Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

After 88 grueling days, MLB and the MLBPA find themselves right back where they stared. Contentious and public negotiations dragged on, but the sides ultimately will move forward under the March agreement, which gave Commissioner Rob Manfred the right to implement a season without player approval with players receiving full pro-rated salaries. The lack of a new agreement probably means, among other things, no expanded postseason and no DH in 2021, but nevertheless the commissioner appears poised to implement a 60-game season beginning around July 24, as soon as players agree to health and safety protocols, which is expected to happen today. All the details, and how they affect the San Francisco Giants, are discussed on today's show.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five players and three staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 at Phillies camp in Florida. Their facility has been shut down, and the club is reportedly awaiting 32 additional test results of others who may have been exposed. Additionally, a Blue Jays pitcher on the 40-man roster reportedly has exhibited Covid-19 symptoms after spending time with players in Phillies camp, and the club has shut down its facility, which is also in Florida. The outbreak comes against the backdrop of continued futile negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA. On Tuesday, it was reported by Jon Heyman that an agreement was in place. However, it became clear in the coming hours and days that no agreement was reached, and in fact the two sides remained at odds after the players rejected the league's latest proposal and submitted a counterproposal that made owners "livid."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One day after baseball appeared to be on the brink, the two leaders reportedly had a productive meeting in Arizona. Rob Manfred and Tony Clark met today in Arizona, and it appears that they were able to find common ground. Also discussed on today's show is an enlightening piece written by Matt Swartz on MLB Trade Rumors about the reason the players should be fundamentally opposed to assuming the downside risk associated with lower ticket revenues; they don't see any of the upside risk associated with television revenues. Jayson Stark's piece in The Athletic about, among other things, the 2020 offseason is also discussed. Could Mookie Betts and George Springer really be signed to one-year deals this Winter? If so, the Giants could have a golden opportunity to load up on talent and return to contention sooner than anticipated.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest devastating development for Major League Baseball, five days after saying the season "unoquivically" would take place, Comissioner Rob Manfred said he's "not confident" it would happen. This comes after the MLBPA rejected the league's latest proposal to start the 2020 season, concluding that "It's time to get back to work. Tell us when and where." It looks as though they called the owners' bluff, because the commissioner acknowledged yesterday that he was not willing to unilaterally impose a season on the players, because the MLBPA is likely to file a grievance reportedly in excess of $1 billion in response. The fact that the commissioner won't implement a season if the players would file a grievance suggests that the league is concerned it would lose. It also suggests that they have not been negotiating in good faith to try to maximize the number of games in 2020. Now, the league will attempt to walk back to the negotiating table.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Giants added six prospects yesterday in rounds two through five of the five-round MLB Draft. Analyzing all six players, and looking at comments by Michael Holmes, the Giants' amateur scouting director. San Francisco selected third baseman Casey Schmitt with their second round pick, left-handed pitcher Nick Swiney and shortstop Jimmy Glowenke in Compensation Round B, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison in the third round, right-handed pitcher R.J. Dabovich in round four, and right-handed pitcher Ryan Murphy in round five. Now we look ahead to Sunday, when teams can sign and unlimited number of undrafted players for a maximum of $20,000 each.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Giants drafted switching-hitting catcher Patrick Bailey with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Many fans and analysts questioned the pick, because the Giants already have a stud catching prospect in their system in Joey Bart (not to mention they still have Buster Posey on the Major League roster). But round one of the MLB draft is all about taking the best player available, and the Giants, led by President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and Amateur Scouting Director Michael Holmes, made it clear during media availability that Baily was the top player on their board at that point.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an eye-opening discussion, Ross Jackson (Locked On Saints) Aaron Freeman (Locked on Falcons) Tony Wiggins (Locked On Jaguars) John Hickman (Locked On Texans) Chris Carter (Locked On Steelers) Keith Pompey (Locked On 76ers) Coty Davis (Locked On Texans) and Your Boy Q (Locked On Raiders) come together for a special Locked On Podcast Network Black Lives Matter Roundtable. These eight Locked On hosts share their first-hand experiences as black men in America. When was the first time they clocked racism in their lives? What are the pet peeves they experience as a black man? In the wake of George Floyd's killing, does this movement feel different than those of the past? What needs to happen for this moment in time to have a lasting impact on society and to result in real gains for social justice? And, will these experiences change the next generation?  

We take a momentary pause in our daily sports talk for this revealing and important special podcast episode. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's anyone's guess what the Giants will do with the 13th overall selection in round one of tomorrow night's MLB Draft. Experts have linked the Giants to high school catcher/third baseman Tyler Soderstrom, Oklahoma right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli, as well as other wild card amateur prospects. On today's show, host Ben Kaspick analyzes the scouting reports on all the names connected to the Giants, and talks about how the draft is shaping up as a whole for San Francisco. The Giants farm system has improved greatly in recent years, and this year's MLB draft will provides the club with another opportunity to take a giant leap forward.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taylor from Locked On Angels and Jeff from Locked On Indians discuss who they think the Giants will take with the 13th overall selection in next week's MLB draft. Ben then provides additional commentary, followed by a discussion about the latest on talks between MLB and the MLBPA on the start of the 2020 baseball season. The two sides remain at odds, and seems that the league may be seriously considering implementing a 48-game season, which would promise to be wild.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid reports that MLB would not even respond to the union's latest proposal, strong optimism from legitimate sources continues to surface. The Reds' and Brewers' presidents of baseball operations expressed optimism that baseball would be played in 2020, and that an agreement was possibly "very close." How would a shortened season, expanded postseason, and universal DH impact the San Francisco Giants? Considering the Giants are a team that was not expected to contend for a playoff berth in 2020, a shortened year with more postseason teams would only help.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices