The Baltimore Orioles are scheduled to open up their final home series of the season tonight against the Boston Red Sox. Ironically, the Birds not only began their home schedule against Boston, but a week prior opened the season against them at Fenway. That seems like a lifetime ago. Yet here we are at the end of the year.
The schedule says that the Orioles will open 2022 at home, back at Camden Yards against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 31st. This of course after a month’s worth of games in the Florida Grapefruit League. But the question is whether or not that’ll be the circumstance or whether it’ll be another circumstance in which the Birds will next play at Camden Yards.
This is sort of a preview of something that I’m afraid may be a big issue this off season. There’s labor unrest on the horizon, in the very near future. The collective bargaining agreement expires this year, which in theory puts next season in question. That’s not set in stone – the sides could reach a deal. But the reaching of a deal isn’t set in stone either.
I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of it now while there are still games going on. But once the post-season has ended this is something that’s going to start popping up in the news. And I will say this; a labor stoppage in baseball would be CRIPPLING to the league and it’s product. There’s already mistrust amongst the players and owners given the 60-game season that was forced on teams by the league last year due to the pandemic. And I suspect that the MLBPA won’t soon be forgetting that fact when the negotiations kick into high gear.
Nevertheless, the Boston series is set to open up tonight at Camden Yards. Bruce Zimmermann gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Chris Sale. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 