Listen Live

Day 99 of the Major League Baseball lockout was the final straw.

At last, we’ve got ourselves a deal. At times, the last four or five months felt like a never ending game of Plinko on The Price is Right. Negotiations winding and weaving through the big board looking like we may hit the jackpot, just to have the chip fall into the ‘zero’ section at the last second.

Back and better than ever? That’s to be determined.

There will always be people that say the latest work stoppage ended any and all love they had for the game. I have an Uncle that was a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan. The strike of 1994 halted any and all love he had for the Sox. He hasn’t watched baseball since.

For the most part, the fans will come back. Now it’s on the MLB to figure out how to sell the game to the younger generation. I’ve said many times that there is no sport or league in the world that likes to get in its own way more than Major League Baseball. It’s up to them to never have that happen again.

The new rules pushed by Rob Manfred toe the line about as much as is necessary. Having the designated hitter full time in the National League will push for more home runs and more competitive at-bats one through nine. Of course, that’s what the everyday fan wants.

But even more important is the decision to include 12 teams in postseason play. There’s one guy that this helps, and his name is Mike Trout. Trout is by far the best player in baseball. And by the time he retires, he might be considered the best to ever play from a skill standpoint.

Trout has played three playoff games in his entire life. They were in 2014.

That’s unacceptable if you’re the MLB and you want to sell your stars. Now it hands the Los Angeles Angels an opportunity. If they don’t want to compete, that’s on them. But the MLB has given them a larger window.

Major League Baseball returning relatively on time to play a full 162 games does impact Minor League Baseball slightly. We are fully prepared to play ball in South Bend, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne this season. But if the lockout stretched further, MiLB would be the only way Americans could get their baseball fix.

If you’re reading this across the state of Indiana, please come support your local teams. It’s important not only to the communities, organizations, and front office members, but the talent level that will be on display this year will be something else.

The South Bend Cubs will have a roster packed with the new young talent of the Chicago Cubs minor league system, as well many guys who were involved in that Yu Darvish trade.

The Indianapolis Indians have the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates right here in our own backyard. Some of the kids getting ready to get the call to Indy have superb potential. Top Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz absolutely hits the cover off the ball.

Lastly, the Fort Wayne TinCaps are affiliated with one of the most lethal farm systems that exists in baseball, the San Diego Padres. Interestingly, Brian Esposito, the longtime manager of the Indy Indians, is the new manger of the TinCaps. He took a development coaching position with the Padres this past year.

All three parks, Four Winds Field, Victory Field, and Parkview Field are tremendous in their own way. Please consider taking a trip to each.

Plus if you come to South Bend, you can hang with me in the booth.

Welcome back baseball. Let’s have ourselves a summer.

Leave a Reply