Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke frustrated but optimistic with labor dispute

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke frustrated with dispute

This offseason has been a wild one for the Red Sox and despite a flash of spring training, it feels like it’s never ended. There was the investigation, Alex Cora’s dismissal, the trading of Mookie Betts and David Price, a global pandemic, and now a labor dispute. In the wake of all the madness, former bench coach Ron Roenicke was promoted to manager in the attempt to keep some consistency for this club.

As it stands, the MLB is the only major sports league in America to yet come to an agreement on a plan for 2020. Everyone else was able to work out a deal between the owners and players, but not baseball! With Roenicke taking the helm of the Red Sox this season it’s no surprise that he’s a bit frustrated with the current affairs of the league.

Roenicke spoke with NBC10’s Raul Martinez recently and shared his thoughts on the mess that baseball currently finds itself in.

"“It’s frustrating at times knowing that both sides want to play, but we’re not getting it done,” he said. “That’s frustrating."

He’s not wrong in that both sides seemingly want this to happen. The owners and the players are reading the same book they’re just on completely different chapters. Just yesterday the owners lobbed another offer to the players that unfortunately sounds like it’ll be shot down once again.

Standing on the outside looking in my confidence in a 2020 season wanes more with each passing day. For Roenicke, he’s kind of caught in the middle as he has to stick up for his guys but also has to answer to his bosses. If he leans one way more than the other he risks upsetting the very apple cart. I also think he hit the nail on the head with his feelings on both sides wanting a deal but not getting it done.

"“I know both sides want to play, so that’s the feeling I have,” Roenicke told Martinez. “I talk to the players, they want to play. Management wants to play. So when you have both sides that want to get back on the field, they want to get back on to play personally but also for the country.”"

To me, there’s an underlying narrative here that I haven’t seen mentioned as much. The current CBA has a fast-approaching expiration date and this feels like a way to begin negotiations early. Whether or not either side had that mentality going into this dispute, the ferocity in which each side is standing tall makes me think that’s what it’s about now. Sadly, we’re going to be the kid in the divorce that has to listen to the parents yelling. But there should still be some hope, I think.

Ron Roenicke has hope for Red Sox baseball in 2020

"“If we can have a fairly normal half-season, I think it’ll be great,” Roenicke said. “Whatever (number of) games that will be, whether it’s 80 games or whatever that may be. I think we can have a real nice playoff system if we do that.”"

For what Roenicke is proposing a deal would need to be reached by the end of the week. Time is quickly running out for a half-season so the sides will need to come together soon. I won’t speak for anyone else but I’m desperate for some baseball at this point. Hell, I even bought a PS4 and The Show just to see the Red Sox play some games.