News bullets: June 9, 2020

Are we getting close to a 2020 MLB season? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't think anybody really knows. As of right now though, we've got another proposal on what the season could look like if it happens. 

MLB proposes 76-game season

MLB gave the players association another season proposal yesterday, as first reported by ESPN's Karl Ravech. The plan includes a 76-game season and would pay players 75 percent of their prorated salary. 

Ravech called the plan "significant" in moving towards a deal, but the players have said otherwise. 

Players are not happy with new proposal

Multiple players took to Twitter to voice their frustration with the latest plan, including St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty. 

significant moves how https://t.co/hTSU5dLKBD

— Jack Flaherty (@Jack9Flaherty) June 8, 2020

As pointed out by CBS Sports' Mike Axisa, each plan MLB has offered the players has consisted of them getting paid roughly 33 percent of their salary, but in various forms. 

The players are fed up and want a different proposal, but it seems as if they're still at an impasse with the owners. 

Angel Hernandez eavesdropped on a investigative call

If you heard that an umpire was eavesdropping on a call that was investigating their umpiring, would you expect anyone other than Angel Hernandez. 

Hernandez, a notoriously bad umpire, was the crew chief during a game between the Red Sox and the Rays last season that was delayed for 14 minutes due to confusion about the rules. (If you want an entertaining summary of what happened in that game, check out this video.)

According to The Athletic, MLB launched an investigation into the incident, and Hernandez got a little too involved. Here's what Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic says: 

"According to MLB legal filings Friday in the lawsuit, after the July 24 Rays-Red Sox contest, the league under then-chief baseball officer Joe Torre launched an investigation into the confusion and interviewed the umpires involved in the game. Torre then later claimed Hernandez did not get off the phone when his interview ended and listened to the interview of umpire Ed Hickox. MLB conducted a separate call with Hernandez on Aug. 19 to question him on the alleged eavesdropping."

Really, this isn't surprising, and it's just a bad look for Hernandez. 

If you need a refresher on how bad of an umpire he is, just search his name on Twitter and you'll find all kinds of videos of blown calls.