position at a boosters company. When asked, each one provided the same response, nearly verbatim, “(team) is a lot of hard work, dedication and team work. It is not something I undertake lightly, but I am glad to be here.”

The dirty secret was that the boosters expected more than just publicity and tax benefits from the players. Depending on how much they donated, boosters got more from players. The lowest tier just covered Home Coming weekend, there was also Spring Break week, and both Winter Break and Summer Break required additional expenses because they not only had to pay the school but also the students directly under the guise of an “internship.”

The top players were basically drones. They had no rest, they ate, slept, class, practice and games, but had no weekends, no personal time, no vacations or breaks, as all those times were given to boosters. Sometimes even games were taken from them, when a former professional player paid to be able to play again.

@mr2swap

[mlbsmashorpass]

Submission Rules

Must include [at least] three SFW pictures.

Any current or past player, manager, umpire, etc. associated with the MLB.

Must be 18 or older. [The submissions, not you.]

No known abusers. This is a Trevor Bauer hate blog.

I am just one guy [gn] I can't know everyone's crimes. If someone submits an abuser and they get posted, please [nicely] let me know and I'll take them down.

Not Rules

Reblogs help spread the word!

Feel free to add extra pictures or gifs after the poll has been published.

People who have already been posted will be eligible to be reposted after six months, and scheduled accordingly.

If you don't see any posts for a while, the queue is probably empty!

[justinssportscorner]

Jeff Passan at ESPN:

Sen. Dick Durbin plans to introduce the Fair Ball Act, a bill that would further protect minor league baseball players from previous legislation that exempted them from wage and hour laws, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. In the bill, Durbin (D-Illinois), who has been an outspoken advocate for minor league players and is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, promotes rolling back the exemption granted by the Save America's Pastime Act (SAPA), whose inclusion in a 2018 spending bill allowed teams to avoid abiding by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Should the Fair Ball Act pass, players would be entitled to minimum wage and overtime laws in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. Minor league players, who unionized with the Major League Baseball Players Association in September 2022, struck a deal with MLB on a collective bargaining agreement in March 2023 and drastically increased salaries and benefits after years of below minimum wage pay.

"Workers deserve a fair playing field everywhere -- including in baseball," Durbin said in a statement. "Executives at MLB lobbied Congress hard for federal wage and hour law exemptions in order to avoid legal liability with the 2018 Save America's Pastime Act. While I commend MLB for voluntarily recognizing the unionization of Minor League Baseball players in 2022, it is time to roll back SAPA in deference to the gains made by that historic unionization. I'm proud to stand with these workers, unions and the integrity of the sport. I stand ready to pass the Fair Ball Act into law." MLB declined comment when reached by ESPN. The treatment of minor leaguers led to a class-action lawsuit in 2014 by players, who argued that MLB teams had run afoul of labor laws. Two years later, SAPA was introduced by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Kentucky) to exempt MLB teams from having to pay minimum wage to players, who made as little as $1,000 per month and were paid during the season only. While SAPA never gained traction in Congress, its language was included in a spending bill passed in 2018.

The unionization of the minor leagues lifted minimum salaries, ranging from $19,800 per year for players at teams' complexes (previously $4,800) to $35,800 at Triple-A (previously $17,500). MLB later agreed to pay $185 million to settle the class-action lawsuit.

[...] The contraction of more than 40 minor league teams before the 2021 season and past treatment of players continue to resonate, and the Fair Ball Act -- which is also being sponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) -- is intended to keep MLB from using SAPA as a leverage point during negotiations after the minor league agreement expires following the 2027 season. The current session of Congress ends Jan. 3, 2025, and with judicial appointments, a spending bill and disaster aid among the current legislative priorities, the Fair Ball Act could be pushed to the next session or, like SAPA, folded into a larger bill.

The Fair Ball Act is a good bill by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) to protect minor leagues.

[andydrysdalerogers]

Sliding Into Home - A Frank Adler AU

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, eventual smut, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

AN: This is my new series I'm starting next week! I hope you all will like this one. Tagging my usual tag list but please let me know if you would like to be added or removed!

