Monday Bird Droppings: Where MLB wants a shorter season, again

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! Did you spend yesterday, as I did, playing in the snow and drinking hot chocolate? It was a nice snow storm even if didn’t live up to my expectations, accumulation-wise.

In yesterday’s edition of Bird Droppings, CC head honcho Mark Brown noted (as he usually does during the offseason) that there were 60 days remaining until Opening Day 2021. As of now that hasn’t changed, but we got the news over the weekend that MLB proposed to the players union a 154-game season that starts a month later and ends a week later, and includes expanded playoffs among other things.

If that proposal goes through, it would push back the start of spring training to March 22nd and Opening Day to April 28th. It’s not expected, however, to be approved by the players union. They want the full season, citing the fact that they were able to get in a full 60-game season last year, so they should be able to do 162 now that they know how to manage it.

I don’t want the start of baseball season to be delayed, but I don’t want things to move forward if it can’t be done safely. I don’t know the answer, but it’s hard for me to think either MLB or the union are negotiating solely for reasons of safety and what is best for the country.

When the whole country shut down last March I never would have guessed we’d have two years of weird baseball ahead of us. Although that’s just one of many things I wouldn’t have imagined at that time.

Links

On the passing of a great reporter and an even better person - Steve Melewski
The sad news came in over the weekend about the death of Mel Antonen. Steve Melewski remembers his friend and former colleague.

Royals sign infielder Hanser Alberto to a minor league deal - Royals Review
Hanser Alberto was a bright spot in Baltimore while he was here, I wish him the best of luck with the Royals.

Former Orioles pitcher Scott Erickson charged with reckless driving - Baltimore Sun
This is such a sad and tragic story about the death of two young boys. Erickson was drag racing with a woman whose car struck and killed two brothers as they crossed the street in a crosswalk.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share a birthday with former Oriole Paul Blair. Blair played center field for the Orioles from 1974-76. Blair won eight Gold Gloves in his time with the Orioles and back in December he was named by this website the eighth-best Oriole of all time. Paul Blair passed way on December 26, 2013 at the age of 69.

Also born on this day in history are former Orioles Joe Mahoney (34), who appeared in two games for the 2012 wild card Orioles; Rich Becker (49), whose eight-year major-league career included 79 games with the 1998 Orioles; and Kent Mercker (53), who made 14 starts for the 1996 Orioles before being traded to Cleveland for Eddie Murray.

On this day in 2010, former Orioles’ broadcaster Jon Miller was named the Ford Frick winner, the highest award given to baseball broadcasters by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Well deserved!