I am not writing this as a sports journalist.

I am writing this as a baseball fan.

And as a baseball fan, I am angry, disgusted, tired and saddened. All of those things.

All of those feelings stem from the so-called labor negotiations between the Major League Baseball owners and MLB players association. Pardon the pun, but it appears both sides have taken their ball and gone home.

My anger comes from the reaction of baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who seemed downright jovial upon officially announcing the first two weeks of the 2022 season would be canceled.

The commissioner of any sport is supposed to be there for the good of the game, to protect the sport itself. This guy shows no care or attachment to baseball at all. He’s a puppet to the owners. Nothing more, nothing less.

My disgust stems from the entire negotiating process. Both sides had all winter to sit down at the bargaining table and hammer out a deal. Both sides knew arriving at an agreement wasn’t going to be easy, that, in fact, it would likely be quite a lengthy process.

So they don’t begin serious talks until late February? Seriously? What were you guys doing all of those previous weeks? More than likely, they were watching the NFL like everybody else.

My fatigue comes from the continual lack of concern by the owners and players for the state of Major League Baseball itself. While both sides continue to haggle over money and how to share the riches, they turn a deaf ear to the fact that maybe eight to 10 teams throughout MLB are actually trying to win.

They are cutting minor league baseball teams and want to trim that down even more. MLB games have slowed to a snail’s pace, action has gone out of the game, and hitters care only about their home run totals while fielders move into different shifts, dictated by strategists who are off the field.

Starting pitchers rarely sniff the sixth inning, let alone a complete game. Closers are being overshadowed by openers. Bunting has virtually left the game. Managers are more worried about stealing signs than stealing bases. The hit-and-run has been replaced by hit-and-jog (after the ball leaves the park) or hit-and-walk (back to the dugout after striking out).

I am saddened when thinking about the true pure baseball fan. I realize most of those people are my age (mid-60s) or older, but those folks love the game. There are still a number of people who never miss a Pirate game on TV, no matter how quickly the losses pile up.

Those people were raised on baseball, as was I. They miss baseball, as do I.

The game will come back eventually. The question is how many people will still be waiting for it when it does.

And should we?

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle