Unless you’ve been living off the grid you are aware of the collective bargaining trouble that has been suffered by the NBA, and to a lesser extent the NFL. Major League Baseball’s agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association expires December 11th, 2011. I was going to wait until later in the fall to write this article, but I saw a blog post by Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com that seems to indicate if I wait any longer it will be a moot point. A quick end to potential labor trouble is always good. Especially for a sport that has come a long way from it’s 1994 Strike, but still feels some lingering effects. You will still find people who refuse to give MLB any of their attention because of it. What I want to do for the duration of this article is highlight some of the issues that are being discussed in these negotiations. Then opine on what we as Royals fans should want to happen to give our team the best chance win. Do not confuse that with the best chance to make money.

Luxury Tax: The Luxury Tax does not extend beyond this CBA. The Luxury Tax will be extended, but it also have to me negotiated which means there might be some changes. You can debate whether Dayton Moore spends the money he does get wisely. But you can’t debate that the Luxury Tax has not helped the small market teams in MLB. I don’t think MLB’s revenue distribution system is as good as the NFL’s. However, neither side seems to be willing to push the issue in that direction so I’ll be happy with the status quo of the current Luxury Tax.

Moving a Team to the American League: Right now there are 16 teams in the National League, and 14 in the American League. Moving an NL team to the AL does make some sense in that you’d have more balance among the leagues and divisions. Reportedly a condition of approving Jim Crane as the new owner of the Astros is that the Astros would move the AL West. If I’m an Astros fan I hate this. That means the number of times my team starts at 9pm on their west coast road swing just doubled. An interesting thing about the schedule is that there would be at least one interleague series being played at all times. You can only pair up 14 teams into 7 series, not 15. This move would not take place until 2013.

As a Royals fan I’m indifferent to this. Yes, the 2011 Astros would make the Royals schedule easier. However, this Astros team is only 6 years removed from a World Series appearance.

Expanded Playoffs: Tied to moving the Astros to the AL is an expanded Wild Card. This is designed to put more emphasis on winning the division. The three division winners would be locked into the playoffs as they are now. Under the new format there would be two Wild Card teams in each league. There would be a one game Wild Card playoff and the winner would then move to the Division Series. Anything can happen in one game. If you plan on making a World Series run it’s best to win the division. Like the Astros move to the AL this would not happen until 2013.

As a Royals fan I think I like this. It would give the Royals more opportunity to get into the playoffs. However, I still prefer they win the division. I’m not sure I like it as a baseball fan in general. Hinging an entire season on game seems silly, but so does determining home field in the World Series by an exhibition game.

International Player Draft: There has been some discussion about this in the negotiations. It seems not to be a big deal for either side. If I were an owner I would be pushing for this. As a Royals fan I’m in huge favor of an International Draft. Right now signing international players is just like free agency which the Royals will never win. The Royals did sign Noel Arguelles. That’s just one battle. Don’t think the Royals will ever win that war. If an international draft were established so could a uniform process for teams to establish true identities and immigration status for the players involved.

Hard Slotting in the Amateur Draft: Currently MLB has “recommended” slot money for teams to follow in the Amateur Draft. However, not many teams follow the “recommendation”. Under the proposed “hard cap” teams would not negotiate with the draft picks. Teams would have no choice but to offer slot money. But unlike the NBA, NHL & NFL, an MLB draftee has several options including going to college to improve their draft stock, or sign with an Independent League and re-enter the draft a year later.

As a Royals fan I’m usually supportive of issues that will help level the playing field with larger market teams. However, in this case I do not think hard slotting would benefit the Royals. Michael Lewis’ book Moneyball popularized the term “market inefficiency”. The Royals found a “market inefficiency” in the draft by taking good players who fell to lower rounds because other teams were afraid of their contract demands. That’s how their farm system improved faster than others. The Royals aren’t afraid to spend money in the draft, and at last check the Royals have spent the most money on draft picks over the last several seasons. This is based on the theory that paying draft picks big money is less expensive than paying free agents big money. This is essentially “The Process”. A hard slotting system takes this market inefficiency away from the Royals. Wil Myers and John Lamb are not in the Royals system right now if there is hard slotting. I would bet Bubba Starling stays at Nebraska in such as system

Hard slotting would save the owners money on unproven players. The MLBPA doesn’t want to represent players not on the 40-Man Roster. I can’t see how this system does not get approved. A lot of how the Royals react will depend in the nuances that are negotiated in such a system.

