Yes, I know there are a number of issues in and around Fishers worth writing about on this winter Sunday night.  I know the situation in Ukraine is tense and dangerous for the world.

But please excuse me if I take this time and space to write about something completely different.  The question is this – will the Major League Baseball regular season get underway on time in 2022?

I am no expert on labor relations in baseball, so I try to read people with some knowledge in this field.  Here is what I know so far.

The owners invoked a lockout.  That is a tactic employers use when they believe their employees may strike at an inopportune time, allowing the employer to stop operations on the employer’s timeline.

So, at a time when spring training should be well underway with spring training games set to begin, the camps in Florida and Arizona are quiet in 2022.  So, where does the dispute stand now?

The Major League Baseball owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association have exchanged some proposed contract language, but reporters with good sources covering this story are writing and saying that the two sides are so far apart, an outside mediator is likely not going to be called in to help.

Why do I write about this?  There was so much we missed during the early days of the pandemic, sporting events in-person and on television was something I missed.  Whatever might be happening everywhere else, I could always enjoy watching a baseball game.

If the owners and the players are unable to reach agreement, literally in the next few days, regular season opening day will be postponed.  As a long-time fan of the Cincinnati Reds, opening day in the Queen City is a huge celebration, with schools closed and a big celebration, including a big parade downtown.  As the first professional baseball team, Cincinnati is awarded a home game to open the season each year.

Losing Opening Day to a labor dispute could be a slide downward for a sport that has not been growing in recent years.  I find that sad, but all the data points to just that.

Owners and players, do not kill the goose that laid the golden egg.  Baseball fans have been patient and have always come back to the game (eventually).

As one long-time baseball fan, speaking for myself only, if baseball cannot solve this labor dispute, getting fans interested in the game again will not be easy.  Please, no more self-inflicted wounds.  Get an agreement.  Play ball on time in 2022.