BREAKING NEWS: Pittsburgh Pirates Regular Season Games Canceled

A day that fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates and all of Major League Baseball has finally arrived with regular season games officially being canceled due to MLB’s lockout

One of the saddest, darkest days in the history of Major League Baseball is upon us. In a move that people were able to see coming as long ago as the summer of 2020, regular season games have officially been canceled for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest of MLB.

MLB players have been locked out by owners since the CBA expired back on December 1st. For much of the winter there were no ongoing negotiations. The first of many follies by all parties involved in this.

Then, the start of spring training did not happen. Sure, minor league players who are not on a MLB 40-man roster have reported to Arizona and Florida to begin to prepare for the minor league season, but it’s not the same.

Next up was all spring training games through March 4th being canceled. After this was the cancelation of all spring training games through March 7th. All of this as the MLB set deadline of February 28th to reach a new CBA and not miss regular season games approached.

As the two sides negotiated deep into the night last evening the deadline was pushed to 5 PM ET this afternoon. There was growing optimism as the day began. Unfortunately, that optimism proved to be unfounded.

As the 5 PM ET passed there was no deal reached. This led to MLB commissioner, and baseball’s biggest enemy, Rob Manfred announcing that the originally planned Opening Day of March 31st had officially been canceled.

Manfred stated that at least the first two series of the season will be canceled. For the Pittsburgh Pirates this means their season-opening series at PNC Park against the St. Louis Cardinals that was originally scheduled for March 31st through April 3rd, as well as the following series scheduled for April 4th through the 6th at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati has also been canceled.

The best case scenario for MLB in 2022 has become a 156 game season. While the two sides are supposedly going to begin negotiating again on Thursday the odds a 156 game season appear bleak.

Owners have already stated they are willing to sacrifice the first month, maybe even six weeks of the season to get what they want in negotiations. This does not seem to bode well for the odds of the season starting at any point in April.

There are a lot of people to blame here. That aside for now, this is one of the darkest days in MLB history. Baseball may be America’s pastime but is nowhere near as loved of a sport as it once was in this country. If there is any sport that can not afford this it is baseball. Yet, sadly, here we are.

There are two more things to add to this. First off, a thank you to everyone out there who has continued to read Rum Bunter and follow along during the lockout. We are all grateful for our awesome readers. The second is a commitment, a commitment to provide you with top notch coverage of Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates and prospects during the lockout. As long as minor league games are being played we will cover the action.