Trading Draft Picks: I haven’t seen this discussed in my research on the current CBA issues. It is probably not up for discussion. Currently MLB teams cannot use draft picks as compensation in a trade. I think having the ability to trade draft picks would help small market teams like the Royals as it opens up another avenue to get a high priced player that a small market team might not otherwise afford with money or prospects.

Major League Baseball often looks buffoonish when comparing it’s management to other leagues. However, on the subject of labor peace it appears Major League Baseball is leading the way. If this new CBA longer than three years is will mean MLB will have at least 20 years of no work stoppages. None of the other leagues can say that. Despite what some NFL Elitist would like you to believe baseball is relevant. Attendance was up for the 2011 season, and according to estimates Major League Baseball experienced record revenue in 2010. Surely the players and owners can find a away to split $7.2 Billion in revenue? The answer to that question appears to be: Yes! While it’s great that the league as a whole appears to be healthy, what I really want to know is can the Royals thrive during the new agreement.

The following is a press release from the St. Louis Cardinals organization concerning last week’s “Teams Unite For Joplin” effort.

CARDINALS CARE RAISES $200,000 TO HELP KIDS OF JOPLIN
Team thanks fans for generously supporting “Teams Unite for Joplin” Effort

ST. LOUIS, MO (June 28, 2011) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced that their charitable foundation Cardinals Care raised $200,000 to help the children of Joplin recover from one of the most destructive tornadoes in Missouri history.

The fundraising was part of the joint “Teams Unite for Joplin” effort with the Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association which dedicated the three-game series at Busch Stadium (Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19) to raise awareness and money to help Joplin.

“We appreciate our fans generously supporting this important effort,” said Cardinals President William DeWitt III. “We also appreciate our players, manager, front office staff and our business partners doing their part to help Joplin.”

The Cardinals broadcast partners Fox Sports Midwest and KMOX 1120AM helped raise over $100,000 through first-ever broadcast auctions of once-in-a-lifetime Cardinals experiences. In addition to Cardinals Care volunteers collecting money at the gates, the team’s concessionaire Sportservice sold commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” patches, the team’s ticketing partner Tickets.com assisted with taking phone donations and Major League Baseball Advanced Media helped with collecting on-line donations, as well as conducting an on-line auction of autographed and game used items from the weekend that wrapped up on Sunday.

“This was a team effort all the way around, with everyone joining in to help Joplin,” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations & Cardinals Care. “Tony La Russa, Whitey Herzog and Lou Brock deserve co-MVPs for each agreeing to double their contribution to help the kids of Joplin.”

Each agreed to double their auction experience contributions as Cardinals Care was able to convince three under bidders to match the winning bids on three VIP experiences.

“It is also important to recognize our Winter Warm-Up hotel partner the Hyatt Regency St. Louis, as well as Kyle McClellan, Mike Matheny, Mike Shannon, John Rooney, Al Hrabosky, Dan McLaughlin and Rick Horton for generously supporting this important effort,” Hall said.

For the first time, Cardinals Care also collected donations via text message with thousands of fans texting to support the effort.

The May 22nd twister that hit Joplin was classified as an EF-5 tornado, the most powerful tornado possible. The storm left 153 dead, put more than 500 people into shelters at its peak and destroyed nearly 7,000 homes, businesses and schools.

While the recovery needs in Joplin are multiple and extensive in the wake of the tornado, Cardinals Care established the Joplin Recovery Fund to help the thousands of Joplin area children impacted by the disaster. Cardinals Care will work in the coming months to identify specific youth-oriented investment needs in Joplin as the community continues the process of recovering and rebuilding.

In the meantime, fans can still help by donating on-line at cardinals.com/Joplin or by texting the word JOPLIN to 32020.

Cardinals Care is dedicated to caring for kids. Since it was founded in 1997, Cardinals Care has distributed over $17 million to area non-profit youth organizations, built 19 youth ball fields in local disadvantaged neighborhoods and currently serves over 4,500 kids in the Redbird Rookies program.

You can download a copy of this press release in PDF format by clicking here.

