Disputes between the governing bodies and the athletes in professional sport are as old as time, with both parties often very militant on their stance.
Without governance and organisation, professional sport absolutely would not be the marketable product it is worldwide today, and the financial gains athletes can manifest from a successful sporting career, are potentially life changing.
However, for the athletes putting themselves on the line week in, week out, the lack of empathy and understanding sometimes shown by governing bodies can be infuriating as after all, if the players don’t play – there is no sport for the accompanying industries to feed on.
Seldom does it get to the stage in the professional game where players feel that their only option is to go on strike – however at the start of the 2022 campaign, professional baseball players throughout the Major League (MLB) took industrial action, in an attempt to get their voices heard.
It took an incredible 99 days during the off-season for team owners to strike a deal with the MLB, with protracted negotiations seemingly getting nowhere for weeks and the prospect of a ‘lockout’ was very real.
All teams in the two divisions of the MLB had their pre-seasons affected by the strikes and whilst it seems all of the major contractual and financial issues have been resolved, the campaign has been a little married so far.
That said, the key issues around COVID governance, visas, trading, and free agents all look to have been resolved and the action on the field has been as electrifying as ever
Few sporting institutions are as etched into American folklore as the LA Dodgers, and they once again appear to be the team to beat in 2022.
Sitting pretty at the top of the National League West, with 11 wins from 15 games played, they are once again the benchmark in the MLB and at +500 with current betting offers, they could take some stopping this season.
Few cities embrace baseball with the same enthusiasm as Toronto and the Toronto Blue Jays will once again have the entire backing of a city in 2022.
Locked in a battle at the top of the National League with the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays have a side capable of going all the way this season and at +800, they will have plenty of suitors this term.
Confidence is high in the New York Mets camp this season, a side that famously haven’t managed to win the World Series title in over 30 years.
They have started the campaign in fine fettle, and they could well sneak under the radar a little at +950 to win their third World Series championship.
2017 MLB World Series winners the Houston Astros remain in a seriously strong position, over half a decade on from their maiden title win.
They are a side packed with talent and whilst they haven’t set the world alight as yet in 2022, they have plenty of experience within their roster and they should relish the challenge ahead at +1000.
Elsewhere, finding value in the 2022 MLB World Series winner market is relatively easy, with the likes of the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants representing two of the biggest franchises in world sport and at +1200 and +1600 respectively, they are two sides that can never be discarded in Major League Baseball.
