PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 29: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on August 29, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies star and reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper is never going to speak out like Marcus Stroman, who has come up with a new nickname for Major League Baseball’s highly unpopular commissioner, Rob Manfred.
The Chicago Cubs pitcher now calls him Manclown.
Instead, Harper is taking a more subtle approach, posting Phillies throwbacks to his Instagram Stories.
Harper took the ‘no caption needed’ method, as did Didi Gregorius earlier this weekend, but the message is clear:
Players want baseball back.
Neither approach is necessarily the right or wrong way to proceed, and it could be argued that both explicit and subtle reactions are required in this lockout.
What’s important, and what differs in this work stoppage from the previous eight in MLB history, is that the players have social media, where they can voice their concerns and share their side of the lockout. This is notable, as MLB often uses media outlets to try and sway public opinion in their favor, and in previous work stoppages – the last being in 1994-95 – players had no platform to respond directly.
Will the MLB lockout delay Spring Training and Opening Day?
At this point, a delay in Spring Training, and therefore, the regular season, is all but guaranteed. Pitchers and catchers would typically begin to report this week and next, but until the lockout ends, anyone on the 40-man roster is unable to use team facilities or have any contact with team officials and staff.