Cardinals Announce “Teams Unite for Joplin” Details
Cardinals Care establishes special fund to help the kids of Joplin
Team asks Cardinals Nation to generously support united effort with the Royals, MLB & MLB PA

ST. LOUIS, MO (June 16, 2011) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced details about “Teams Unite for Joplin”, this weekend’s collaborative effort with the Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to help the Joplin community recover and rebuild after the deadliest tornado in American history.

A number of activities are planned throughout the three-game series at Busch Stadium (Friday June 17 – Sunday, June 19), as well as after the series to help raise money and awareness for the Joplin recovery effort.

“We are committed to being there for the Joplin community as they recover and rebuild,” said William DeWitt III, President of the Cardinals. “The needs of the community are multiple and extensive, and we want to do our part to encourage widespread support for the relief efforts among our fans.”

The Cardinals are directing their fundraising efforts to their charitable foundation Cardinals Care to help the thousands of Joplin area children impacted by the May 22nd tornado.

“We have all been moved by the heartbreaking images and stories coming out of Joplin” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations & Cardinals Care. “We’ve also been inspired by the community’s courage, resilience and resolve. We set up this fund to help the many children whose lives have been forever changed by this tragedy. We hope our fans will be generous with their support.”

The weekend’s series will commence with a special first pitch ceremony that includes Danielle Campbell and Mikaila Craig, outfielders from the 2011 Joplin High School Eagles softball team who both lost their homes to the tornado. During the first inning of Saturday night’s game, eighteen members of the Eagles baseball team will also take part in a special tribute to Joplin High School, which was also destroyed by the tornado.

Throughout the weekend, all Cardinals and Royals players will wear a special commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” jersey patch. Fans will be able to purchase the patch for $10 at the Cardinals team store at Busch Stadium, at Kauffman Stadium and at both teams’ web sites and MLB.com while supplies last, with all proceeds going to the Joplin recovery efforts.

Fans can donate directly to Cardinals Care’s Joplin recovery fund at www.cardinals.com/joplin or by calling the Cardinals 314.345.9000 charge line. Fans can also donate $10 to the Cardinals Care Joplin Recovery fund by texting the word “Joplin” to 32020.

Fans will also have multiple other opportunities throughout the weekend and after the series to assist with the Joplin recovery efforts. Details about the weekend are available at www.cardinals.com/joplin.

Today, the Kansas City Royals opened an on-line auction of “Teams Unite for Joplin” items on the Royals’ web site (www.royals.com/joplin) with all proceeds benefiting Royals Charities disaster relief efforts. Fans can bid on Royals game-used and autographed items that include commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” baseballs, game-used bases and lineup cards.

The Royals will also host a jersey day scratch off raffle on Saturday June 25th giving their fans the chance to win an authentic, game-used Royals player jersey from this weekend bearing the “Teams Unite for Joplin” patch. All the proceeds from the raffle with benefit the Royals Charities Joplin disaster relief efforts. What follows are the highlight’s of this weekend’s activities at Busch Stadium.

Friday, June 17, 2011
· Cardinals Care volunteers will collecting donations outside each gate as fans enter the ballpark.

· Beginning at 4PM, KMOX will be broadcasting live outside Gate 3, as they host a live on-air auction of “Once-In-A-Lifetime Cardinals Experiences” to benefit the kids of Joplin. The auction will take place throughout the afternoon, during the pre-game show and during the game broadcast. The “Once-In-A-Lifetime Cardinals Experiences” packages include an Ultimate Day at Busch Stadium, Live the Life of An Owner, Assistant GM for A Game and the Shannon-Rooney Experience. Bids on all items start at $2,500 in honor of Tony La Russa managing his 2,500th game in a Cardinals uniform Friday night. Fans will bid on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences by calling toll free 1.800.925.1120. Auction item details are available at www.cardinals.com/joplin.