Taglist: @patzammit @firephotogrl74 @texmexdarling @slutforchrisjamalevans @jennmurawski13-writes @tinkerbelle67 @before-we-get-started @bunnyforhim

Master List and Preview below:

Frank was looking at a Los Angeles icon, Dodger Stadium.  It was his new home, his new team and hopefully his new life.  He asked a security guard where to go and was met at the door by an assistant.  She was a shameless flirt, commenting on Frank’s forearms and his tattoos, cooing about how good of a player he is.  There was zero chance of Frank being interested.  His Friday Night adventures were reserved for road trips only. His one-night stands worked out just fine, in his opinion.  

As he was guided into the conference room, Frank was met with the president of operations, Nick Stanton. “Mr. Stanton.” 

“Frank! Good to see you again.” He shakes hands with Frank. “We’re waiting for everyone so can I offer you a drink?” He gestures to Frank to sit at the table. 

“Just a cola, thanks.” Frank took the seat next to the head of the table.  

“How was the move?” 

“Smoother than I thought it would be. Mary, my niece, threw a couple of tantrums but between me and my nanny, we managed to get her here.”  

“Nanny?” 

“Oh yeah, Scott, he’s great. He was willing to move with us, which is great since Mary seems to only listen to him.” Frank chuckles. “Who would listen to your uncle/pseudo father?” 

“I remember that story,” Nick replies. “You are brave to take on a baby right after bring drafted.”  

Frank shrugged. “Its not that big of a deal. You would do anything for family, especially Mary.”  

More voices float towards the conference room and Frank stands as he sees his agent and lawyer walk in and shake his hand. Then the general manager for the Dodgers comes in, making small talk with Frank.  

“Ok, I think we are just missing the team doctor and our legal team,” Nick tells everyone. “Its not Natasha, she’s busy with another client.  She’s sending in their new associate.”  

Frank just nods as the GM goes over the training schedule and when he would meet the team.  The conference room door opens and Frank turns to see and his stomach drops. He feels himself become clammy and pale. Because this shouldn’t be happening.  

Fuck.  

He looks at the brunette that walked in.  

she’s definitely not supposed to be here.  

What the FUCK! 

Abby Hernandez, his ex-girlfriend, love of his life, walked into the room.  

It Doesn't Stay In Vegas

The Future is West

Are You Sure We Aren’t Going Crazy

You Were Enough; You Are Everything

Fastballs and Fiancés

You Left Me

Take Your Niece to Work Day

Don't You Know How to Spell Assume?

Wanna Feel Safe Again

Maybe I should Have Ducked?

When It All Falls Apart

WTF Just Happened!

D N A: Diane Nicole Adler

Not Just a Pretty Face

It's A Ruff Life

Status: All Star

Since When is Ice Cream Evil

On the Hunt for Mike Weiss

The Next Adventure

A Bump in the Road

Unexpected Surprises

For Reasons Unknown...

Evidence, Emotions, Whatever

Trial By Fire

The One With the World Series

Oh Captain! My Captain!

Finale

[hyperfixationsstation]

Whether they have a draft or not, it’s a lose-lose situation in my eyes. Somebody isn’t going to be happy regardless. If they don’t get their team of choice, there will be people upset. And I don’t have an issue with high draft picks going to the worst teams to help balance it out. Yes, the team may be bad, but newer players have a better chance of making an impact on that team vs a team that is well established. There are still ways to be impactful even when you feel like you’re not. To be real, most of the players that have dreams of playing professionally, won’t get the opportunity. At least with the draft, you can say “I got drafted _ overall”.

Now, when a team is hot ass, it’s going to look bad and people are going to want to jump ship. Players still have to perform and if their trade value is horrible, then it’s on them. Plus, every other successful US league has a draft. NBA, NFL, WNBA, MLB all have drafts. Not everyone is going to play. Unfortunately that’s the reality of all sports teams.

