My initial reaction, wow.  I had no idea Blake Snell sounded like that.  You know how you have a voice in your head for someone before you know what they actually sound like? Well, that was not it.  After I moved past this trauma, I began to focus on what he was actually saying. 

To fully appreciate what Snell is getting at it requires a bit of knowledge on what exactly the owners proposed.  A smarter man than I has already done that, so I won’t attempt to do so.  Go read that and educate yourself. I’ll wait here.  Now that you are smart we can proceed. 

The video is a little over 2 minutes long and it’s worth watching the whole thing.  I think the most important point he brings up comes at the 1:28 mark.  Here, he touches on the most important part of why the owners’ proposal was bullshit.  To paraphrase, he says, why would I risk my life and be isolated from my loved ones for less money? 

Who Can I Blame?

I think even the most pro-owner fans (Do they exist?  If so, what happened?  Who hurt you?) can agree that the players should at minimum be given their prorated salaries for the amount of games they play.  The per game check should not deviate from what it would have been for a full season.  They are still fulfilling their contractual obligation to perform, albeit for a shorter amount of time. But they are still playing the game the same as always.  Still three outs an inning.  Still nine innings a game.

The players continue to open themselves up to the same risks all professional athletes have of an injury that could derail a career or cost them millions of prospective future dollars.  On top of that, they are exposing themselves to a virus we don’t seem to have a handle on yet.  Oh yeah, they also would need to be isolated from their loved ones the entire time.  For me, that’s no problem. I love being alone. But, for normal well adjusted human beings, that is no way to live. 

The argument could even be made for them to receive something similar to a hazard pay increase for the new risks they would be taking on.  I get why that won’t be happening because the owners are not about to pay more than they already agreed upon when they are making less on ticket sales, etc.  This is the owners argument for why they should be able to pay the players less.  To that I say, tough shit.  The players signed a contract that both sides agreed to.  They should get that money.  If your bottom line takes a hit that’s your problem.  It’s either capitalism or it’s not.  You can’t pick and choose that it applies only when it benefits you. 

The Owners, I Blame The Owners

So, basically, I am one million percent on the side of Snell.  I think what he said is the widely held feeling amongst players.  Though you don’t see many players in any sport speaking so candidly about this type of thing and I get why.  This makes it all the more impressive that he spoke out publicly.  As a fan, I appreciate that.  Most of the time we just want to know what is happening.  Honesty and transparency goes a long way.  Who woulda thought?

I think public opinion is a little too far against the players.  Really a brilliant move by the owners to propose something they knew was a bad deal that would be rejected.  The players rejecting anything makes them look like they don’t want to get back on the field.  They want it just as bad as we do.  They just want theirs. Chalk up another K for Blake.