· FOX Sports Midwest will host a live telecast auction of “Once-In-A-Lifetime Cardinals Experiences” to benefit the kids of Joplin. The auction will commence at 6:30 PM during the pre-game show and conclude during the eighth inning. The “Once-In-A-Lifetime Cardinals Experiences” include A Tony La Russa VIP experience; a Private Dinner with Hall of Famer Lou Brock; a Pitching Lesson with Kyle McClellan; a Broadcast Experience; a B.P. on TV Experience with Mike Matheny and an Ultimate Game Day Employee Experience which includes the opportunity to be a member of grounds crew, serve as the PA announcer for a ½ inning and shoot t-shirts into the stands with Fredbird. Bids on all items start at $2,500 in honor of Tony La Russa managing his 2,500th game in a Cardinals uniform Friday night. Fans will bid on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences by calling 314.345.9418. Auction item details are available at www.cardinals.com/joplin

· The Cardinals plan a variety of in-stadium and in-broadcast education and fundraising efforts, including encouraging fans to donate directly at www.cardinals.com/joplin and at the Cardinals 314.345.9000 charge line. Fans can also donate $10 by texting the word “Joplin” to 32020.

· Fans can purchase the commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” patch for $10 at the Cardinals team store at Busch Stadium while supplies last, with all proceeds going to the Joplin recovery efforts.

Saturday, June 18, 2011
· The Cardinals will launch a special on-line auction at www.cardinals.com/joplin . Fans will have the opportunity bid on Cardinals game-used and autographed items that include commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” baseballs, game-used bases and lineup cards. The auction will close on Sunday, June 26th at 8:00 P.M. Central Time.

· The Cardinals plan a variety of in-stadium and in-broadcast education and fundraising efforts, including encouraging fans to donate directly at www.cardinals.com/joplin and at the Cardinals 314.345.9000 charge line. Fans can also donate $10 by texting the word “Joplin” to 32020.

· Fans can purchase the commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” patch for $10 at the Cardinals team store at Busch Stadium while supplies last, with all proceeds going to the Joplin recovery efforts.

Sunday, June 19, 2011 – Cardinals Care Jersey Day
· Fans may purchase a $1 scratch off ticket for a chance to win an autographed game-used jersey from the weekend series autographed by the Cardinals player. Proceeds from the sale of the scratch off tickets will benefit Prostate Cancer research, Cardinals Care and the Joplin Recovery effort.

· The Cardinals plan a variety of in-stadium and in-broadcast education and fundraising efforts, including encouraging fans to donate directly at www.cardinals.com/joplin and at the Cardinals 314.345.9000 charge line. Fans can also donate $10 by texting the word “Joplin” to 32020.

· Fans can purchase the commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” patch for $10 at the Cardinals team store at Busch Stadium while supplies last, with all proceeds going to the Joplin recovery efforts.

The May 22nd twister that hit Joplin was classified as an EF-5 tornado, the most powerful tornado possible. The storm left 153 persons dead, put more than 500 people into shelters at its peak and destroyed 6,953 houses, buildings and schools.

Cardinals Care is dedicated to caring for kids. Since it was founded in 1997, Cardinals Care has distributed over $17 million to area non-profit youth organizations, built 19 youth ball fields in local disadvantaged neighborhoods and currently serves over 4,500 kids in the Redbird Rookies program.

Download this press release in PDF format by clicking here.

The following is a press release from the St. Louis Cardinals organization:

CARDINALS TO HELP WITH JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS
Cardinals Care, Stadium Fan Donation Drive & MLB Auction to Aid Victims

ST. LOUIS (April 13, 2011) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that the team will conduct an on-line ticket auction, collect fan donations at the gate before a game and make a donation to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Japan and Tsunami in the Pacific.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Japan as they rebuild their lives in the wake of this terrible tragedy,” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Cardinals Care and Community Relations. “This is a nice opportunity for fans to help.”

Cardinals Care is making a $5,000 donation to Save the Children, an organization focused on helping children impacted by the disaster. Fans can get involved by participating in a special on-line auction or making a donation at one of Busch Stadium’s six gates as they enter the ballpark for the team’s April 23^rd game against the Reds.

The Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Auction will begin 10 A.M. Monday, April 18 at mlb.com. Fans will have a chance to bid on an exclusive ticket package for four (4) Cardinals tickets, good for any Monday through Thursday home game, complete with a pre-game field visit and an opportunity to get their photograph taken in the Cardinals dugout.

All proceeds from the stadium collection and on-line auction will go to UNICEF to assist the people of Japan recover and rebuild. The auction is part of a joint effort with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

–STL–