the whole point is players having autonomy over their careers. which something other leagues have all over the world thats where the nwsl was falling behind. no not everyone will be a pro and it was like that with the draft. just like players not going to their preferred team when their was a draft??? atleast now players can talk to organizations coaches and see what is out their for them their chances of playing time and finding the system that fits them the best. also the draft isnt some trophy or consolation prize… players would absolutely go to lower teams especially in this league players want to play and its up to the clubs to show them why those players should player. it raises standards bc they cant be forced to play for a club doing the bare minimum anymore. and players would play for lower teams for many reasons like being close to home or maybe moving bc of a significant other or for more playing time they wont get at other teams and the best part is that the players that are at every club chose that one that was their choice and where they want to start, spend, or retire with

also and so what that other leagues have drafts you think those players wouldn’t prefer the opportunity to decide where they wanted to play?? or to not be traded overnight on a random Wednesday just bc everyone does it doesnt make it right… theres a reason all of these other leagues player associations where applauding the nwslpa today…

[7th-inningstretch]

the mlb players association spinning the pitcher injuries to be about the pitch clock is so slay. do i believe that? no not really it's more likely just the advancement in pitching techniques and increased velocity etc like pitching is not built for the human body they just do it anyway BUT that being said i fully support it ❤️ i want that clock gone and if they can manipulate the mlb to get what they want that would be so funny

[lboogie1906]

David Mark Winfield (October 3, 1951) is a former MLB right fielder. He is the special assistant to the executive director of the MLB Players Association. Over his 22-year career, he played for six teams: the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians. He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Atlanta Braves.

He is a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner. The Padres retired #31, Winfield’s uniform number, in his honor. He wore #31 while playing for the Yankees and Indians and wore #32 with the Angels, Blue Jays, and Twins. In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He is a member of both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[eriecanal]

if the mlb actually goes to that awful 6 inning minimum pitching rule the players association had better strike like actually

[thedept]

One of the best baseball players to ever wear a Mets uniform was Jose Reyes, who was a shortstop and wore Number 7. He could hit, he was fast as hell (he has the most triples ever by a Met, like almost double the 2nd place guy) and played great defense. He approached every game with excitement and was a truly electric baseball player.

After he left the Mets, he was arrested for a assaulting his wife. The charges were dropped even though it was clear he’d done the thing. It happened during the off-season and MLB suspended him for part of the upcoming season, keeping him suspended even after the charges were dropped. When the suspension ended, his team at the time, the Colorado Rockies, sent him to the minors and then dropped him.

Then the Mets, and their awful owners at the time, brought him back because they knew the fans would love it and they were notoriously cheap (the Rockies were paying his salary). I almost abandoned the Mets at that point, but instead opted to donate money to a local anti-DV charity for each RBI he had. (And after it turned out that he now sucked at baseball, where I loved the schadenfreude but disliked not being able to donate enough, I upped it to cover each RBI + each base he touched). And while I taunted both Reyes and the Mets on Twitter for 2 1/2 seasons about it, it was futile and it ruined some small part of baseball for me.

Since that time, I’ve cursed my son with being a Mets fan. He’s also now in his first little league season and he was given Number 7, but I never said anything about the player I most closely associate with that number. Today, in his second game, he played two innings of shortstop and went 2 for 3 with a triple and 2 runs scored. After the game I told him the good parts about Jose Reyes.

[f1]

Brad Pitt F1 movie production halted due to writers strike | 2023 F1 season

The production of the Hollywood movie set in Formula 1 starring Brad Pitt has been halted as a major actors union has begun strike action. The untitled film based around the fictional ‘APX GP’ Formula 1 team and its drivers had a major presence at the last grand prix at Silverstone. The crew constructed their own garage in the pit lane and two show cars were placed on the back row of the dummy grid prior to the formation lap to allow the filming of scenes. The movie is being produced by Lewis Hamilton’s production company, Dawn Apollo Films, with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt in the lead role of Sonny Hayes. However, production on the movie has reportedly shut down due to strike action by a major actors union. The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG–AFTRA) has recently commenced strike action with all member actors withdrawing labour, including Pitt, who is a member. The action has been called in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America union, which has been on strike since early May. The film shot its first race weekend scenes at Silverstone WGA members voted overwhelmingly to strike in May after failing to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Despite the increase in popularity of streaming services resulting in higher international audiences for many television shows and leading to increased production budgets, WGA claims its members have not seen the benefits. The proportion of members working for the minimum rate under WGA’s previous working agreement with the AMPTP has grown from a third to almost a half over the last decade. The WGA strike action has also been endorsed and supported by United States president Joe Biden, former president Barack Obama, several members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, over 150 unions and professional bodies across the world, including the International Screenwriters Association, the players associations of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS and the Writers Guilds of both Great Britain and Ireland. SAG-AFTRA, which represents over 100,000 actors, recording artists and other performers whose work is broadcast, has begun strike action after also failing to reach an agreement with the AMPTP, citing concerns over reduced income, royalties from streaming services and AI exploitation. Multiple major movie productions have been immediately affected by the strike. These include the as-yet untitled Formula 1 movie, the sequel to Gladiator and a new film in the Mission Impossible franchise, according to NBC News The movie’s production crew was due to return to the F1 paddock at later races this year, but whether that happens may now rest upon the strike being resolved. Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free 2023 F1 season Browse all 2023 F1 season articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net/

