Bernie on the Scene: Quit the Whining

LEADING OFF

I find this so ridiculous.

Grown men with a shiny toy worth at least a billion dollars and who are in in an exclusive fraternity that serves to stroke their huge egos and grown men playing a kid's game for millions of dollars are fighting about how to share an enormous amount of money that most people can only dream about. Spare me. Quit the whining.

In this financial tug of war between MLB owners and players, trust is nothing more than a five letter word. It went out the window between the two sides years ago.

In 1994, a terrible baseball strike ended the season before a World Series could be played. It was a scar on the game of baseball. Some fans never returned.

Now, it seems those in positions of power in baseball are content to play a game of "who blinks first" in public view. Both sides have dug in their expensive heels.

The answer is simple. If 80 games are played, the owners should pay the players for 80 games.

No more. No less. 

There is no way on earth owners can estimate or guesstimate how much money they will lose in playing to empty stadiums. There is no way to determine how much concession and parking money they will lose. So to all owners — stop it. Pay the players for the number of games played.

I don't think sharing the revenue will be accepted by the players. 

If 75 games are played, pay the players for 75 games. Not 75 games minus a chunk of money because there are no paying customers.

Do the owners really think the public has any sympathy for their whining? Frankly, the public is siding with ultra-rich baseball players as opposed to ultra rich-owners in this one. Both  sides need to grow up and get a grip on the reality of the suffering that is taking place out there in life today.

Get ahold of this soon, or watch further erosion of your already eroding sport. The sport that I love. The sport that every reader of my column loves. The sport that you are dragging through the mud because of money. Not just health concerns. Money.

Not many people love baseball more than Bernie Pleskoff. But it is now time for a reality check and a wake-up call for the game I love.

TODAY'S LINEUP

Triston McKenzie, RH, Indians, 6-5, 165, Age 22

We often forget that Triston McKenzie was only 17 when he was selected out of Royal Palm Beach (Florida) High School by the Indians in the first round of the 2015 draft.

McKenzie has thrown only 329 innings in four seasons in the Indians organization. He missed the entire 2019 season with a severe back injury. He is beginning to work his way back, but I have great concern about his future. I have seen before the issues back problems can bring. Who knows when the situation will return? It may not. But it certainly may. Proceed with caution, as the Indians are doing.

In my opinion, McKenzie's mega-slender frame contributes to his back woes. His shoulder was also barking last year when his back was bad. He also experienced forearm tightening and soreness in the 2018 season. So so far, he has been injury prone.

McKenzie repeats his delivery well. He throws a low-to-mid-90s fastball, but it is his curveball that gets the swings and misses and is his "put away" pitch. 

Once the top pitcher in the Indians organization, McKenzie's health issues have taken some of the bloom off the rose. He will have to show that he can remain healthy and dispatch hitters in an economical manner with his repertoire of fastball, curveball and changeup.

All of McKenzie's pitches are better than average, as is his command and control. Every time I have seen him pitch, he has shown very good mechanics that are both smooth and conventional. He doesn't try to overthrow. He knows his limitations. He knows how to pitch. But so far, he hasn't stayed healthy. And he will fall further behind if he doesn't get enough innings in the coming season. I look for him to be in the Fall League.

For me, McKenzie is like electricity. I won't touch him. Not until he proves he is totally healthy. I don't know if that will be possible with his slender frame and bum back.

McKenzie's value has dropped due to the injuries. GRADE: 55

Mike Ford, 1B, Yankees, BL, 6-0, 225, Age 27

I am very bullish on Mike Ford. His power can't be ignored.

Not many people talk about Mike Ford. His name isn't on the lips of many baseball analysts. But I like his chances of being a very solid hitter. With big time power.

Start with the fact Ford hits left-handed in Yankee Stadium. That gets my attention.

Ford pitched and played first base for Princeton from 2011-13. He won the Ivy League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year awards as a junior in 2013. That got my attention as well a couple years ago.

Ford went undrafted after Princeton. He signed with the Yankees as a free agent in 2012. In 2017 Ford was signed by the Mariners in the December Rule-5 draft. He was returned to the Yankees in March 2018. 

Ford is on the Yankees' 40-man roster, and made his big league debut last season. He hit 12 home runs in only 143 plate appearances, driving in 25 runs. He walked 17 times, which is encouraging. He struck out 28 times, which isn't bad in today's game.

As a former pitcher, Ford has a very good knowledge of the strike zone. He is patient at the plate and sees the ball out of the hand of the pitcher well. He knows how pitchers try to get him out. He has today's uppercut swing, but it isn't overly pronounced.

Even though Luke Voit appears to be the Yankees starter at first, Ford could be in the mix, especially with expanded rosters.

Because he makes good contact and packs a power punch, Ford should get some playing time with the Yankees. It's even possible he will platoon with Voit. They could provide a very formidable combination at first base.

He didn't hit very well this spring, but I still think his power is substantial enough for him to bring you some good fantasy results with a low draft pick or limited auction dollars.

At the prime baseball age, if Ford succeeds, it will be as a hitter, as his defensive game isn't very good. GRADE: 50

Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Athletics, 6-0, 209, Age 22

Not very big by today's standards, Luzardo is a classic lefty with big upside.

