An unexpected baseball surprise…

This was an unexpected, but very plesant surprise. Despite having a great season this year, I was doubtful next season would be as good as the labor contract expired this coming December. I was pretty sure there going to be either a lock out or a strike, which I personally think was the last thing baseball truely needed with all their current successes and fan support. With a new five year contract in place, now fans can relax and start to look forward to next season without anything hanging over it for a change. It’s nice to see peace on the baseball labor front, and I’m glad to see that I was wrong about this issue as it seems owners and players were able to take care of things before the previous deal expires which is a first for baseball. Normally most deals have been made after the previous one expired, which was the cause for previous labor stoppages.

I’m sure many baseballs fans are excited, as am I. This is indeed good news and now I can worry about something more important concerning this sport, whcih is whether or not my jays can sign up some new starters which was a major problem this year. I don’t think the Jays should break the bank for players like Barry Zito. The Jays already have an ace and a good #2 pitcher in Roy Halladay and AJ Burnett. They need to sign someone to take the #3 and #5 spot in the rotation, and pitchers like Gil Meche and Mark Redman would do much better and be much cheaper. But then again, I doubt anyone knows who they are so I’ll shut up. I’m just excited to hear that the game won’t be going anywhere for a while, and I sure there are other ball fans out there who will agree with me there…

Now I can start making plans to visit a national league park when I go to Tennessee to visit my folks next year. I’m excited cause I think this will be Ethan’s first game and that will be one to remember. The only question will be to go to Atlanta or Cincinnati, maybe Cleveland again if we drive back to Ontario. I wouldn’t might seeing the Reds cause I hear that new ballpark is amazing, but I could live with any of them cause I’m dying to take Ethan to his first game. But at least I have one less hassle to worry about and kudos to the league and the players for putting differences aside and getting it done!

Peter

‘An historic agreement’

Labor peace in baseball assured through 2011

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Baseball players and owners proclaimed an unprecedented era of labor peace, finalizing a new five-year collective bargaining agreement Tuesday night before Game 3 of the World Series.

Lawyers struck the deal last weekend during negotiations in New York, then worked on putting it in writing. The agreement, which runs through the 2011 season, is subject to ratification by both sides.

“This is an historic agreement for Major League Baseball and is emblematic of the spirit of cooperation and trust that now exists between the clubs and players,” commissioner Bud Selig said. “We are in the midst of baseball’s golden age.”

The current contract, reached in August 2002, was set to expire Dec. 19. After eight work stoppages between 1972 and 1995, baseball will be assured of 16 years of labor peace.

“I think you always have a better relationship when both sides are making money,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said before the Tigers played St. Louis, with the Series tied at 1-1.

“That kind of always seems to work out in the end — doesn’t it? — for whatever reason, when the owner’s happy and putting a little in his pocket, and the player is happy and putting a little in his pocket. In our case, I guess in our game, a lot in both pockets.”

The deal continues, with minor modifications, existing luxury tax and revenue-sharing rules, provisions that funneled money from large-market teams to their competitors. The payroll threshold for the luxury tax increases from $136.5 million this year to $148 million next year, then goes up about 5 percent annually, a baseball official familiar with the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn’t been announced.

The minimum salary increases, from $327,000 this year to $380,000 next season, and amateur draft pick compensation for some free agents who sign with new teams, will be eliminated.

Also, teams that reach targets for revenue-sharing will be rewarded under the new agreement, and those that fail will be penalized.

With the new labor contract, baseball’s drug-testing rules also will be extended through the 2011 season. When the sides agreed to toughened drug-testing last November, they said that deal would run through the next labor contract.

Reprinted from CNN.com