MLB’s ability to add in multiple doubleheaders was never in doubt.
During negotiations for the 2022-26 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), things got so tense at one point that the league threatened the union with the cancellation of regular seasons games and not rescheduling them, costing the players a lot of money in the process.
A few days later, it became evident that they did that to put some pressure on players, because the final agreement includes a lot of doubleheaders.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the league has already announced its schedule, and Opening day will be, as planned, on April 7.
“MLB announces its revised schedule for the 2022 season, opening on April 7 with the regular-season finale on Oct. 5. The season will include 31 scheduled doubleheaders to help make up for the week-long delay,” Nightengale tweeted.
MLB announces its revised schedule for the 2022 season, opening on April 7 with the regular-season finale on Oct. 5. The season will include 31 scheduled doubleheaders to help make up for the week-long delay.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 16, 2022
A 162-Game Schedule Was A Best-Case Scenario For Everybody
The regular season finale was pushed back a few days to be able to accommodate the lost days in CBA negotiations, but in the end, both sides were able to hammer out a 162-game schedule.
It was the best possible outcome, in the end, for everyone involved: owners had to deal with TV contracts and other commitments that would have gotten complicated with lost games; players get their full pay, and fans get to enjoy a full season, even if it will be a little tight for teams when it comes to off days.
An important thing to note here is that, to the contrary of what happened in the last couple of seasons, doubleheaders will have nine innings each instead of seven.
Everything is ready for spring training games to start in a couple of days, and regular season games to start soon.
Play ball!
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