ST. GEORGE — Baseball may be America’s pastime, but fans are being forced to find another way to pass the time these days.
As a result of the ongoing Major League Baseball owners’ lockout and continued unsuccessful negotiations between MLB and the players’ union, the regular season and spring training have been delayed, stadiums sit empty and fans are left wondering if they will ever hear the words “Play Ball” come spring.
Several St. George residents who are self-confessed baseball fanatics would like nothing more than to chomp on a stadium hot dog on a sunny afternoon and root for their heroes.
“One of the great things about baseball is that it transcends history,” said Jay Lane, a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan who grew up in Maine but has lived in Southern Utah for over 30 years.
Lane and his wife Melissa had planned to attend spring training games in Florida but have changed their itinerary since the Grapefruit League teams have yet to take the field.
Similarly, John and Stefanie Eggett, who are avid Los Angeles Dodgers fans and live and work in St. George, have scrapped plans for their annual pilgrimage to Phoenix and the Camelback Ranch-Glendale baseball complex.
John Eggett said that in some ways, the pre-season workouts and games are better than the regular season.
“Spring training is really the ultimate fan experience,” John Eggett said. “You get to watch every aspect of the game, from batting practice to pitching warm-up. You can interact with the players on a personal level, and you have the opportunity to watch players who are on their way to playing in the show, giving 100% effort.
“It’s affordable and in a setting that recalls the early days of baseball – smaller stadiums, stronger fan base and quiet afternoon games. I also have lots of great memories; when my kids were younger, they were able to watch their favorite players and get a few autographs.”
As of Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that the Major League Baseball Players’ Association and the league’s owners failed to reach an agreement, thus causing the cancellation of the first two series of the regular season. These games were to begin on March 31. The league previously had canceled spring training contests, the first pitch slated for March 8.
The two sides endured a 16.5-hour negotiation session Monday in Jupiter, Florida, and worked past the midnight lockout deadline. They reconvened Tuesday at 9 a.m., and the owners offered their final proposal, but talks broke off at around 3 p.m., just short of the 5 p.m. deadline.
At stake, according to the Associated Press, is revenue sharing. For example, the players’ union is asking for a significant pay increase for rookies, from the current $570,000 to $775,000. The owners originally offered $615,000. They upped it to $700,000 on Tuesday, but the players rejected the new figure.
While the sides have agreed on one item – the universal designated hitter rule – they remain hundreds of millions of dollars apart on such key items as salary arbitration and the pre-arbitration bonus pool, shared tax compensation and the amateur draft.
Steve Johnson, Dixie State University associate athletics director for media relations, wrote in an email to St. George News that he would prefer the work stoppage be brief.
“We all hope that the Major League Baseball owners and Commissioner Manfred can work with the MLBPA to end this lockout sooner rather than later so that no more regular season games are lost,” Johnson said.
But as both sides walk away from the bargaining table, fans such as the Lanes and the Eggetts are left wondering: Who’s to blame, and what do we do to fill the void?
“Deadlock requires both sides to compromise,” said Lane, adding that he believes blame for the delay of the season is “50-50” between owners and players.
Similarly, John Eggett said there is shared responsibility.
“I think the brunt of the delay should be held mostly by MLB, though the players’ union should also bear some of the blame, as the majority of the players want to be back on the field playing,” he said. “But the politics and tactics of both organizations have continued to hold up the process.”
John Eggett added that he believes the stalemate is a byproduct of MLB continuing to “lose track of what baseball is supposed to be about,” adding that owners have “lost interest in what the fans care about, turning their focus to the almighty dollar. Without baseball this year, I suppose I’ll find other entertainment.”
Until both sides come to an agreement and the players report for preseason workouts and exhibition games, Lane said he’ll likely fill the void by spending more time with his horses and reminiscing about some of his favorite players – and the days of old.
“Reliving the past can fill a temporary void and create hope for a delayed future,” Lane said.
But Johnson reminded baseball fans that they do have a viable option, and it’s right in their own backyard.
“In the interim, our Trailblazer baseball program plays an exciting brand of baseball and there’s no better venue to watch a college baseball game than Bruce Hurst Field,” he said. “The Trailblazers are off to a solid start to the 2022 season and we would love to welcome all baseball fans here in Southern Utah to come out to the ballpark to see a game, especially this weekend as we open our second season of Western Athletic Conference play at Bruce Hurst Field against in-state rival Utah Valley.”
The first pitch Friday is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Games continue Saturday-Sunday at 2:05 p.m. and 12:05 p.m., respectively. Ticket prices range $5-8.
And high school baseball will be in full swing with the first contests beginning Monday, March 7. A complete schedule can be viewed on the Utah High School Activities Association web site.
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