Baseball's Brave New World?

Our Peerless Leader, El Duque, raises some typically thoughtful—and also dire—concerns about the game's future.  I think they are well-warranted.  But there could also be some upsides to this.

Will the minor leagues die?  Maybe, as we know them.  But MLB was about to kill them anyway.

Perhaps we could revert to an earlier incarnation of the minors, one in which the teams are independently owned, and sell players to the major to support themselves.  The possibilities for exploitation are manifest here, too, of course.  But also, maybe it's past time for minor leaguers to have their own union, and fight for their rights.

Minor-league players could become free agents after each year—and sign with whomever the hell they please.

Will the MAJOR leagues die?  Maybe, as we know them.  And that wouldn't necessarily be so bad, either.

Maybe, if the owners try to use this to clamp down on salaries and players' rights, players should revive an idea that almost worked way back in 1890, and start their own league.  It should be easier than ever, what with all the money the players have now.

Hire a few lawyers, take on a few investors, and...voila!  Even if the existing teams are able to lock them out of major-league stadia, the REAL major leaguers can set up elsewhere.

The 1890 Players' League pretty much killed one of the two, pre-existent major leagues at the time—the old American Association—and almost finished off the National League as well.  This time, they might succeed.

I don't know about you guys, but I love the idea of the New York Jeters dominating the new players' league.

Will anyone go?  No, not at these prices, anymore—I think Duque is right.  But to revise the entire pricing structure of the game would be a good thing, too.

Picture a world in which players average "only" a couple hundred thousand or so in salary every season, and ownership profits drop into the low millions, instead of billions.  Boo-hoo.

It would be a nice dose of reality in a sport that has all but gilded itself to death.  Fans might become closer to the players, the players might stop all the drugging, and the owners might be forced to treat the fans decently again.

All good.