There should be a new NCiB drinking game for the number of times we say “league-imposed lock-out” in this episode. This week’s CBA negotiation update requires Patti to add yet another layer of complication to Rule 5 Draft, talk about ghost wins (they are a thing!), note that the player’s union is taking steps to protect stadium workers but as yet the League is all talk, and remind dear listeners that spring training and the regular season could have started on time, while negotiations are in progress, except for the, say it with us, “league-imposed lock-out.”

Pottymouth chooses Martín “Machete” Maldonado, and Patti highlights Kyle “Maybe MVP” Tucker as Astros boyfriends. For the Dodgers, both of us lean into the good guy and excellent significant other aspect of boyfriend selection with Pottymouth going with Chris Taylor and Patti selecting Matt Beaty. Our women in baseball segment notes Baseball For All's upcoming 1st Women's College Club Baseball Championship tournament, Mexico’s moves to start a league, and the Mets hire of Elizabeth Benn to direct Major League Operations. We crosstrain with women’s soccer to say it’s about damn time equal pay happenns, and with women’s basketball to share our concern and support for Brittney Griner, currently detained in Russia.

We say “our pal Bernie Sanders” and “The owners should suck it the hell up and write big honking checks.”

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