[denimbex1986]

'Cillian Murphy has amassed a large number of fans in his career with his works in the industry. The Oppenheimer fame garnered worldwide stardom after starring in some of the most iconic Christopher Nolan movies as well as the Peaky Blinders series. But recently the fans were excited to know that his famous doppelgänger Tyler Glasnow is also a huge fan of his works when the famous Tampa Bay Rays pitcher was asked about his thoughts on Murphy.

Besides being a professional MLB player, Tyler Glasnow has also made a name for himself after several fans have pointed out his resemblance with the Thomas Shelby fame. The baseball player also proved to be a great movie lover when he spoke about the excellence of Cillian Murphy in acting.

Cillian Murphy found a fan in his doppelgänger

Tyler Glasnow is a popular face among the netizens who know him as the famous doppelgänger to Cillian Murphy. He never addressed this thing publicly until recently he sat into a conversation with GQ.

According to the 30-year-old MLB player, the extra attention doesn’t impact him much as the doppelgänger thing is mostly popular among avid internet users while he prefers to stay away from social media. But Glasnow added that his mother also agrees with his facial resemblance to the blue-eyed Irish actor- “Then my mom was like, ‘You kind of do look like him!'”

When asked if he was a fan of the works of Cillian Murphy, he was quick to respond yes. Glasnow revealed that he is a big fan of Murphy’s works and Peaky Blinders is his absolute favorite.

“Absolutely! I think he’s f–king awesome. Peaky Blinders is really good. I think he’s such a good actor, so I’m like, ‘That’s cool, yeah!’ He looks great.”

Following this, he was also asked if he liked Murphy’s collaborations with Christopher Nolan. Tyler Glasnow reflected his excitement on the question and it was evident that the ex-Pittsburgh Pirates player is also a fan of Nolan’s movies.

“Yeah, of course. If you say you’re not a Christopher Nolan fan, you’re crazy. You know what I mean? He’s awesome. All his Batman movies are pretty sick. Is he Interstellar and Inception too? [GQ: Yes.] Holy sh-t. Interstellar is really good. Wow! I didn’t know that he did Interstellar. Maybe I don’t know that much. That movie is insane.”

It is quite clear that Tyler Glasnow is a huge fan of the movies of the person he is associated with. It was also reflected in his reaction after watching Oppenheimer.

What did Tyler Glasnow say about Oppenheimer?

After speaking about Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan, it was quite natural for the conversation to go towards Oppenheimer. The latest flick was immensely praised by both the audience and critics. Everyone loved the amazing performance by Murphy as the Father of the Atomic Bomb accompanied by the brilliant filmmaking skills of Nolan.

Gasnow was also asked if he checked out Oppenheimer and he couldn’t stop praising the movie and his experience in IMAX.

“I have! It was awesome. I went to an IMAX theater in Tampa. It was sick. I love the movies, so I go as much as I can.”

He added that the movie is 3-hour-long but not a single scene feels unnecessary in the movie. But similar to most of the fans, the Trinity Test scene was his favorite. The filmmaking excellence and realism were shown in that scene and everybody was both shocked and mesmerized by the sequence.

Tyler Gasnow rated the movie a solid 9 out of 10 and it can be concluded very well that the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher is a very big Cillian Murphy fan to the core. He also added that he would be all up if Christopher Nolan needed an athlete for his movies by any chance someday until it overlaps with his season.'

