As spring training approaches, the uncertainty remains in MLB

Welcome to February. The month, we think, when teams will report to spring training in Florida and Arizona. Orioles pitchers and catchers remain scheduled to report to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Feb. 16. The first spring training game is set for Feb. 27. Opening day is scheduled for April 1 at Boston.

And that's no joke.

Those are the dates as of this morning. It's all subject to change, of course. We're still in a pandemic. Most teams still could not sell tickets to any fans if they had a home game today. Not only are we not back to normal, it's not even close at this point.

But the start of spring training is close. Unless there is a delay. And if they push spring training back, they should probably get around to announcing that, like, any minute now.

But as of today, not only do we not know for sure that spring training will start on time, we don't know how many games teams will be able to play during the 2021 season. Yes, we do know there is a schedule out and 162 games are planned. We don't even know roster sizes or if a designated hitter will be used again in each league. We don't know the format for the playoffs.

So what the heck do we know?

We know that we hope to know more and real soon. We hope.

On Sunday, Yahoo! Sports reported that Major League Baseball had proposed a 154-game season to the MLB Players Association on Friday that will include full pay as if there were 162 games. The plan would delay the start of the season by a month to around May 1. That would push the start of spring training back. It would extend the regular season, per reports, by only about one week. That must indicate we'd see quite a few seven-inning doubleheaders. MLB also sought an expanded postseason, presumably to produce greater revenue in a year where we might not see the fans again - at least not at the start in most places.

This proposal looks positive. It has full pay for players, extra postseason TV revenue for owners and a delayed start to the season for both that should mean more vaccinations for all, making it safer for everyone involved to start the season.

What is not to like? Something apparently, as this story from USA Today indicates the MLBPA will reject this proposal. If you are wondering why the players and owners can seemingly never come to an agreement in advance of deadlines, I would say you ask a very fair question. They always seem to wait to the 11th hour.

The USA Today story reports that commissioner Rob Manfred would retain authority to suspend the season for health reasons. It reports that the later spring training start date would be March 22 and the new opening day would be April 28. The playoffs would include 14 teams.

Players are reportedly balking at an expanded postseason with a belief that if teams realize they can win fewer games and still make the postseason, there is less incentive to sign free agents and spend money. I say the players' side is overthinking this one. With more playoff spots, wouldn't that also make it possible that some teams want to add talent to be able to play around .500 ball and make the postseason?

My argument to the players would be that you're getting an extra month to stay home with your family before spring training starts. You are getting 162 games worth of pay for 154. You get a cut of the postseason revenue, which will be increased. Nelson Cruz might chime in with how much he likes the fact that now a few NL teams can fight over his 2021 services.

Do we have to find a problem with everything in this game?

Baseball is heading into another season greatly impacted by a pandemic. No one in the game could have foreseen all this and no one in the game is to blame for any of it, said Captain Obvious.

So now we await the start of spring training. It could be this month. Maybe.

Happy Hanser heads to the Royals: After two seasons and 193 games with the Orioles, where he hit a combined .299/.322/.413, infielder Hanser Alberto has signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. The Orioles chose to non-tender Alberto, who could have gotten anywhere from a projected $2.3 million to $4.1 million in arbitration. The O's had left the door open for a possible reunion, but this news puts an end to that. Smiling and happy Hanser is headed to K.C.

Loss of a friend: Mel Antonen had an amazing career writing about baseball, and proved to be an amazing friend to many of us. Our friend passed away over the weekend and the loss hit hard. I wrote this about my friend, Mel.