Thread by @EugeneFreedman

Today the Commissioner will hold a press event to say that spring training will be delayed & he will try to place the blame on MLBPA.

He's the one who wanted to jumpstart negotiations-then his side took a 43 day Christmas vacation. Now, they are refusing to make a proposal. 1/

He's also the one who hid the fact that MLB was playing with two different baseballs last year.

Media should press him on management's delays in the bargaining process. Why are they refusing to counter? Why are they not meeting regularly? Why won't they address many issues? 2/

The Union has proposed expanding the playoffs and reinstating the CBT, management's top two interests. Yet, management won't discuss the Union interests of changing the revenue sharing scheme or earlier access to arbitration. Why not? When will they begin negotiating in earnest?

MLB can end the lockout today. They do not need a new agreement in order to begin spring training on time. The law ensures continuity. The expired CBA's terms and conditions would continue in effect in the absence of a lockout. The JDA would ensure player drug testing in the 4/

absence of a lockout. The lockout is what is preventing spring training from beginning on time. The lockout is a discretionary management tactic that prevents employees from working. The Union has no say in a lockout. The employees did not decide not to work. He can cancel 5/

the lockout at his press conference today. He can cancel the lockout tomorrow. It's 100% in his court. He is the one postponing spring training. He is the one who will be canceling games. An agreement is not required to play games. Only the lifting of the lockout is required.