[newsguide0]

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner headed to Cooperstown

Seattle Mariners Ichiro Suzuki watches the MLB Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx July 14, 2008. Ichiro Suzuki missed unanimous election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by one vote Tuesday night when he headlined a three-player class selected by the 394 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Suzuki will be joined on the Clark Sports Center stage in Cooperstown,…

[prevnews]

Why Isn’t Luis Tiant in the Hall of Fame?

Luis Tiant, known for his flamboyant pitching style and resilience, was one of the most recognizable and beloved pitchers in Major League Baseball during his career. Yet, despite his success and memorable contributions to the sport, Tiant has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This omission has sparked ongoing debate among baseball fans and experts alike. To understand why Tiant has not been enshrined in Cooperstown, it's essential to examine his career achievements, the Hall of Fame voting process, and how these factors have played into his exclusion.

Luis Tiant's Career Overview

Luis Tiant, a Cuban-born pitcher, enjoyed a 19-year career in the MLB from 1964 to 1982. He played for six teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, where he spent his most impactful years. His career stats are impressive and often compare favorably with other pitchers who are in the Hall of Fame: - Career Wins: 229 - Career ERA (Earned Run Average): 3.30 - Strikeouts: 2,416 - Shutouts: 49 - Complete Games: 187 Tiant had three standout seasons in particular: - 1968: He led the league in ERA with an extraordinary 1.60, also earning 21 wins. - 1972 and 1974: In both seasons, Tiant won 20 games for the Red Sox, cementing his status as an ace. He was also known for his eccentric, corkscrew-like delivery, which baffled hitters and made him a fan favorite. His tenacity and ability to reinvent himself as a pitcher after injuries early in his career demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Memorable Moments and Impact

Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of Tiant’s career came during the 1975 World Series, when he helped lead the Red Sox to the brink of a championship with two masterful complete-game victories against the Cincinnati Reds. His performance was one of the key reasons the series went to seven games, making him a cult hero in Boston. Tiant's impact goes beyond statistics; his persona and the love he garnered from fans made him an unforgettable figure in baseball. However, in the Hall of Fame's rigorous selection process, memorable moments and charisma aren't always enough to guarantee induction.

The Hall of Fame Voting Process

To understand why Luis Tiant isn’t in the Hall of Fame, it’s important to look at how players are elected. Players become eligible for the Hall of Fame five years after their retirement and are considered by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) for up to 10 years (reduced from 15 in 2014). To be elected, a player needs to receive 75% of the votes from the BBWAA. Unfortunately, Tiant never received strong enough support from the writers during his time on the ballot. In his first year of eligibility (1988), he only garnered 30.9% of the vote, and his numbers fluctuated in subsequent years but never came close to the required threshold. After falling off the ballot, he has had opportunities to be considered through the Veterans Committee, which examines players who may have been overlooked by the BBWAA, but even this route hasn’t worked in his favor.

Why Luis Tiant Has Been Overlooked

There are several reasons that could explain Tiant's exclusion from the Hall of Fame despite his solid career: 1. Lack of Major Awards One of the factors that Hall of Fame voters often consider is whether a player has won major awards, such as the Cy Young Award, which is given annually to the best pitcher in each league. Tiant never won a Cy Young, despite having a few seasons where he was in contention. While he was a three-time All-Star and placed in the top five in Cy Young voting twice, the absence of a major award may have diminished his case for the Hall of Fame in the eyes of voters. 2. Inconsistency and Injuries While Tiant had several brilliant seasons, his career was marked by inconsistency, particularly early in his career and in the later stages. After his breakthrough in 1968, he struggled for several years due to injuries and ineffectiveness, including a particularly difficult 1969 season with a 9-20 record. Although he later rebounded and had several more strong seasons, his overall performance didn’t maintain the level of dominance that voters often expect from Hall of Famers. 3. Career Numbers Just Short of Benchmarks Traditional benchmarks have often influenced Hall of Fame voting. For pitchers, numbers like 300 wins or 3,000 strikeouts have often been seen as key milestones. Tiant, with 229 wins and 2,416 strikeouts, falls short of those benchmarks. Even though those thresholds have become less critical over time, particularly with modern analytics, Tiant’s failure to reach those numbers likely played a role in the voters’ hesitance to induct him. 4. Era of Dominant Pitchers Tiant’s career spanned an era that was filled with dominant pitchers, many of whom had career numbers that overshadowed his. Pitchers like Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Jim Palmer—each of whom won Cy Young Awards and had legendary postseason performances—were contemporaries of Tiant. It’s possible that Tiant was simply overshadowed by the extraordinary talent around him during the peak of his career.

