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Baseballs, Bats, Threaten To Strike
New York-Due to failed contract renegotiation and labour disputes, baseballs and bats used in the Major Leagues are threatening to go on strike, if their needs are not met my Friday.
"All we demand is a few extra stitches, and a bit less pine-tar," says a Rawlings 2002 official baseball. "Is that too much to ask?"
Fans everywhere were hit hard by the news, and the reaction has been less than positive. "I used to only throw the balls back if the opponent hit a homer," says Chicago resident and long-time Cubs’ fan George McCarver, "but now I don’t wanna keep the ball no matter who hits it out."
Major League Baseball owner’s voted unanimously to try and avoid striking, however the Major League Baseball Equipment Association seem staunch in their desire to walk-out. To prepare for such an event, baseball clubs throughout the league have begun stocking up on different brands of balls and bats, although these acts have been met with much remonstration from the MLBEA, who are calling the new, non-union balls ‘scabs’ and even ‘sell-outs.’
"We are hoping to reach an accord soon," said MLB commissioner Bud Selig, "but if we can’t come to a collective bargaining agreement, and the balls and bats do go on strike, the only people who will be losing out are the fans. We want to avoid a strike at all costs, but sometimes this isn’t possible."
If a strike is imminent, it will be the first of its kind in nearly three decades, when chewing gum walked out because of a shift in players’ preference towards tobacco.
It is expected that the MLBEA will be joined by the Gatorade Water Jug local 443, who have recently begun demanding that the number of times they get flipped over be reduced to two a game from four, as was previously agreed upon in their last contract.
The deadline for agreement may be pushed ahead until Monday, but as it stands now, Major League baseballs and bats will not be around for the 2002 post-season.
