The players have had a lot of chances to put an end to the service time manipulation and they haven't.

Overall pay has shrunk because teams have used analytics that show how quickly players decline into their 30’s. And given service time lock ups, many guys are hitting free agency in their late 20’s. The chance for a second big free agent contract is mostly out the window as teams have gotten smarter about the value of a 33 year old slugger against a cost controlled prospect.

And obviously certain big market teams had to reset the punitive payroll tax.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I am not saying take it off of the table, of course use it as a bargaining chip. I am just not sure I would play that card when the short season is implemented. I just think public perception is heavy on their side currently, you don't want to lose that.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Anyone blaming the players is flat out wrong.

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Well now that teams aren't paying many people after they become free agents after 30 maybe they will try to change that.

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Plus the luxury tax acts as a salary cap without a floor. The average MLB career is now under 4 years too by design.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

This is all your fault, you planned the damn White Sox tailgate and sent the whole world spiraling downhill.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Yep

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

#TerribleAmerican

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

FAKE NEWS!

Very NASTY!

Very SAD!

LAW & ORDER!

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You have no decency, shame!!!

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

The players would be better with a cap and having a floor. Teams make a ton of money while trying to lose.

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We don't know the players will file a grievance until Manfred mandates the season. Why won't he? Up to now, the perception is the owners are to blame. Once he says "Play ball", and the players file a grievance, THEY now are to blame.

So why won't he mandate? Because the owners want as few regular season games as possible. I thought Manfred was going to be a real commissioner, but I was wrong. He's a toady. He actually is going to sit by and watch the destruction of baseball.

I believe Rick has said this a bunch, but it is revenue sharing. Then both sides just try to grow the pie. The cap hasn’t been much of an issue in the NFL and NBA.

I think fully guaranteed contracts are also an issue, although appearing to benefit the players, it means unproductive and hurt players are getting paid while sucking up a team’s payroll dollars.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

???

Analytics and MLB itself has destroyed baseball. The players just play.

Analytics has made it less entertaining. Same thing in the NBA. I don’t like the hit a homer or shoot a three at any cost approach. But to each his own.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Oh, you'll find no disagreement from me there. Just this particular situation is the player's fault.

I have seen a few articles on the Braves financial results since they are publicly disclosed in Liberty Media’s public filings. As I suspected based on financials, I have reviewed for sports teams in the past, there is a lot of non cash charges for depreciation and amortization. For those not familiar with accounting rules, those non cash charges account for money spent previously on fixed assets and acquisitions. They are often discounted by analysts, but they represent real costs that have already been incurred. With that, here is the last three years:

Revenues (in millions)
2019- 476
2018- 442
2017- 386

Pretax income/loss
2019- (39)
2018- 1
2017- (113)

Income before non cash expenses:
2019- 49
2018- 88
2017- 2

So even if you use the broad metric of income, they are not making that much relative to the value of the franchise, i.e. a very low return on investment. The entire value of these franchises is simply the ability to sell them at a higher price. But on an annual cash flow basis, there is not much there at least with the Braves.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Sell! Many takers

Do they have separate corporate entities that sell the beer and handle the parking, etc.?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

No, it is included in the group results. Here is the disclosure.

Revenue includes amounts generated from Braves Holdings’ baseball and development operations. Baseball revenue is derived from three primary sources: ballpark operations (ticket sales, concessions, corporate sales, retail, suites and premium seat fees), local broadcast rights and national broadcast rights, licensing and other shared Major League Baseball (“MLB”) revenue streams. Development revenue is derived from the mixed-use facilities and primarily includes rental income. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, revenue increased $34 million and $56 million, respectively, as compared to the corresponding prior years. Baseball revenue per game increased in 2019 due to increases in ballpark operations revenue, driven by increases in attendance, and revenue from local and national broadcasting rights. In addition, one additional postseason home game contributed to higher baseball revenue in 2019.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Let's not over-complicate this....there is no shortage of wealthy elitists that would love to own an MLB team. You show me a franchise for sale, and there will be a line of people interested in buying.

If there wasn't immediate and long-term financial gain to be had.....they wouldn't sell. The rest is just financial gymnastics.

/thread

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Both are at fault. Why shouldn't the players take a hit for no fans in the stands?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah it is like when the Blackhawks were claiming losses during the Stanley Cup years.

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I suspect there are some highly levered ownership groups out there that the banks won't give them any more money to. and the partners aren't willing to dig into their own pockets to make payroll. cash flow problems. as is, there's no money coming in but none going out either.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

People buy for the ego. Would you invest a million dollars a year to profit 1,000 per year? No.

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Elections have consequences.

Why shouldn't the players taste the profits when there are MANY fans in the stands? You're arguing for losses to be socialized but profits are OK to be enjoyed primarily by owners.

Thirty years from now, will it be considered quaint that teams in the four major sports were spread out all over the country, and that people bought season tickets?

The NBA and NHL scenarios are going to put this to the test. At what point do we have contraction back down to 16 teams without "homes", but more of an IceCube Big3 type setup where the star players run their own teams, there is a semi-barnstorming approach, and there are measures in place to prevent fixing games?

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Because they do not get bonuses when revenue goes up more than anticipated.

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Exactly. The owners didn't split the 100 mil they each got from the app with the players. But they want the players to share the downside. Ridiculous.

And look, I don't feel sorry for the players. Most of them are asswipes too. But the current situation is 100% the fault of the owners.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don