The Veterans Committee: A Possible Path to the Hall

Though Tiant has not been inducted by the BBWAA, he still has a potential path to the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee, which is now called the "Era Committee." This committee is responsible for considering players, managers, umpires, and executives who might have been overlooked by the writers. The committee is divided into different eras, and Tiant has been on the ballot multiple times. In 2022, Tiant was once again considered but did not receive enough votes for induction. However, the Era Committee tends to be more favorable to overlooked candidates than the BBWAA, and there remains hope among fans that Tiant’s contributions will eventually be recognized.

Conclusion: Why Isn’t Luis Tiant in the Hall of Fame?

The question of why Luis Tiant isn’t in the Hall of Fame is complex, with many contributing factors. His lack of major awards, inconsistency, and the presence of more dominant contemporaries likely played a role in his omission. However, his overall career statistics, his memorable moments, and his undeniable impact on the teams he played for make a compelling case for eventual induction. The Hall of Fame, while primarily about statistical accomplishments, is also about a player’s contribution to the narrative of baseball. In this respect, Tiant has left an indelible mark. While his exclusion may continue to baffle fans, the hope remains that one day, through the Era Committee or another avenue, Luis Tiant will take his rightful place in Cooperstown alongside the legends of the game. Read the full article

[justinssportscorner]

Jeff Passan at ESPN: 

Minor league baseball players and Major League Baseball struck a tentative deal Wednesday on the first collective bargaining agreement between the sides that will more than double player pay and represents the largest-ever gains in the rights of minor leaguers, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN.

The deal, which will last for five years, comes after a rapid and successful effort last year by minor leaguers to unionize under the umbrella of the Major League Baseball Players Association and follows previous improvements in housing and pay. MLB formally recognized the union upon its formation, paving the way for a negotiation that finalized the deal on the eve of major league Opening Day.

After years of disillusionment among future major leaguers about paltry salaries forcing them to work offseason jobs, and coincidentally on the day a judge approved a $185 million settlement the league will pay players who accused it of violating minimum-wage laws, the parties agreed on a deal that went out to a vote among the union's rank-and-file and will need to be approved by owners as well before it is formalized. The agreement could be announced officially as early as Friday, the first day of games in the minor leagues.

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The deal includes the reduction of the maximum Domestic Reserve List, which governs the number of players a team can roster outside of its Dominican Republic complexes, from 180 to 165 starting in 2024. The union had previously fought MLB's efforts during the lockout last year to reduce the reserve list, which teams had identified as a priority.

Players, meanwhile, emphasized better housing and transportation as a matter of import. Starting in 2024, those at Triple-A and Double-A will receive their own bedroom, and players with spouses and children will receive special accommodations. In rookie ball, Single-A and High-A, teams will provide transportation to stadiums, where they'll eat meals provided under rules negotiated by a joint clubhouse nutrition committee.

The overhaul of the minor leagues started in earnest via social media posts from players, who showed minuscule paychecks and often packed a half-dozen players into a one- or two-bedroom apartment, sleeping on air mattresses. While players started to organize, MLB was completing a takeover of Minor League Baseball. In doing so, it reduced the number of affiliated teams from 162 to 120. Under the terms of the agreement, MLB cannot contract teams over the next five years, though it already was unlikely to do so, with the Professional Development League licenses all minor league franchises signed before the 2021 season lasting 10 years.

MiLB and MLBPA have reached a tentative 5-year deal that would give minor league players large pay raises and more rights.

Pay increases per year:

AAA: $17,500 to $35,800AA: $13,800 to $30,250High-A: $11,000 to $27,300Single-A: $11,000 to $26,200Complex league: $4,800 to $19,800