Elephant Rumblings: MLB proposes 50-game season, players want more games

Good morning, Athletics Nation!

The last several days have been significant in our country’s history, and impossible to ignore. Amid nationwide protests over police brutality toward African Americans as a whole, and the May 25 killing of George Floyd in particular, the A’s released a statement on Sunday in support of the black community. Personally, I agree with their response and am happy to see them land on the right side of history, just as they did when they publicly supported Bruce Maxwell’s right to take a knee during the national anthem in 2017.

I closed the comments in that post about the team’s statement, but of course I know the topic will eventually come up, especially since I’m mentioning it again here in another post and even offered my opinion in the previous sentence. If choosing to discuss these highly emotional and sensitive issues on this site, please be respectful and follow our Community Guidelines; the comments section will be monitored extra heavily this week.

In the meantime, it might be quieter than usual around here the rest of the week, as it already has been the last couple days. So far it has felt wildly inappropriate for me to post much about sports. My intention is still to post at least a little bit this week, but it’s also possible I’ll change my mind on that.

Stay safe, my AN family.

***

Oh, as for the headline of this post, MLB and the players are still arguing over how to split up their millions. See the links in the MLB section for more, but the short version is that the players suggested 114 games, then the league countered at 50 games at full prorated salaries. So, the two sides still aren’t close at all. See the links in the MLB News section, as well as the Twitter section, for more details.

A’s Coverage:

• Hickey: As MLB, Players Figure Out a Schedule, the More Games the Better for the Athletics
• Hickey: Athletics Standing Alone With Decision Against Paying Minor League Stipends
• Hickey: Athletics Offer Support & Donation to Local Groups in Wake of Downtown Oakland Protests
• Hickey: The 1981 MLB Strike Season Was Tough on Most Teams, but Athletics Found Success
• Hickey: There’s No Telling Who Athletics Might Select in the June 10 Draft’s First Round
• Hickey: Rating the Athletics First-Round Draftees Since the 2000 Season
• Hickey: The Day Instant Replay Made its Way into Baseball’s National Consciousness
• Gallegos: A’s Top 5 lefty starters
• Hall: Oakland A’s release statement supporting black community, amid nationwide protests over police brutality
• Hall: Roy Steele, longtime Oakland A’s public address announcer, dies
• Hall: Vote: Best bullpen combo in Oakland A’s history

MLB News & Interest:

• Rosenthal and Drellich: After heated meeting on player pay, MLB threatens 50-game schedule ($$$)
• Byrne (roundup): Latest On MLB, MLBPA
• Rogers: Fewer games? Salary deferrals? Where MLB players and owners could find middle ground on 2020 season
• Sherman: MLB hostility worsens as Rob Manfred’s top aide, Tony Clark trade barbs
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

Bottom line of MLB’s proposal

Important detail of current talks, regarding health and safety

Here’s what the players want

Sean Doolittle and his teammates step up for the little guys when their billionaire boss won’t.

... and the public shame worked!

A’s reliever Jake Diekman speaks out on the current protests

Good news!