Drafted in the third round by the  Nationals out of Stoneman-Douglas High School in Florida, Luzardo made his debut for the parent team out of the bullpen last September. 

Luzardo had Tommy John surgery just before he was drafted in spring 2016. The Nationals traded him to Oakland for Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson in July 2017.

Luzardo has a fastball that ranges from 92-97 miles per hour, a changeup and a curveball in his solid three-pitch repertoire. I would say his fastball is much more advanced than his breaking pitches at this point, and that's something big league hitters may exploit. They can sit on the heater and take the other pitches if they wish.

Luzardo is a tough competitor. He's the type of guy you want on the mound in a difficult game because he doesn't give in to the hitter. 

Luzardo has a low arm angle, but his pitching mechanics are consistent and well developed. He can repeat a clean delivery and has the ability to use any pitch at any count, relying on good command and control.

I do see him starting for the Athletics, if and when the season begins. They will have to be careful with his pitch count, because at age 22 he doesn't have much experience. His future may be much brighter if the team paces him and uses care in the shortened 2020 season. GRADE: 60

James Karinchak, RHP, Indians, 6-3, 230, Age 24

James Karinchak is a player to remember. I really believe either he or Emmanuel Clase (currently suspended) will be the Indians' next closer. Now is the time to grab him if he is available in your keeper league.

Karinchak has two well developed pitches. He throws his power, high-velocity fastball between 96-98 miles per hour. I have seen him hit 100 with no problem. It is his wicked curveball that gets the swings and misses and ends at-bats. He's just a typical two-pitch, late inning reliever.

A ninth-round pick by the Indians out of Rhode Island's Bryant University in the 2017 draft, Karinchak likely will out pitch his draft round. He can be very, very good.

Last year, Karinchak struck out 74 hitters in 30.1 innings over three Indians minor league classifications. He also pitched for the parent Indians, working 5.1 innings and striking out eight. He walked one.

The problem I have seen with Karinchak rests with inconsistencies in his stiff delivery. He does't always finish his delivery, loses his arm angle and as a result, has bouts of bad control. He gets behind in counts or hangs curveballs that the hitter can pound.

The Indians like what they have seen of Karinchak and he has a future with the club, as soon as this year. I have some doubts about him being able to maintain command of the high velocity fastball as well as the curve, so I am being a bit guarded. I want to see him in high-leverage situations at the back end of games. I want to see him throw strikes and not fall behind hitters.

Once he gains experience, I have little doubt he will succeed. He certainly doesn't lack confidence, and if he can gain some consistency, watch out. GRADE: 55

Nolan Gorman, 3B, Cardinals, BL, 6-1, 210, Age 20

In his 2018 rookie season playing for the Cardinals Rookie League and Single-A teams, Nolan Gorman hit 17 home runs in his 274 plate appearances. He walked 34 times. He struck out 76 times. He was the talk of minor league baseball due to his power.

Last year, Gorman played at Single-A Peoria and High-A Palm Beach in only his second season of professional baseball. He hit 15 homers in 512 plate appearances, so things weren't quite as earth shaking. He also struck out 152 times.

Gorman was a 2018 first-round pick of the Cardinals out of Sandra Day O'Connor High School in Phoenix. He signed for $3,231,700. The Cardinals have some money and a high draft pick in him, so they will give him every chance to improve upon a season that saw steep declines.

Power is the name of Gorman's game. It is his best tool. He gets the most of a strong, compact frame. He has incredibly quick hands through the ball and can generate solid back spin.

He just has to exercise much better pitch recognition and patience at the plate. But remember, he is young and doesn't have much experience. As the pitching got tougher, he struggled.

He is far from quick and agile on defense. In fact, he's the type of guy who will make a superb left-handed designated hitter if and when that role comes to the National League. His arm strength from third is good.

Slow afoot, Gorman won't be counted upon to steal bases or even take an extra base. He will, however, be able to get his share of gap doubles in parks with larger outfields, like Colorado.

Frankly, I'm not looking for batting average from Gorman. I'm looking for those home runs to start to accumulate once he learns how to become a true hitter and not just a guy standing in the box swinging away. That will come. He has too much strength in his rather thick frame not to pound the ball over big league fences.

For now, draft him in your keeper leagues and leave him alone while he develops baseball skills. He'll play enough defense to keep a job, but it is his power that plays. GRADE: 55

ROUNDING THIRD AND HEADING HOME

If, and when the season begins, many of the prospects I write about won't make the expanded major league rosters or taxi squads. They may be playing on back fields against one another. Travel for minor league players may be very limited-and minor league teams may not even have season schedules. It is a fluid situation, and one that isn't promising.

My contacts have been very concerned and worried about the state of minor league baseball. It is one of the tragedies of this offseason. Will minor league teams and leagues fold? Yes. Will the clubs and leagues that remain be under the control of major league baseball rather than have their own separate administration? If I were a betting man, I'd say yes.

Sources tell me minor league teams will be divided into perhaps eight regions, each to have their own administrative staff. Stay tuned. Major League Baseball will be in total control. Total.

•If there is a player you would like me to profile on these pages, let me know in the comment section below.

• Stay safe and healthy out there. Don't forget to thank the people who help us navigate our daily lives. That includes the people who work in our grocery stores.

• Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and read my baseball columns at forbes.com.