The MLB lockout has been raging on, with no progress being made in talks between the two sides, frustrating fans and others in the sports world. The lockout is likely already driving some fans away and the work stoppage hasn’t even ended yet. It’s scary to think about the impact the lockout could have once it’s actually over. Former Atlanta Braves starting pitcher and Hall of Famer Tom Glavine slapped the MLB with a harsh reality amid the lockout, via The Athletic.
“This is going to do damage to the game, there’s no question about that,” Glavine said. “How much? I guess we’ll see. I still talk to people who swore off the game after the strike, and they haven’t gone back.
“You’re going to get folks who are going to be mad, and they’ll get over it, and you’ll have some who don’t care, and they’ll come back whenever baseball comes back. But on the heels of COVID and people having their lives being altered and not being able to go to baseball games for a year, there’s going to be some hurt feelings. Fans are being impacted, and both sides are always mindful of that. Whenever there’s an agreement, they’re going to have to work hard to get those people back. But there’s no question in my mind the game is going to suffer.”
These are wise- and scary- words from Tom Glavine. The former Braves legend said that he talks to people who still don’t have anything to do with the game after the 1994 strike.
Glavine said there’s no question that “the game is going to suffer”, making good points about people not being able to attend games during the COVID pandemic.
Now, there might not be baseball for a while. Baseball should heed Glavine’s warning.